In 'Facing Autism in new Brunswick', Harold L Doherty talks eloquently about voting for a candidate most likely to improve facilities and treatment for people with autism.
If autism affects one in 100-160 (depending on source of figures) children in Australia, then that's a large number of voters who might make a difference.
Years ago I wrote a long letter to a Greens candidate here about autism and possible causes, but unfortunately that was in the days before the Greens had any Federal representation and therefore input on health. Now they do have representation, but the story of autism is so complex and so caught up in pharmaceutical, commercial and government interests that obtaining funding for 'environmental' causes seems unlikely. But perhaps improved treatment and support are obtainable.
Maybe now's the time to start talking as a group. Something causes autism.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
gene spleen
Yet again I'm annoyed at the mainstream news for pussyfooting around dispensing the usual 'autism is linked to genes' spiel.
Yes, yes, linked to genes: but only at the level of a sensitivity to something environmental. Sometimes they grudgingly admit there are environmental factors, but only as 'triggers'. The image given is of autism as a genetically loaded gun just waiting to fire.
I'm currently working in schools, and in some schools, every class of about 25-30 students has at least 2 diagnosed spectrum children and a handful of others I'd be tempted to want to run by a good paediatrician. Something's badly rotten in the state of Denmark.
Actually, after reading the full report of the most famous study that supposedly exonerated Thimerosal, I'm not just speaking figuratively... Denmark was the site of the study. Every criticism I've read of the report seemed borne out when I looked at the source material: they changed the diagnostic parameters to include a wider range of patients, thus inflating the numbers. At the end of the study they were able to say that despite Thimerosal being withdrawn, the autism rate had climbed.
So next time you read that the Danish study was 'badly flawed', rest assured, they're not exaggerating.
I'll try to dig out the links I browsed...
Yes, yes, linked to genes: but only at the level of a sensitivity to something environmental. Sometimes they grudgingly admit there are environmental factors, but only as 'triggers'. The image given is of autism as a genetically loaded gun just waiting to fire.
I'm currently working in schools, and in some schools, every class of about 25-30 students has at least 2 diagnosed spectrum children and a handful of others I'd be tempted to want to run by a good paediatrician. Something's badly rotten in the state of Denmark.
Actually, after reading the full report of the most famous study that supposedly exonerated Thimerosal, I'm not just speaking figuratively... Denmark was the site of the study. Every criticism I've read of the report seemed borne out when I looked at the source material: they changed the diagnostic parameters to include a wider range of patients, thus inflating the numbers. At the end of the study they were able to say that despite Thimerosal being withdrawn, the autism rate had climbed.
So next time you read that the Danish study was 'badly flawed', rest assured, they're not exaggerating.
I'll try to dig out the links I browsed...
Saturday, June 26, 2010
autism and hepatitis B vaccine in newborns...
An interesting link that suggests a finding of triple autism rates in Hep B vaccinated boys. Sorry but you'll need to copy and past the URL into your browser...
http://philsbackupsite.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/new-study-hepatitis-b-vaccine-triples-the-risk-of-autism-in-infant-boys/
My son, who isn't autistic, was not vaccinated as a newborn; my daughter was. We lived in 2 different houses for both births, so this doesn't necessarily indicate a link. But the study, if accurate, gives reason to look further into vaccination and autism.
http://philsbackupsite.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/new-study-hepatitis-b-vaccine-triples-the-risk-of-autism-in-infant-boys/
My son, who isn't autistic, was not vaccinated as a newborn; my daughter was. We lived in 2 different houses for both births, so this doesn't necessarily indicate a link. But the study, if accurate, gives reason to look further into vaccination and autism.
Monday, May 17, 2010
three cheers for the sleep deprived
Oh boy, another all-nighter. I gave up at 1am and took her downstairs so the rest of the house could sleep. She went around giggling and thumping the piano keys (luckily at the opposite end of the house to all the bedrooms).
I could be a productive person... In another life I was. This illness has taken not just one potential worker out of the system, but a whole family.
When is the government going to ask itself whether the cost of ignorance is finally getting too high? Gene research is blinkered research. Someone has to remove the blindfold to look for the causes of autism.
I've often wondered whether the heads of the big chemical and pharmaceutical corporations eat organic food? And do their children receive the Hep B jab that contains mercury, or the version that doesn't?
If you were a doctor, and you could give your child one of two jabs, the only difference being whether it contains mercury or a different adjuvant, what would you do?
Something causes autism!
I could be a productive person... In another life I was. This illness has taken not just one potential worker out of the system, but a whole family.
When is the government going to ask itself whether the cost of ignorance is finally getting too high? Gene research is blinkered research. Someone has to remove the blindfold to look for the causes of autism.
I've often wondered whether the heads of the big chemical and pharmaceutical corporations eat organic food? And do their children receive the Hep B jab that contains mercury, or the version that doesn't?
If you were a doctor, and you could give your child one of two jabs, the only difference being whether it contains mercury or a different adjuvant, what would you do?
Something causes autism!
Monday, April 12, 2010
shifting diagnoses
Damn, the head in the sand strategy can't work forever...Was going along fairly well in the shadowy realm of non-diagnosis.
Maybe autism, maybe rett. Then one casual expert visitor drops the bombshell... 'You know you'll have to keep an eye on her for pneumonia.' Because of swallowing difficulties, rett girls often inhale what they're meant to drink.
It shouldn't feel like a bombshell because I've suspected it all along, from day one. (Damn google, it's so easy to diagnose, especially when the doctor says 'dunno, look it up'.) But so far the therapists have shrugged and said, 'All kids with autism are different.' Autism is her official diagnosis. Many times we raised rett syndrome with her paediatrician, but he didn't think it was likely.
Rett has a more troubling prognosis and it seems fairly common for rett kids to die of pneumonia or cardiac arrest in their teens.
The 'scientific' difference is that rett is seen as provably genetic (with autism they're still hunting for genes). But genetic tests don't pick up all rett cases, and just recently a second genetic mutation has been found, which implies that it's not a simple one-to-one relationship. Differences in syndrome severity are explained by which X chromosome controls neurons (one X chromosome being rett-affected) rather than by environmental contributions.
Researchers seem to work backwards from a belief in genetic causes to locate the genes 'responsible'. In the case of rett syndrome they have manufactured a similar (or, as they believe, identical) illness in rodents by mutating a particular gene. I can't help wondering what they used as a mutagen.
There may well be genetic predispositions and causes for various syndromes; I'm not arguing against that. However it may also be true that under conditions of non-exposure to particular agents the genetic mutations involved may never actually cause disease. Under the genetic model, we'll never know for sure.
Our girl underwent a massive improvement within 2 days of chelation. That's all I know.
Something causes autism.
Maybe autism, maybe rett. Then one casual expert visitor drops the bombshell... 'You know you'll have to keep an eye on her for pneumonia.' Because of swallowing difficulties, rett girls often inhale what they're meant to drink.
It shouldn't feel like a bombshell because I've suspected it all along, from day one. (Damn google, it's so easy to diagnose, especially when the doctor says 'dunno, look it up'.) But so far the therapists have shrugged and said, 'All kids with autism are different.' Autism is her official diagnosis. Many times we raised rett syndrome with her paediatrician, but he didn't think it was likely.
Rett has a more troubling prognosis and it seems fairly common for rett kids to die of pneumonia or cardiac arrest in their teens.
The 'scientific' difference is that rett is seen as provably genetic (with autism they're still hunting for genes). But genetic tests don't pick up all rett cases, and just recently a second genetic mutation has been found, which implies that it's not a simple one-to-one relationship. Differences in syndrome severity are explained by which X chromosome controls neurons (one X chromosome being rett-affected) rather than by environmental contributions.
Researchers seem to work backwards from a belief in genetic causes to locate the genes 'responsible'. In the case of rett syndrome they have manufactured a similar (or, as they believe, identical) illness in rodents by mutating a particular gene. I can't help wondering what they used as a mutagen.
There may well be genetic predispositions and causes for various syndromes; I'm not arguing against that. However it may also be true that under conditions of non-exposure to particular agents the genetic mutations involved may never actually cause disease. Under the genetic model, we'll never know for sure.
Our girl underwent a massive improvement within 2 days of chelation. That's all I know.
Something causes autism.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Not Drowning: Waving!
Another setback for parents trying to gain recognition that their children may have been harmed by adjuvants and/or preservatives in vaccines.
Apparently their case for compensation has been thrown out.
Well, that's predictable... Here's what I wrote under the list of comments (many of which were scathing about the horrible people who refuse to vaccinate, thereby spreading disease):
"Not Drowning: Waving...
"Parents seeking to increase public awareness of the causes of autism are not 'anti vaccine' but pro-prevention. They're not scrabbling for personal profit, they're alerting others to a situation of government and industry complicity.
The studies that proved thimerosal safe were unconvincing and poorly done. It's time to lift the cone of silence that surrounds environmental factors like heavy metals, vaccines and pesticides.
While autism continues to be called 'genetic', parents who have seen good results using chelation (removal of heavy metals such as the mercury in Thimerosal) will continue to press for change."
No doubt I'll get a barrage of nasty emails, as I included my email address in the post... But maybe someone will hear the word 'chelation' and do some research?
Meanwhile my girl is still in her happy phase, so we can get on with life.
Apparently their case for compensation has been thrown out.
Well, that's predictable... Here's what I wrote under the list of comments (many of which were scathing about the horrible people who refuse to vaccinate, thereby spreading disease):
"Not Drowning: Waving...
"Parents seeking to increase public awareness of the causes of autism are not 'anti vaccine' but pro-prevention. They're not scrabbling for personal profit, they're alerting others to a situation of government and industry complicity.
The studies that proved thimerosal safe were unconvincing and poorly done. It's time to lift the cone of silence that surrounds environmental factors like heavy metals, vaccines and pesticides.
While autism continues to be called 'genetic', parents who have seen good results using chelation (removal of heavy metals such as the mercury in Thimerosal) will continue to press for change."
No doubt I'll get a barrage of nasty emails, as I included my email address in the post... But maybe someone will hear the word 'chelation' and do some research?
Meanwhile my girl is still in her happy phase, so we can get on with life.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Medico with influence joins the dots!
Wow. The New York Times is running an article about a senior paediatrician calling environmental toxins to account for autism and other increasingly prevalent disorders...
I'm elated! But gee, even for me, it's tough reading...
Get yourself a cup of tea before you try!
PS You might want to copy and paste the link into your browser, as I'm not sure it will work as a direct link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?em
I'm elated! But gee, even for me, it's tough reading...
Get yourself a cup of tea before you try!
PS You might want to copy and paste the link into your browser, as I'm not sure it will work as a direct link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?em
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