Remember all those news magazine "special reports" devoted to the alarming rise in autism?
The big problem is something called “diagnostic substitution.” In special education programs, “autism” was not a required category until created by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Suddenly, “autism” diagnoses for special education sky rocketed. At the same time things like “mental retardation” and other categories for mental disabilities declined. The researcher, Dr. Paul Shattuck, notes that this pattern has been observed in the past and that it was not the case that there was epidemic. In short, the problem is that there was a better diagnosis/classification scheme put into place and the primary data source that is often used to justify the “autism epidemic” claim is tainted and cannot be used to determine if there really is an epidemic.
I've a friend who's an LPN in extended care. She's talked of the change in terminology from senility, to dementia, to Alzheimer's, and a number of other terms/phrases I cannot recall. The point seems to be that when we truly don't understand what's going on, we make up a justifiable name for it and dance around for years in fundamental ignorance.
Posted by: Richard at April 12, 2006 3:07 PMYup.
And look for catastrophic illness rates to rise dramatically. Nothing to do with a sharp increase in the aged population and extension of life expectancy.
No, no. It's evil capitalism that gives us cancer. Now turn on your big screen TV, open that bag of organic veggie-chips, swallow another David Suzuki pile of horse shit and go back to sleep.
/CBC mode off
Posted by: Doug at April 12, 2006 5:10 PMI know a teenager who's been in the mental health system since age three. Seems the child was overly energetic, so he was diagnosed with A.D.D., then ADHD, then Aspergers syndrome, then autism, each diagnosis accompanied with the requisite drug. The child was started on Ritalin at age three, even though the manufacturer of Ritalin clearly states "not to be used by children under six years ". Since then the child has been on every drug you've ever read about, including ritalin, imipramine, clomiprimine, clonidine,dexedrine, etc, etc ad nauseum. There are several class action lawsuits in the U.S. featuring victims of these drugs, but the system keeps doling them out to kids. Keeps them passive in school, I guess. Finally, after 15 or so years of this, the experts examined the young person and came up with "pervasive developmental disorder". But there's no funding for that category, but the child was previously diagnosed as "autistic" so there's some funding for an education aide. The parents asked , early on, if maybe there could be something physiologically affecting the child, could they do tests for allergies, chronic diseases, etc. "No, not available in Canada, you'd have to go to the U.S. for that, costs thousands." So they pick up the DSM, and prescribe the drug of the week.
The child's mother accidentally took one of the pills the child was expected to function on. She was flat on her back for eight hours. At the time , the child was six years old.
Ther is not an epidemic of autism or any other of the trendy childhood mental ilnesses. There is only an inability to diagnose, a lack of funding for the proper proceedures, and a total lack of will on the part of the Psychology profession. Prescribing drugs is fast and easy.
The proponents of nurse-nannyism and the beneficiaries of all the wonderfull "Programs" ( those being the folks who get employment in those programs! ) allways need some Tags and taglines to toss around so that the sheeple will panic and fall into line.
The amount of psuedo-science and absolute BS that we are subjected to wears allmost everyone down eventually.
Here's to people who refuse to be conned!
Posted by: PGP at April 12, 2006 7:00 PMWillful ignorance does not change reality. Mandating the injections of millions of children with vaccines laced with the preservative ethly mercury (one of the most powerful neuro-toxins known to man) just couldn't be the cause of the autism epidemic could it. I'm sure the recent decline in diagnosis couldn't be related to the outrage generated once people learned what was in the vaccines and states forbade mercury in childhood vaccines.
The medical industry makes the adscam boys look a bunch of amateurs when it comes to scams (notwithstanding the fine personal work of many MDs). At least the adscammers were just stealing our money. Our health our lives and our souls are far more difficult to replace.
To put it in perspective the government of Canada would be a small client to a big PR firm compared to any of the major Pharma players. Whole economies need the cash flow generated by pharma and pension funds (the major player in the equities markets) need the returns. Sadly we are financially addicted to the mechants of death.
One would think that conservatives of all stripes would respect personal choice and freedom in healthcare, rather than being dictated to by doctor's unions, self-interested financial entities and bureaubots who think they know what's best for us.
In my view real conservatives think for themselves.
Peter
Posted by: peter helgason at April 12, 2006 7:02 PM>>In my view real conservatives think for themselves.
Peter, in my view real PEOPLE think for themselves. Sad that we seem compelled to label each other in largely unsatisfying ways.
Richard
Well, as a parent of a child with autism (genuine, and no doubt about it),I agree that the increase in diagnoses most likely is due to better knowledge of the disorder on the part of the public, the medical and para-medical professions.
Peter, I won't debate this with you here, but folks should know that there is no scientific support for the notion that mercury-based preservatives in vaccines cause autism. Besides, thimerosol hasn't been used in Canada at least since 1990 or so.
People should also know that the only treatment for autism with scientific support is Applied Behavioural Analysis ("ABA), developed by Dr. Ivor Lovaas at UCLA and replication sites about 30 years ago.
Curiously, despite constant bleating about Canadians' alleged superiority over the USA in terms of social programs, etc., ABA therapy has widespread acceptance in American academic and health policy circles, and is indeed funded by governments and/or private health insurers.
In Canada on the other hand, outdated theories about autism (eg., psychoanalytic theories, nutritional deficiencies, etc.) and "warehouse" approaches to the treatment and care of autistic individuals is the norm. There is no funding, for the most part, of the only scientifically valid treatment known to improve the lives of these people and their families( I'm talking about real science, folks, not the kind the teach you at Yogi Baba's school of Natural Medicine). Yep, and it's not like we have a private health care option here.
Just my two cents. And please, Scientologists, pharma-conspiracy theorists, organic veg-heads, naturopaths and others of your ilk, please don't cloud discussions like this with your crap.
Posted by: SonsofMonkeysandSwine at April 12, 2006 7:26 PMI've mentioned in the past that we lived in L.A. for some time and were involved with the Special Olympics there. We knew people who were autistic as well as their families and some super dedicated school teachers who came out on their spare time to help them out in their athletics.
One thing we did learn is that parents have learned to manipulate the system there. Not all parents of course, but we saw cases where unethical parents of a child with some autistic traits but NOT autistic were unsuccessful in obtaining a diagnosis of autism with the local sources so they went to UCLA and got a diagnosis right away. That made the parents happy. It doesn't matter that you have 5 doctors saying MR, if one doctor says 'autism' the parents would take that to an autism advocacy group, get a lawyer and sue the school district for special services. I'm not talking just an EA. I'm talking about a one-on-one, and tons of people coming in through the week to help them with everything from language to motor skills. It's all about services. Of course you can give a kid all the services you want but if they are focusing on the wrong things due to a bad diagnosis they don't progress. To top it off, Johnny's grade 10 algebra class has no math books because the money is spent elsewhere.
So, the system can be manipulated for your benefit down there. Although Canada's health system royally sucks rocks, I certainly hope we never get to the point where we sue everyone like they do in the US.
Posted by: Altruistic at April 12, 2006 11:43 PMthe same with ADHD. Is it science or bogus medicine? I could go on ad nauseum with this one. Short story - I sent a public submission to the FDA while it was in the middle of deliberating on ADHD meds earlier this year. I think everyone knows the outcome of that.
The longer version - concerns put to the FDA is a test called the 16PF - developed in the United States with American statitics based on its census information was not changed or developed for the Canadian population.
The 16PF was not approved for use in the United States to diagnos ADHD but it is being sold in Ontario to use to diagnos ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder. Apparently - if you don't like tags on the back of your shirt - you have ADHD.
There is more information flowing about the use of the DSM IV-TR to make mental illness diagnosis on the net and slowly creeping into medical journals in a subversive way. The DSM (diagnositc statistical manual) was developed for clinicians to communicate with each other and is mostly based on semantics - not the science of medicine to find the etiology of mental illness, which includes autism.
I have read reports that those who work in silicon valley have high functioning autism - we otherwise knew such individuals as nerds.
Posted by: habamusrodentum at April 13, 2006 1:43 AMBetter diagnosis is too simplistic. I have a good friend, a medical doctor, whose son is autistic. He is a walking, talking miracle, and the traditional medical approach to autism has nothing to do with it. This mother had the courage to step outside of the box, for her son's sake, and that has certainly paid off. She recommended that I read Evidence of Harm - it is chilling. (And BTW, thimerosal is still being used in the flu vaccine.) My son, who was diagnosed as having an auditory processing problem (and would have been labelled ADHD in the public system - I have him in a private school) is a different boy since I simply took him off wheat and dairy - he's still the same happy, busy fellow, but he can now concentrate, make eye contact, reflect - the compulsion to move all the time that seemed to afflict him before is gone. And I thank my friend for putting me on to the solution. The cause? No, we may not pin it down with absolute certainty, since it's likely a combination of many things, but for the sake of my children, I'll keep an open mind.
Posted by: Linda at April 13, 2006 10:33 AMSorry...thimerosal has not been shown to be a factor in autism, and while each child may respond differently to changes in diet (and I applaud you for your efforts), wheat, gluten and milk are not causative factors....end of story! In real scientific circles, there is no debate. I haven't read that book but I would caution anyone, especially parents who are desperately looking for help with a newly-diagnosed child, against looking to naturopaths, Scientologists or other snake-oil peddlars. Get a a good behavioural program in place FIRST, 'cause no matter what, you're gonna need it, and there so far is NO CURE.
With regard to earlier comments, by far the larger problem is in under- or mis-diagnosis and LACK of services available to kids with PDD, rather than an abundance of parents maliciously manipulating the 'system' to get more services than they need. Give your head a shake, buddy!
Obviously a comment like this has to be from someone without much understanding or compassion for the immense stress families like these are in.
Posted by: SonsofMonkeysandSwine at April 13, 2006 4:22 PMMaybe you should change your name from SonsofMonkeysandSwine to SonsofB******
I gave my head a shake and couldn't believe you actually made that comment about me! I never said :
"...abundance of parents maliciously manipulating the 'system' to get more services than they need".
In fact I said :
"Not all parents of course, but we saw cases where unethical parents of a child..."
I think any plain person can see the difference. You should maybe have your own neuroses diagnosed before making anymore comments here. And then give your own head a shake.
Where I lived I certinaly saw NO lack of services as you say, in fact I saw an abundance of services waiting to be used. But what we did see was plenty of misdiagnosis.
"Obviously a comment like this has to be from someone without much understanding or compassion for the immense stress families like these are in."
Wrong again. My family is in this position daily. I simply related a story from what we've seen. Our personal experience. Real life students. Manipulative parents. Dedicated and loving teachers. And what do I get for sharing my story? I get someone who reads things that aren't there, and then has the nerve to say I lack compassion for these families.
I dealt with about 60 people like this anually in my volunteer work. Not only do I love them, I can relate to them very well. Don't try and belittle me, my friends and my family. And yes, we do have members of our family that require those very services.
Bitter? Ya, I'm bitter about that comment. Remember, not everyone is out to get you.
Posted by: Altruistic at April 13, 2006 11:39 PMAltruistic: do you mean to say that you have a child with autism, or that, poor you, you actually have to deal with these families?
You still don't get it...there is very little in terms of 'best practice' care available in Canada.
I stand by my comments. And since you're the one throwing ad hominem around, you're also an a$$hole who shouldn't be anywhere near a child with autism.
Thimerosal is still being used in vaccines in Canada. One example is the flu vaccine. Here is a list of the ingrediants from the Government of Saskatchewan website:
- Influenza vaccine contains egg, thimerosal, formaldehyde, Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate.
The MSDS sheets on these substances states they are toxic.
There is also ample evidence in the scientific literature to support that thimerosal is neurotoxic(poisons the brain) and may contribute to the rising rates of neurological disorders like autism, add, adhd, etc. Call these what you like, the facts are that they are ALL on the rise so lets not get tangled up in terms here folks:
- July 1999, the US Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics released a joint policy statement regarding Thimerosal declaring:
"thimerosal containing vaccines should be removed as soon as possible".
- October of 200l, the Institute of Medicine - Immunization Safety Review Committee concluded the link between thimerosal containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders as "biologically plausible" and stated:
"The committee recommends the use of the thimerosal-free DTaP, Hib, hepatitis B vaccines in the United States, despite the fact that there might be remaining supplies of thimerosal-containing vaccine available."
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) located in Atlanta, Georgia. They are one of the most respected authorities on toxic substances in the world and operates under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control states:
"The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury."
" ... mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus."
"Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems."
"Very young children are more sensitive to mercury than adults."
"Mercury in the mother's body passes to the fetus and may accumulate there."
"Mercury's harmful effects that may be passed from the mother to the fetus include brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak."
"Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage."
"Properly dispose of older medicines that contain mercury."
"Keep all mercury-containing medicines away from children."
- The comparative toxicology of ethyl and methyl mercury by Magos, Brown, Sparrow, Bailey, et al published in the Archives of Toxicology (1985) 57: 260-267., has stated:
"There was little difference in the neurotoxicities of methylmercury and ethylmercury
when effects on the dorsal root ganglia or coordination disorders were compared."
"The neurological signs and symptoms of methyl- and ethyl mercury intoxication are identical..."
- David S. Baskin, M.D., and his colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery published their findings regarding the Toxicity of Thimerosal in Toxicological Sciences, 2003 74 : 361-368. They concluded:
"We found that thimerosal in micromolar concentrations RAPIDLY DECREASED cellular viability."
- The Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products by Gosselin, Smith and Hodge (5th edition):
“...ethyl mercury(Thimerosal) derivatives are virulent neurotoxins on either acute or chronic exposure."
"They are especially hazardous because of their volatility, their ability to penetrate epithelial & blood-brain barriers & their persistence in vivo."
Thimerosal is still being used in vaccines in Canada and it is toxic.
There is ample evidence that Thimerosal is toxic, and is contributing to the massive rise of autism, and other neurological disorders:
- US Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics
"thimerosal containing vaccines should be removed as soon as possible".
http://www.nomercury.org/science/documents/AAP-USPHS_Joint_Statement.pdf
- Institute of Medicine - Immunization Safety Review Committee
"The committee recommends the use of the thimerosal-free DTaP, Hib, hepatitis B vaccines in the United States,
despite the fact that there might be remaining supplies of thimerosal-containing vaccine available."
Whoops, had some stuff added at the bottom the repeated itself. The post ends at Corey
Posted by: Corey at April 15, 2006 3:32 PMSometimes a picture is worth a thousand words:
Professor Boyd Haley, considered one of the worlds formost authorities on Thimerosal poisoning:
http://www.nomercury.org/media/haley/haley_files/default.htm
Posted by: Corey at April 15, 2006 3:42 PM