Gupta looks at Autism…
All this week, CNN has aired a special series, Inside Autism, on American Morning. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been examining the questions surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorders. Among the segments being aired:
* What is Autism? What are the signs? The latest CDC numbers say 1 in 175 children are diagnosed with autism, yet researchers still can’t explain why. Why are the numbers so high? Did the change in definition in 1994 cause the rise?
* What Causes Autism? There are several theories of what’s going wrong. We know it’s a neurological disorder and some researchers point to a 7 week period in utero where neurons grow too fast. Some believe it’s genetics, while others continue to believe childhood vaccines still play a role.
* Early Intervention. This is the best hope for these kids. What are the different therapies out there? Dr. Fred Volkmar from Yale, one of the most respected experts in the field of autism, says with early interventions we have more success stories. There are some controversial alternative treatments out there, yet others swear by them. The key is to find what works for your child.
* The Tolls of Autism. It doesn’t only affect the child, but the whole family, often taking a toll on marriages. Parents often have to move to receive the care they deem necessary for their child because there is no standard, and are taking second or third mortgages on their homes to pay for therapies. We profile a family that moved from Florida to New Jersey to get better care. Irony…though autism is a brain disorder, many children receive their care through the school system, not the health care system.
* Autism Success Stories. There is hope. We go to a summer camp that’s actually a social skills intervention program within a regular camp environment. Campers range from 6 to 18 years of age. The adolescent campers have jobs they do at camp and in the community and earn weekly paychecks. There is hope.
Dr. Gupta discusses the signs of Autism in this week’s podcast on Itunes’ Paging Dr. Gupta, which can be found at CNN.com/podcast. Also, Gupta will further explore this topic on his show “House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta” this Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The evidence pointing toward a link with Themarisol are compelling. We need an unbiased study having nothing to do with the government or drug companies to make a determination once and for all.
www.imusblog.com
Comment by Big Roy — August 3, 2006 @ 11:49 pm
I agree that the CDC’s report doesn’t seem to put paid to the question of Themarisol’s involvement. It’s interesting how scared off the MSM has been to the question - Columbia Journalism Review had a big article about it some time ago. Apparently journalists wanting to look into the issue are being told by their management that it’s a ‘career killer’.
If anyone here has an infant, I suggest you insist your doctor use Themarisol-free vaccines (which are available but possibly more expensive) until the question has been resolved - I know some people with an autistic child and they’re looking forward to years of struggle with him. And I live in an area with excellent (free!) local programs for autistic kids.
Comment by Arthur — August 4, 2006 @ 10:04 am
Read between the Headline. “Gupta Looks at Olbermann…”
Comment by Roger — August 7, 2006 @ 10:38 am
I am wondering why there is no research going on with the advent of the use of frequent ultrasounds in pregnancy and its affect on the babies’ brain. I believe that this procedure has been used for the last 25 years. Perhaps there is some connection between ultrasound usage and the increase of autism.
Comment by Marilyn Branton — August 12, 2006 @ 8:56 am
I have a brother that has autism. I disagree with what some of the doctor say about autism.
Comment by Raquel S. Macon — September 25, 2006 @ 10:50 am