Rise in Autism......

rollings
rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
edited April 2012 in A Moving Train
New CDC Study Shows Average Autism Prevalence Up 23% From 2009 Study

Boston, MA – A study out today from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) indicates Autism now affects an alarming one in 88 children, (one in 54 boys) a sharp jump from the previous numbers released in late 2009, and frighteningly distant rate from one in 10,000 cases seen in the 1980s.

Today’s study, conducted by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network office of the CDC, looked at eight-year-old children born in 2000. A previous study released by ADDM in 2009 showed autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affected one in 110 children. The number of children identified with ASDs in this study ranged from 1 in 210 children in Alabama to 1 in 47 children in Utah. CDC reports that the largest increases were among Hispanic and black children.

According to a CDC press release issued today, “One thing the data tells us with certainty – there are many children and families who need help,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “We must continue to track autism spectrum disorders because this is the information communities need to guide improvements in services to help children.

The National Autism Association again calls for swift government action, including the declaration of the autism epidemic as a national health crisis. An immediate focus on the following areas is critical:

Prevention:

Genetics alone cannot explain the rise in autism. Proper study into environmental cofactors should be a top priority among our government, researchers and Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

This latest study confirms that the number of children diagnosed with autism continued to rise among those born in 2000, before the removal of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from most routine childhood vaccines. The findings are also consistent with recent studies 1, 2 indicating an association between the hepatitis B vaccine and brain damage.

Parents have consistently stated that regression in their child occurred following immunizations. Further research on the increased use of vaccines is warranted and should be conducted with significant stakeholder input. Obvious research that has been ignored, such as health outcomes in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated populations must be undertaken.

Certain subgroups may be more susceptible to environmental regression, including those with a family history of autoimmune disorders, premature infants, and children that are ill at the time of vaccination. Researching ways to decrease adverse reactions while increasing the safety of vaccines benefits the overall health of the general public.

Treatment:

Children with autism have underlying medical conditions that often go missed, dismissed or misunderstood. These conditions deserve the full attention of our government health agencies and medical research community. A recently published review of the world’s medical literature strongly implicates biochemical abnormalities including oxidative stress, immune dysregulation or inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and toxic exposures.

Physicians should be sure and listen to each caregiver’s account of any medical issues their child with autism may have and not presume it to be behavioral.

Treatment, services and therapies should be available to all individuals with autism. Insurance coverage for co-morbid medical conditions should be mandated nationwide.

Studies on children that significantly progressed or completely lost a classic autism diagnosis should be conducted to uncover biological underpinnings.

Clinical studies on promising treatments are necessary.

Support:

Wandering-related deaths remain on the rise among children diagnosed with autism. A wandering prevention protocol should be in the hands of pediatricians to increase awareness & education. Just yesterday, yet another child with Autism drowned after wandering away from a safe setting.

School systems are overwhelmed by increased autism rates. Our community is in critical need of additional and properly trained special education personnel.

Cameras in special education classrooms are crucial.

Families are often unable to pay for basic speech and occupational therapies. Government aide is needed for these struggling families.

We will soon be faced with a disproportionate number of diagnosed adults in need of housing, job assistance, and lifetime care. Preparation should begin immediately and resources allocated accordingly.

A national strategy for autism is long overdue, as is a central federal web site dedicated to autism programs, assistance and information.

“Autism is a national health emergency. Our hope is that the government will finally declare it as such so that proper prevention, treatments and resources will be put in place,” says NAA Executive Director Lori McIlwain. “Immediate action is necessary for our community, and for members of the general public who just became one doorstep closer to autism."

For more information about autism, visit http://www.nationalautismassociation.org.

--March 29, 2012
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    Interesting reading, thanks for posting. I've read elsewhere that there are strong reasons to believe the rise in autism is more than just genetics. Besides vaccinations I wouldn't be surprised to hear about other environment factors- mercury in fish, heavy metals in the water etc.

    The next movie we're watching this weekend happens to be "Temple Granlin". Looking forward to seeing it. Granlin's an amazing woman!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
  • Who Princess
    Who Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    Rollings wrote:
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
    It's just called "Temple Grandin." Really good movie.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    Who Princess wrote:
    Rollings wrote:
    oh yeah, what's the name of that movie?
    It's just called "Temple Grandin." Really good movie.

    Oh, yes. We just watched it. What a great movie and what a great person Temple Grandin is. When I was a kid I used to wedge myself into tight spaces or corners when felt panic or fear. I get it. And I really, really want to lie down in the middle of a pen of cows. That would be so cool.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
  • stargirl69
    stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    I have worked with children and young adults on the autistic spectrum for many years.There is a definite rise in children being diagnosed younger and with more certainty.

    This has been because children are being referred far quicker to communication clinics etc.Even 10 years ago I worked with children who were reaching their 5th birthday before they were even referred to a specialist,then a lengthy process of anything up to another year before diagnosis.
    All a delay in the time that the child could have access to education,communication and behavioural support.

    Now I work with children who are being diagnosed as young as 28 months and certainly in my area of Scotland there is an excellent education and communication support service for the children that starts as soon as diagnosis is confirmed.

    Prior to this these children were 'fitted' into the Global Developmental Delay diagnosis,code for,'We don't really know what is wrong with your child'.

    I personally don't link vaccination with autism and I have only know less than a handful of parents who have vehemently believed that.I think it is a coincidence that when a child is vaccinated comes in line at the time when a toddler is becoming more communicative.
    Many parents I know have been able to see the difficulties their babies had from birth or very early in their development,I have also seen this in the children I work with prior to the MMR vaccination that was initially blamed.

    I also know a number of children who have had no vaccinations and still were diagnosed on the spectrum.It is a highly emotive subject that I suspect will never be resolved.Autism has been around since way before vaccines became the normal process in childhood and it is here to stay.
    Therefore priority should be to ensure robust support,education and funding is always available for the children and families affected by this disorder.
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    edited April 2012
    Autism linked to vaccines and the coincidental rise of each?
    More vaccines ... more autism?


    This a hard thing to prove and probably never will be while mega giant drug companies
    are making millions billions off of vaccines and enlisting the support of the AAP and the like
    with mutual monetary gains, not to mention the government.

    For me the chickenpox vaccine leading to a shingles epidemic level is proof enough
    that vaccines mess with the natural order of our interaction with disease and the interaction
    of the viruses with each other in our environment. It also proves to me the chicken pox vaccine
    was unnecessary yet was a 200 million dollar a year prize for one company.

    It proves to me that whomever is making the vaccines, they figure out after the fact
    that they cause harm ... some admittedly so, some not.

    As the truth remains elusive, there remains a choice.
    Post edited by pandora on
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    edited April 2012
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this illness recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.
    Post edited by pandora on
  • stargirl69
    stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    pandora wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this disease recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    stargirl69 wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    If you know someone who you suspect their child is autistic, yet the parents appear to be in denial, what is the proper thing to do? I can't be for certain, but symptoms characteristic with Asperger syndrome are present. The kid is 10 and having trouble in school.
    I just learned more about this disease recently and it can go undetected especially in mild forms.

    Probably all you can do is provide information to the parents and support group info.

    Perhaps if they see at this young age how beneficial it will be to get a diagnoses
    and that will make the child's life much easier and happier,
    this is all parents want for their kids.
    They are probably afraid. They can learn it is nothing to fear.

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes
  • stargirl69
    stargirl69 Posts: 6,387
    pandora wrote:
    stargirl69 wrote:

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes

    and yet still .... :roll:
    “There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    stargirl69 wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    stargirl69 wrote:

    Oh please don't use the term disease :cry: Autism is a disorder not a disease.You can't catch it.
    sorry I will beware of the misused term... illness yes

    and yet still .... :roll:
    thank you again for your kindness and understanding on my oversight and misuse
    of terminology ...I stand corrected on the word use

    but not at all on my opinion of the subject debate :?

    actually it is a disorder as you have so kindly said ...yes?


    I tried to clarify by looking up the definition of Disease...
    a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    edited April 2012
    _ wrote:
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
    ...
    Yeah... is it because there are more cases... or that we've figured out and identified it?
    ...
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.
    Post edited by Cosmo on
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
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  • pjtaper
    pjtaper Posts: 3,020
    I heard the autism rate on TV the other day and was SHOCKED! I had to google to confirm. Sad... Oh, the things I'd love to say... must bite tongue...
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    Cosmo wrote:
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.

    It is babies they are vaccinating beginning on the day of birth then 2 months, 4 months, etc etc
    25 shots by age 15 months :o

    Interesting alternative???

    What Is the Alternative Vaccine Schedule?
    Experts debate the pros and cons of the alternative vaccine schedule and what it means for parents.
    By Katherine Kam
    WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
    When pediatrician Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, wrote The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, he envisioned giving parents more choices on how to vaccinate their children if they were concerned about a vaccine’s side effects or ingredients or the large number of shots that kids receive today.

    “A lot of parents don’t really trust the vaccine system,” Sears says. “I felt that if I could give parents a better understanding of vaccines -- as well as an alternative way to approach giving vaccines -- then these families who otherwise might not vaccinate could go ahead and feel comfortable with vaccinating.”

    Recommended Related to Children's Vaccines
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    Read the Meningitis Symptoms Warning Signs article > >
    Sears, who practices in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., says that he isn't against vaccinations. Instead, his book suggests an untraditional “alternative” schedule that delays shots or spaces them further apart. If parents are skittish about any shots at all, he offers a separate “selective” schedule to encourage them to give their kids at least the "bare minimum" of vaccinations.

    But public health officials say that those approaches leave too many kids unprotected for too long and aren’t backed up by science.

    “These altered schedules have not been studied at all,” says Meg Fisher, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical director of the Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' section on infectious diseases. "I would rather stay with what we know is the most likely to protect the most people."

    Regular, Alternative, Selective Vaccine Schedules

    The regular vaccine schedule for children aged 0-6 is approved by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

    It recommends 25 shots in the first 15 months of life. The shots immunize against whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, measles, rubella, rotavirus, polio, hepatitis B, and other diseases.

    The alternative and selective vaccination schedules aren't reviewed or approved by the CDC or other public health group. They come solely from Sears.

    Sears’ alternative vaccine schedule spreads the shots out over a longer period of time, up to age 5-6 years. For instance, he recommends not giving kids more than two vaccines at a time. It also changes the order of vaccines, prioritizing what Sears believes are the most crucial vaccines to get, based on how common and severe the diseases are.

    As Sears writes, “If some of the theoretical problems with vaccines are real, this schedule circumvents most of them. If the problems aren’t real, then the only drawback is the extra time, effort, and cost for the additional doctor’s office visits.”

    For parents who are the most reluctant to vaccinate, his selective vaccination schedule includes what he calls the "bare minimum" vaccinations against serious and common diseases, such as whooping cough and rotavirus. It also omits some vaccines, including the one for polio.
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    It has a genetic component. The specialist that diagnosed my son's Aspergers told us that it has remained in the gene pool because there are useful aspects to this condition. It's been around a long time.

    If you have a child that's on the spectrum, it's harder to hear people wanting to eliminate the "disorder" as if it's an illness or disease. It's not. These people just interact with the world differently. They can be trained to live relatively "normal" lives if they are prepared early.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    justam wrote:
    It has a genetic component. The specialist that diagnosed my son's Aspergers told us that it has remained in the gene pool because there are useful aspects to this condition. It's been around a long time.

    If you have a child that's on the spectrum, it's harder to hear people wanting to eliminate the "disorder" as if it's an illness or disease. It's not. These people just interact with the world differently. They can be trained to live relatively "normal" lives if they are prepared early.
    There was an informative show/ doc on the news recently about a man who is bringing
    awareness to this high functioning form of autism, Aspergers.

    He is a marvelous flute musician and spoke of how much music means to him
    and others with ASD that he teaches.
    I read a bit more about it and I thought, as you elude to, many were very positive traits,
    most especially the high level of focus to learning things enjoyed, higher learning capabilities,
    scholar level.

    Seems from the definition of disease, illness, disorder they are similar,
    interchangeable almost... as with my mistake in terms.

    In my family, mental illness is the general term to cover the different disorders
    some of us have.
  • _
    _ Posts: 6,657
    Cosmo wrote:
    _ wrote:
    Do they know that it's really more autism and not just more diagnosis?
    ...
    Yeah... is it because there are more cases... or that we've figured out and identified it?
    ...
    And please... if parents are not going to vaccinate their kids from measles, chickenpox, whooping cough... they need to keep them quarantined to their homes. There are a lot of little babies out there that are too young to be vaccinated and they do not need to be put at risk because of vaccine paranoia.

    I agree. We're having a whooping cough epidemic here lately and little babies have died. We have this big campaign going to get people vaccinated particularly to protect the babies. :(
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    The campaign is bringing awareness to vaccinate young adults /adults that are carriers
    often to their own infants or those in the childcare industry.
    Pertussis protection wanes over years and boosters are needed.

    We also have had a rise in whooping cough here the last few years.
    This baby shot can frequently have an allergic reaction in kids, as with my son,
    so he as others, were unable to be fully protected then or still.

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