Autism One Conference

I am off to the Autism One Conference in Chicago today. It is a huge three to five day event where we will talk about everything autism. Here's the link to more information.

I was invited because I did a half hour special on autism last year. It was mainly to educate teachers and care givers of the signs and symptoms of autism. I am happy to report, it has been used in many classrooms. I put a couple of the stories from the special on You Tube.

If you are new to this blog, here are the links to the Autism Epidemic stories.





-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Autism and Vaccines

Update: Here's CNN's coverage of today's news conference with the family of a little girl who has autism in Georgia.

Here's CNN's Sanjay Gupta on todays news conference about autism and vaccines.

This is the ABC story: Government health officials have conceded that childhood vaccines worsened a rare, underlying disorder that ultimately led to autism-like symptoms in a Georgia girl, and that she should be paid from a federal vaccine-injury fund. Medical and legal experts say the narrow wording and circumstances probably make the case an exception - not a precedent for thousands of other pending claims.

The government "has not conceded that vaccines cause autism," said Lindam Renzi, the lawyer representing federal officials, who have consistently maintained that childhood shots are safe. However, parents and advocates for autistic children see the case as a victory that may help certain others. Although the science on this is very limited, the girl's disorder may be more common in autistic children than in healthy ones.

Nearly 5,000 families are seeking compensation for autism or other developmental disabilities they blame on vaccines and a mercury-based preservative, thimerosal. It once was commonly used to prevent bacterial contamination but since 2001 has been used only in certain flu shots. Some cases contend that the cumulative effect of many shots given at once may have caused injuries.

Studies repeatedly have discounted any link between thimerosal and autism, but legal challenges continue. The issue even cropped up in the presidential campaign, with Republican John McCain asserting on Friday that"there's strong evidence" autism is connected to the preservative. Others said they doubt the Georgia case will have much effect.

No link between mitochondrial disorders and autism spectrum disorder has been made in mainstream medicine," said Dr. Michael Pichichero of the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., who has consulted for the government on vaccines and has received speaking fees from vaccine makers.Reported cases of autism have been rising in the U.S., even after thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines.

However, some experts believe the rise is due to an expansion of the definition of autism and related conditions, and a desire to diagnose children so they qualify for special services and aid.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Autism Epidemic

If you have even the tiniest inclination that your child is behind developmentally, I urge you to get them checked out. It is normal for you to be in denial, but it can hurt your child in the long run.

Autism is now impacting one in every 150 kids. It is at epidemic proportions. If your child does, in fact, have a form of autism there is a window of opportunity you don't want to miss. The kids I've seen who are treated early, by 18 months, have much better results.

If you have any concerns at all about your child's development, a screening will only help. Most states offer them for free.

My son does not have autism, but he did have a speech delay. That's how I got involved with a group that helps kids with autism. My pediatrician (not my current doctor) said, "Oh, he's a boy. Boys talk later than girls. He'll catch up." He did catch up, but there are so many kids who don't. So I don't think that's a good thing to say to parents. I have heard parents of children with autism tell me the same stories about their pediatricians and they regret waiting to have their kids screened.

And what about all the controversy over what causes autism?

I spent a year researching this topic, and produced a half-hour special explaining the history of autism, signs and symptoms, and the theories on what is causing the increase in cases.

I posted two of the stories on YouTube from the half hour special: Autism Diagnosis (4:09) and Autism Symptoms(3:55)

If you'd like a copy of the entire special, just e-mail me at:

NewsAnchorMom@gmail.com

I compiled a lot more information about the Autism Epidemic Special, including the safety of immunization shots, on my station's website.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen