Autism

[owlswing]

So last night I'm at my monthly Bunco game and this topic of conversation came up again for the second month in a row.

 

It turns out of the 12 regular players plus 2 subs we've recently had make up 15 families.

The groups is made up of families from 5 different towns with in 5 miles of each other.

 

 

just follow a minute more please...

 

 

...of the 15 families we have a total of 39 kids, three are still under a year old.

 

Now of these 39 kids 4 are diagnosed with in the ASD.

 

This to me is a staggering statistic

 

 

 

[nettiesaur]

QUOTE (owlswing @ Feb 3 2008, 02:19 PM)

So last night I'm at my monthly Bunco game and this topic of conversation came up again for the second month in a row. It turns out of the 12 regular players plus 2 subs we've recently had make up 15 families. The groups is made up of families from 5 different towns with in 5 miles of each other. just follow a minute more please... ...of the 15 families we have a total of 39 kids, three are still under a year old. Now of these 39 kids 4 are diagnosed with in the ASD. This to me is a staggering statistic

They claim nothing is going on, but something just isn't right here.

Autism used to be rare, and all of the sudden, it's not?

Something is causing this, we need to figure out what.

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

QUOTE (nettiesaur @ Feb 3 2008, 03:04 PM)

QUOTE (owlswing @ Feb 3 2008, 02:19 PM) So last night I'm at my monthly Bunco game and this topic of conversation came up again for the second month in a row. It turns out of the 12 regular players plus 2 subs we've recently had make up 15 families. The groups is made up of families from 5 different towns with in 5 miles of each other. just follow a minute more please... ...of the 15 families we have a total of 39 kids, three are still under a year old. Now of these 39 kids 4 are diagnosed with in the ASD.  This to me is a staggering statistic  They claim nothing is going on, but something just isn't right here. Autism used to be rare, and all of the sudden, it's not? Something is causing this, we need to figure out what. Owlswing, that stat you gave us is indicative of what's going on around the U.S. now.   4 out of 39 kids in your group have an ASD. That IS staggering. In the U.S., 1 out of 150 kids have an ASD. In your home state of New Jersey, it's something like 1 in 78. Yet, as we've seen in several posts in this thread, all these families are not receiving the aid they need. This sudden epidemic (yes, that word is accurate here) is overwhelming the entire system, but so many people and agencies are dropping the ball as far as getting help to these families.   Sundog just posted a link to one of the two best videos that illustrate how autism can forever alter a family. The other is "Autism Every Day." GG has links to both of these in her sig. If you haven't seen these two videos and would like to know what life with an autistic child is like, please watch.   Autism Every Day   Five For Fighting video

[GhostGirl]

The "establishment" (doctors and Big Pharma) insist that there's no epidemic - it's just "better diagnosis."

 

To put it poetically, that's bullshit.

[Cygnus The God Of Balance]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Feb 3 2008, 03:20 PM)

QUOTE (nettiesaur @ Feb 3 2008, 03:04 PM) QUOTE (owlswing @ Feb 3 2008, 02:19 PM) So last night I'm at my monthly Bunco game and this topic of conversation came up again for the second month in a row. It turns out of the 12 regular players plus 2 subs we've recently had make up 15 families. The groups is made up of families from 5 different towns with in 5 miles of each other. just follow a minute more please... ...of the 15 families we have a total of 39 kids, three are still under a year old. Now of these 39 kids 4 are diagnosed with in the ASD.  This to me is a staggering statistic  They claim nothing is going on, but something just isn't right here. Autism used to be rare, and all of the sudden, it's not? Something is causing this, we need to figure out what. Owlswing, that stat you gave us is indicative of what's going on around the U.S. now.   4 out of 39 kids in your group have an ASD. That IS staggering. In the U.S., 1 out of 150 kids have an ASD. In your home state of New Jersey, it's something like 1 in 78. Yet, as we've seen in several posts in this thread, all these families are not receiving the aid they need. This sudden epidemic (yes, that word is accurate here) is overwhelming the entire system, but so many people and agencies are dropping the ball as far as getting help to these families.   Sundog just posted a link to one of the two best videos that illustrate how autism can forever alter a family. The other is "Autism Every Day." GG has links to both of these in her sig. If you haven't seen these two videos and would like to know what life with an autistic child is like, please watch.   Autism Every Day   Five For Fighting video If anyone wants to know what it's like to have an Autistic child, I'd strongly suggest watching the Autism Everyday video. It's pretty true to form and doesn't candy coat life with an Autistic child.   Autism needs to be treated the same way Polio was treated back in the 40's and 50's. If the same kind of attention, research and funding went into finding a cure for Autism like it was for Polio, we'd have a cure already.   We're finally getting close it seems. I got an email from Autism Speaks listing the Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007. Here's a link:   Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007   It sounds encouraging, but until there's a definate cure for Tony and Stephen to take....

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 4 2008, 02:19 PM)

Autism needs to be treated the same way Polio was treated back in the 40's and 50's.  If the same kind of attention, research and funding went into finding a cure for Autism like it was for Polio, we'd have a cure already.  We're finally getting close it seems.  I got an email from Autism Speaks listing the Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007.  Here's a link: Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007 It sounds encouraging, but until there's a definate cure for Tony and Stephen to take....

The only problem is, back when polio was happening there was no such thing as Big Pharma. Scientists actually worked on CURES for diseases back then.

 

This will sound tinfoil hat-ish to some, but will Big Pharma let a cure be introduced? Even if one is discovered? With all these kids being diagnosed, and so many families DESPERATE for some kind of relief, there's a ton of money to be made on drugs that would need to be taken on a daily basis for life...Big Pharma loves those drugs that don't cure things but ease the symptoms just enough to provide a lifetime of side-effect riddled relief, while filling their pockets with cash so they can send doctors on fishing trips as incentive to prescribe said crappy drugs to people who blindly trust their doctors.

 

*steps off soap box*

[edie]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Feb 4 2008, 10:43 PM)

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 4 2008, 02:19 PM) Autism needs to be treated the same way Polio was treated back in the 40's and 50's.  If the same kind of attention, research and funding went into finding a cure for Autism like it was for Polio, we'd have a cure already.  We're finally getting close it seems.  I got an email from Autism Speaks listing the Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007.  Here's a link: Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007 It sounds encouraging, but until there's a definate cure for Tony and Stephen to take.... The only problem is, back when polio was happening there was no such thing as Big Pharma. Scientists actually worked on CURES for diseases back then.   This will sound tinfoil hat-ish to some, but will Big Pharma let a cure be introduced? Even if one is discovered? With all these kids being diagnosed, and so many families DESPERATE for some kind of relief, there's a ton of money to be made in drugs that would need to be taken on a daily basis for life...Big Pharma loves those drugs that don't cure things but ease the symptoms just enough to provide a lifetime of side-effect riddled relief, while filling their pockets with cash so they can send doctors on fishing trips as incentive to prescribe said crappy drugs to people who blindly trust their doctors.   *steps off soap box* Medication is generally used to treat, not to cure, with the exception of anti-infectives and chemotherapy. They basically control the disease to an acceptable level - either for the duration of the illness, or for life.   So medication is unlikely ever to be able to provide a cure for ASD. Something might be developed to considerably improve the condition - but as this is likley to be required for life, you can be quite sure that Big Pharma X, in an effort to line the pockets of its shareholders, is desperately trying to produce such a medicine and patent it before Big Pharma Y gets there.   It seems to me from reading your experiences and those of others that non-drug, expensive, one on one, long term treatments are the most effective. But there is very little money to be made in investing in research into these methods. Who will pay? Not the drug companies (why would they?) not the governments (it is after all a problem affecting a minority), and it appears not the medical insurance companies. Parents??   It's not right. But I don't know what the answer is.   I take my hat off to you guys who deal with this on a daily basis. I don't think I have it in me.

[GhostGirl]

QUOTE (edie @ Feb 4 2008, 04:07 PM)

I take my hat off to you guys who deal with this on a daily basis. I don't think I have it in me.

I don't have it in me either. At least, it feels like that sometimes.

[Fridge]

QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 4 2008, 10:08 PM)

QUOTE (edie @ Feb 4 2008, 04:07 PM) I take my hat off to you guys who deal with this on a daily basis. I don't think I have it in me. I don't have it in me either. At least, it feels like that sometimes. Well it's not true   You took time out to help me despite your daily troubles, and I for one am grateful

[Cygnus The God Of Balance]

QUOTE (edie @ Feb 4 2008, 05:07 PM)

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Feb 4 2008, 10:43 PM) QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 4 2008, 02:19 PM) Autism needs to be treated the same way Polio was treated back in the 40's and 50's.  If the same kind of attention, research and funding went into finding a cure for Autism like it was for Polio, we'd have a cure already.  We're finally getting close it seems.  I got an email from Autism Speaks listing the Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007.  Here's a link: Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007 It sounds encouraging, but until there's a definate cure for Tony and Stephen to take.... The only problem is, back when polio was happening there was no such thing as Big Pharma. Scientists actually worked on CURES for diseases back then.   This will sound tinfoil hat-ish to some, but will Big Pharma let a cure be introduced? Even if one is discovered? With all these kids being diagnosed, and so many families DESPERATE for some kind of relief, there's a ton of money to be made in drugs that would need to be taken on a daily basis for life...Big Pharma loves those drugs that don't cure things but ease the symptoms just enough to provide a lifetime of side-effect riddled relief, while filling their pockets with cash so they can send doctors on fishing trips as incentive to prescribe said crappy drugs to people who blindly trust their doctors.   *steps off soap box* Medication is generally used to treat, not to cure, with the exception of anti-infectives and chemotherapy. They basically control the disease to an acceptable level - either for the duration of the illness, or for life.   So medication is unlikely ever to be able to provide a cure for ASD. Something might be developed to considerably improve the condition - but as this is likley to be required for life, you can be quite sure that Big Pharma X, in an effort to line the pockets of its shareholders, is desperately trying to produce such a medicine and patent it before Big Pharma Y gets there.   It seems to me from reading your experiences and those of others that non-drug, expensive, one on one, long term treatments are the most effective. But there is very little money to be made in investing in research into these methods. Who will pay? Not the drug companies (why would they?) not the governments (it is after all a problem affecting a minority), and it appears not the medical insurance companies. Parents??   It's not right. But I don't know what the answer is.   I take my hat off to you guys who deal with this on a daily basis. I don't think I have it in me. I guess I used polio as an example of an epidemic, and Autism is being referred to as an epidemic today. I think polio got it's 'due' because we had a President who had polio, and it's a physical disability. I honestly think that for many years Autism has a stigma from the perception that it's strictly a mental disability.   All children now receive polio vaccinations to prevent the onset of polio. Imagine a world where children receive a vaccination to prevent the onset of Autism.   And I don't mean to speak for GG, but I would imagine that she is just as aware as I am that there may never be a cure for Stephen and Tony, and all the other children and grandchildren with Autism who are associated with TRF. But, to referrence a couple songs from S & A, We Hold On to that Hope, that someday, somehow, we won't have to see this expression from our boys.   http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/Tony1.jpg   Look at my little Tony. So beautiful. So full of things that a 10 year old should share with his father. What's beyond that blank stare that I see so often.   I choose to Hold On to my Hope....so I can know my son.

[GhostGirl]

QUOTE (Fridge @ Feb 4 2008, 04:30 PM)

QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 4 2008, 10:08 PM) QUOTE (edie @ Feb 4 2008, 04:07 PM) I take my hat off to you guys who deal with this on a daily basis. I don't think I have it in me. I don't have it in me either. At least, it feels like that sometimes. Well it's not true   You took time out to help me despite your daily troubles, and I for one am grateful Anytime, my friend. I mean that.

[GhostGirl]

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 4 2008, 04:42 PM)

And I don't mean to speak for GG, but I would imagine that she is just as aware as I am that there may never be a cure for Stephen and Tony, and all the other children and grandchildren with Autism who are associated with TRF.  But, to referrence a couple songs from S & A, We Hold On to that Hope, that someday, somehow, we won't have to see this expression from our boys. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/Tony1.jpg Look at my little Tony.  So beautiful.  So full of things that a 10 year old should share with his father.  What's beyond that blank stare that I see so often.  I choose to Hold On to my Hope....so I can know my son.

You are speaking for me perfectly.

 

And I know that look.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen/BotanicalGardensOct06026.jpg

 

These children are physically beautiful, but emotionally and mentally they are sometimes in their own world. Sometimes you can pull them back, sometimes you can't.

[CeeJ]

QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 4 2008, 08:57 PM)

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 4 2008, 04:42 PM) And I don't mean to speak for GG, but I would imagine that she is just as aware as I am that there may never be a cure for Stephen and Tony, and all the other children and grandchildren with Autism who are associated with TRF.  But, to referrence a couple songs from S & A, We Hold On to that Hope, that someday, somehow, we won't have to see this expression from our boys. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/Tony1.jpg Look at my little Tony.  So beautiful.  So full of things that a 10 year old should share with his father.  What's beyond that blank stare that I see so often.  I choose to Hold On to my Hope....so I can know my son. You are speaking for me perfectly.   And I know that look.   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen/BotanicalGardensOct06026.jpg   These children are physically beautiful, but emotionally and mentally they are sometimes in their own world. Sometimes you can pull them back, sometimes you can't.     These children are lucky to have the two of you there for them. They are beautiful and are lucky to have parents like you. You both love and care for them with all your hearts, and are always on top of any news that comes out. Some children aren't lucky enough to have that.     I won't pretend to know what you are going through but I do know this...     You do what you have to do and more. You put your children ahead of yourself. You love your children unconditionally. You pull that strength from, who knows where, to get through each obstacle daily.   I admire you and hope for the best each and every day for you.   I am sending positive thoughts and wishes your way.

[Milton Bridge]

I seen this today and thought it might be of interest

 

Autism Study

 

hildren with autism do not react differently to other youngsters to the MMR jab, a study shows.

 

London's Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital found no difference in the immune response to the jab in a study of 240 children aged between 10 and 12.

 

Fears about a link between the two were first raised in 1998, prompting a drop in uptake of the vaccine, but that research has now been discredited.

 

Studies since have shown there is no link and that has been confirmed again.

 

The research, partly funded by the Department of Health and published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, is the largest of its kind.

 

 

I hope that this study will reassure them that there is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism

Professor David Salisbury, of the Department of Health

 

Previous studies have mainly looked for a possible link by examining autism trends in large groups of populations.

 

But the Guy's and St Thomas's team analysed blood samples of 240 children aged 10 to 12 to see if the MMR jab had caused an abnormal immune response that could have triggered autism.

 

This would have been indicated by increased antibody levels, but the researchers found no difference in the three groups they studied - children with autism, those without and those with special educational needs.

 

While all the children had had the first MMR jab, not all of them went on to have the second needed for maximum immunity.

 

The children who developed autism or special educational needs were the most likely not to have had the follow up jab - an indication of the public suspicion surrounding the safety of MMR.

 

Researcher Dr David Brown said: "The study found no evidence linking MMR to autistic spectrum disorder and the paper adds to the overwhelming body of evidence from around the world supporting the use of MMR."

 

The Lancet medical journal published research by Dr Andrew Wakefield which led to the possibility being raised of a link between the jab and the condition in 1998.

 

Claims

 

The journal subsequently distanced itself from the study of 12 children after it emerged Dr Wakefield had received funding to support legal action by a group of parents who claimed their children were damaged by the vaccine.

 

Dr Andrew Wakefield is currently appearing before the General Medical Council on charges relating to the claims.

 

But all this was after the publication had had an impact. The up-take of the triple-jab slumped in the immediate aftermath and is still under the 95% needed for herd immunity in some places, particularly London.

 

The number of confirmed measles cases has risen from 56 in 1998 in England and Wales to just under 1,000 in 2007, according to provisional data.

 

However, the impact of MMR on these figures is not clear.

 

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "It's natural for parents to worry about the health and well-being of their children and I hope that this study will reassure them that there is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism."

 

But Jackie Fletcher, from Jabs campaign group, said the conclusions were misleading.

 

"It is making a leap from having the actual data on the antibodies and saying MMR does not cause autism."

 

 

 

[GhostGirl]

Thank you, CeeJ.

[Cygnus The God Of Balance]

I'm glad I'm a Rush fan and that I found this thread. It really does help me through the various emotions of having a child with Autism.

 

Thanks GG!

 

I hate that "Autism stare" that Tony gets, so I'm glad I have this picture of Tony. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/100_1673.jpg

 

You'd never know that he was Autistic in that picture. This is the picture I have right here on my desk at work.

[Test4VitalSigns]

I have tons of admiration for parents who are raising one autistic child.....Imagine SIX autistic children....

 

 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4245377&page=1

 

 

There's a video in this link as well

[owlswing]

QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Feb 6 2008, 09:16 PM)

I have tons of admiration for parents who are raising one autistic child.....Imagine SIX autistic children.... http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4245377&page=1 There's a video in this link as well

Interesting read! The mom has fibromyalgia too which is a connective tisse disease.

 

Some study that I have recently been reading showing genetic links to autism and those who have connective tissue disorder family history.

 

I hope to read more of their blog soon.

[BestIKenster]

QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jul 18 2005, 01:31 PM)

This may not affect too many people here, but for a long, long time I've been researching a possible connection between thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, and autism. I have lots and lots of articles to back this up, and while I don't know if it's too late to help my son, if you are a parent, please take note of what I'll periodically post here. This is a scary issue, and I would feel awful if I didn't share what I'm learning. I'll post links here as I have time, for those who are interested. Also, we have an appointment tomorrow with a doctor who believes this to be a true scenario, so I'm cautiously optimistic that we're seeking help while my son is still young enough to benefit from the treatments. Anyway, thanks for reading, and I'll post some links to articles/research as soon as I can. (Thimerosal is no longer in vaccines at such alarming levels, but it DOES still exist. My son was given vaccines containing this vile substance in amounts far exceeding FDA guidelines in 2000-2001.)

I knew it, thanks GG!

GOD BLESS your Boy!

[BestIKenster]

QUOTE (owlswing @ Feb 6 2008, 06:42 PM)

QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Feb 6 2008, 09:16 PM) I have tons of admiration for parents who are raising one autistic child.....Imagine SIX autistic children.... http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4245377&page=1 There's a video in this link as well Interesting read! The mom has fibromyalgia too which is a connective tisse disease.   Some study that I have recently been reading showing genetic links to autism and those who have connective tissue disorder family history.   I hope to read more of their blog soon. very painful disorder.

[BestIKenster]

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 6 2008, 09:19 AM)

I'm glad I'm a Rush fan and that I found this thread. It really does help me through the various emotions of having a child with Autism. Thanks GG! I hate that "Autism stare" that Tony gets, so I'm glad I have this picture of Tony. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/100_1673.jpg You'd never know that he was Autistic in that picture. This is the picture I have right here on my desk at work.

GOD Bless you and Him!

[barney_rebel]

Girl's writings opening new window on autism

[lerxt1990]

QUOTE (Cygnus The God Of Balance @ Feb 6 2008, 12:19 PM)

I'm glad I'm a Rush fan and that I found this thread. It really does help me through the various emotions of having a child with Autism. Thanks GG! I hate that "Autism stare" that Tony gets, so I'm glad I have this picture of Tony. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb299/rock101dotnet/100_1673.jpg You'd never know that he was Autistic in that picture. This is the picture I have right here on my desk at work.

Ha! What a handsome buckaroo!!!! He looks happy to the core, thats whats important.

[GhostGirl]

A few pics from Stephen's 8th b'day:

 

He loved it that everyone was singing to him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen%20is%20eight/PICT0108.jpg

 

A new book.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen%20is%20eight/PICT0113.jpg

 

And new Thomas trains.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen%20is%20eight/PICT0115.jpg

 

A "new" Charlotte's Web movie to replace the one that got smooshed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/RushBabe/Stephen%20is%20eight/PICT0122.jpg

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

 

Boy, is he getting big.