An Autism Mother Rages: Oprah Winfrey's Historic Autism Program »
Posted by: STONERS 11 months, 2 weeks ago133 Comments Report this Story
Oprah Winfrey has made history again. This time it was a show on autism. Not just another show but one that every parent who has a child with autism can use as a guide.
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STONERS11 months, 2 weeks ago
"My only endnote is that none of this would have happened so spectacularly on television if it wasn't for a woman named Katie Wright. Months ago, on an earlier and generally far less gutsy Oprah program, Katie Wright stood up to a pediatrician in the audience and told her that when it comes to autism it was time to start listening to parents. And that started the television balls rolling."
"If you don't know who Katie Wright is, please look her up. And look up all the parents who came before her, too."
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mdvaldosta11 months, 2 weeks ago
My oldest son has Autism, I remember when the rumor was it was caused by vaccinations and Mercury (or something along those lines). It's great to see more awareness about this.
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Mr-opinion11 months, 2 weeks ago
Though admitadly not working in the field of medicine, nor current studys involving autism and vacinations, I do a bit question the connection. I do acknowledge the dangers of mercury, I question the connection since the big vaccination craze was back in the 50's - early 70's and recently (except for flu) has considderably droped.
Considdering that autism propably isn't due to vaccinating babies, rather the effects of the parents vaccinations on their genetic 'passing on of genes'. Parents would be in their 40's (maybe thats the problem itself- later age propogation)
It could be any combination of chemicals (cleaners to medications). I will not dispute any possiblity, I'm curious how to really figure it out - DNA may show a trail - but it will be difficult to find a cause relationship.
Hopefully we will ..... Bright side - many geniuses have suffered from various degrees of autism and have brought us many a discovery, unfortunatelly at great expense to their own enjoyment of life.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
Institute of Medicine Report: No Link Between Vaccines and Autism
There is no link between autism and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or the vaccine preservative thimerosal, according to a report released by the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Immunization Safety Review Committee.
The report, released in May 2004, was prepared by a committee of independent experts established by the IOM in 2001 at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate evidence on potential links between childhood vaccines and health problems. The agencies explored the issue because of growing controversy and questions from the public about vaccine safety.
Some parents have expressed concern because the symptoms of autism typically emerge in a child's second year of life, around the same time children first receive the MMR vaccine.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/504_iom.html
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STONERS11 months, 2 weeks ago
You are very welcome elll... Thanks for taking the time to read it...
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Jaydee4011 months, 2 weeks ago
You didn't miss much that you can't already find on line, as Jenny said just Google it and look at the links. Oprah added nothing new to the already tragic rise of Autism.
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hawaiimom11 months, 2 weeks ago
My son who is now 13 has Autism and I believe that he showed signs from birth. When born he was stiff and didn't like to be held like my other babies had. In the first couple months he didn't show any interest in me or my husband, but love a fish tank & the t.v. This was all before we had decided to go with the norm and get him vaccinated. He always was delayed and then lost total speech at 18 months. To this day he still doesn't like physical contact, give eye contact, love his fish tank & t.v. and continues to be delayed. I believe that we need to look at other areas beside vaccinations and widen our search for answers. It's not the only thing we've changed in the last 50 years. Plus I know parents w/vaccinated children with Autism. Why would boys be more likely to get it than girls?????
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palamaComment removed: User banned.
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Luseride11 months, 2 weeks ago
I hope that many parents were able to view that show. I also hope that they have an ancore performance of it! Education of the parents is key.
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2sidestoeverything11 months, 2 weeks ago
I can relate to these parents in many ways I do not have a child with Autism but I did have a son with Spina Bifida and though Spina Bifida has been around for many many years there was not much talk about it. It is sad to say but unless you have a celebrity behind a cause it gets very little attention. Now that this has hit television more help will come about as well as education.
Where I work there is still many parents that have struggles with getting services for there child with Autism. We need to do what many say put our children first.
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saltyveruca11 months, 2 weeks ago
As much as Oprah annoys me to no end, it sounds like she did a good thing this time.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
Modern science has found ZERO, *ABSOLUTELY ZERO* connection between vaccinations and the onset of autism.
ZERO. ZERO. ZERO. ZERO. ZERO.
"The overwhelming evidence from several well-designed studies indicates that childhood vaccines are NOT (NOT NOT NOT NOT!!!) associated with autism"
There is NO CONNECTION BETWEEN AUTISM AND VACCINES.
NONE. NADA. NO CONNECTION.
AUSTISM NOT AT ALL RELATED TO VACCINATIONS.
AUTISM IS NOT CAUSED BY VACCINATIONS.
AUTISM IS NOT CAUSED BY MERCURY EITHER.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/04...
Based on a thorough review of clinical and epidemiological studies, neither the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal nor the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are associated with autism, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Furthermore, the hypotheses regarding how the MMR vaccine and thimerosal could trigger autism lack supporting evidence and are theoretical only.
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markmawn211 months, 2 weeks ago
Go ahead and vaccinate your kids then. I will pick and choose and should have the right to do so.
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Jaydee4011 months, 2 weeks ago
If there is no connection between Autism and the vaccines why are they continuing to test the drugs for just that reason?
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jaspersneed11 months, 2 weeks ago
Ricky, you're a little overboard here in your defense. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. The kneejerk reaction on the parts of scientists, physicians and researchers to believe and claim the opposite is a disservice to the true spirit of scientific inquiry, and only lends support to the beliefs of many that the entire medical profession operates at the behest of corporate and business interests, rather than in accord with its Hippocratic Oath. The verdict is not in on the vaccination questions by a long shot; we don't need disingenuous proclamations beforehand trying to fool people into thinking it is.
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memestryker11 months, 1 week ago
Those of us who do have loved ones with autism and asperger's owe it to ourselves to keep looking for correlations, instead of endlessly insisting, against the evidence, that the cause must be the thimerosal.
What makes people demand definitive answers where none exist? Any scientist would love to get a Nobel prize for finding the cause of these disorders. Groupthink isn't going to help us.
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Mr-opinion11 months, 2 weeks ago
Though all this may be correct( and I am of similar 'opinion' - note 'opinion') I am not one for subscribing to any information which just dismissed certain posibilities, until a 'likely' possiblity if presented.
Dismissals are an easy way to passify and to allow you to continue in your (possibly errand) ways.
We DO KNOW that mercury is toxic(not as bad as made out to be - a broken thermometer won't make your hair and teeth fall out) and has many negative effects on the human body to I am highly puzzled as to why it continues to be used in vaccines.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
Wrong. Again.
Although there is ***overwhelming scientific evidence*** showing no causal association between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism, and there is ***no convincing evidence*** that the vaccine preservative thimerosal helps cause autism, parental concern has led to a decreasing uptake of childhood immunizations and the increasing likelihood of measles outbreaks[48][49] such as the measles cases in Britain during summer 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
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pddmom11 months, 2 weeks ago
Oprah has also had at least two other shows about autism and I applaud her for increasing awareness. My daughter has PDD-NOS and we've been on the road to recovery for over two years now. I've heard the vaccination argument, but my feeling is that there are so many developmental changes taking place around 18 months-2 years that it's possible that something goes awry in a child's neurological development which leads to ASD. I find it very hard pin the disorder on vaccinations and put my children at risk for disease by refusing them. Moving on from causes to cures, I HIGHLY recommend reading "Let Me Hear Your Voice" by Catherine Maurice. It is a wonderful true story of recovery that any parent with an ASD child should run out to read.
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jaspersneed11 months, 2 weeks ago
"I find it very hard pin the disorder on vaccinations and put my children at risk for disease by refusing them."
It is relatively commonplace now to insist on and receive thimerosal free vaccines, which at least eliminates your child's exposure to the most likely culprit in the vaccination/autism scenario. If it is someday clinically PROVEN thimerosal is not involved in causing autism, at least your children still have their vaccinations, plus they were spared a needless exposure to a serious toxin.
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markmawn211 months, 2 weeks ago
We forewent all of the recommended vaccinations after attending seminars with autism experts and practitioners from all fields of practice, including naturopathic. Instead of MMR as one vaccination, we spread it out to M and R. We also had our chil'd polio vaccinations done in Canada. We also did not do the 12 or 18 month vaccinations as that is the most dangerous time during a child's immunity development. Other considerations: Healthy mom precautions during the pregnancy, including healthy proteins and folic acid. Additionally, 100% breast milk after birth up to 6 months to contribute the antibodies for development. 7 years later and going, no allergies, no autism, no ADD, very fit, creative and physically active child.
My gut tells me that vaccines are a contributor, and with my child I will not take the risk. I would rather fight the system than produce a child who will struggle to survive every day. You have to have courage to say NO to the MAN and do what you feel is right!
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is three years old. These characteristics distinguish autism from milder autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Heritability contributes a large fraction of the risk of a child's developing the disorder, although the genetics of autism are complex, and it is generally unclear which genes are responsible.[1] In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects.[2] Other proposed causes, such as the exposure of children to vaccines, are controversial and the vaccine hypotheses are unsupported by convincing scientific evidence.[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
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Jaydee4011 months, 2 weeks ago
A few years ago our son has a small reaction to the Whopping Cough vaccine so we didn't allow his booster or our other two to have the vaccination. Enough parents here in Canada refused to allow their children to have the vaccine so the Government shifted to a safer drug the was made in Canada all along, try and tell me there was no money at work keeping the old vaccine in use.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
At first autism was linked to the MMR vaccine, and when the scientific evidence shot this down claims shifted to the mercury in thimerosal in some childhood vaccines (but not the MMR vaccine). A grassroots phenomenon emerged, and has been at increasing odd with the scientific evidence.
The bottom line at this point is that the evidence has not shown any link between vaccines in general or thimerosal specifically to autism spectrum disorder. Further, the notion that there is an epidemic, or increasing incidence, of autism is in serious doubt and the best evidence suggests the increased number of diagnoses is an artifact of definition and surveillance. Further, removing thimerosal from childhood vaccines has not changed the incidence of autism. (See my prior blogs on this issue â;; listed below - for more details and references.)
The scientific community has already picked over this issue, and the conclusions are well-established.
No link between autism and vaccines.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
At first autism was linked to the MMR vaccine, and when the scientific evidence shot this down claims shifted to the mercury in thimerosal in some childhood vaccines (but not the MMR vaccine). A grassroots phenomenon emerged, and has been at increasing odd with the scientific evidence.
The bottom line at this point is that the evidence has not shown any link between vaccines in general or thimerosal specifically to autism spectrum disorder. Further, the notion that there is an epidemic, or increasing incidence, of autism is in serious doubt and the best evidence suggests the increased number of diagnoses is an artifact of definition and surveillance. Further, removing thimerosal from childhood vaccines has not changed the incidence of autism. (See my prior blogs on this issue â;; listed below - for more details and references.)
The scientific community has already picked over this issue, and the conclusions are well-established.
No link between autism and vaccines.
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JhnKroeger11 months, 2 weeks ago
The point with the vaccinations is that vaccination or the mercury in the vaccinations may have the potential to trigger autism in some children. Not every ones body reacts the same when chemicals are introduced to it. My son is 15 & has autism. Instead of beating up on parents who feel that the vaccinations may have triggered autism in their child, put yourself in their shoes & try to picture what you would do for your own child.
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Jaydee4011 months, 2 weeks ago
Was there always symptoms or did he seem to regress one day?
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
I've posted many times about the pseudoscience of the mercury militia, that group of parents, bolstered by those Don Quixotes tilting at the mercury windmills in the cause of extracting more money from the government to compensate "vaccine-injured" children with autism, Mark and David Geier. These and other luminaries of the mecury militia blame vaccines for lots of bad things, be it autism, immune problems, "autistic enterocolitis," and generalized "mercury toxicity," all the while asserting piously (and, most amazingly of all, with a straight face) that, oh no, they aren't in any way "antivaccine." Oh, yes, they "support" vaccination, but think that it's caused all sorts of "damage" to their children. One of the vilest lies of antivaccination loons, is the claim that (SBS) is in reality a misdiagnosis for vaccine injury, which, if you believe these cranks, can cause brain damage that very much looks like SBS.
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markmawn211 months, 2 weeks ago
You pro-lifers should be concerned about what is in your vaccinations. For MMR:
MMR - Measles-Mumps-Rubella Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372
* measles, mumps, rubella live virus, neomycin sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin, chick embryonic fluid, and human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
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markmawn211 months, 2 weeks ago
Some topices of interest using this search result:
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&...
Bush Asks Court To Seal MMR Vaccine Records
Eli Lilly Wins Protection From Autism Lawsuits
US Scientists Back Autism Link to MMR Vaccine
Vitamin A 'Highly Effective' In Treating Autism Visual Distortions ...
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
A review by the Institute of Medicine
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v10/n5/full...
A review of over 200 studies concluded that that there was no causal link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Autism is no more common among vaccinated than unvaccinated children, and its incidence has not covaried with the presence of thimerosal in vaccines across different times and locations.
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RickyDawkins11 months, 2 weeks ago
The idea that autism is caused by vaccination is influencing public policy, even though rigorous studies do not support this hypothesis. Legislators are right to take into account the concerns of parent groups and others directly affected by autism, but policy decisions should be based on hard evidence rather than anxiety. More worryingly, some proponents have adopted tactics reminiscent of certain animal rights groups, which are aimed at shutting down the views of opponents.
The hypothesis is based on the observation that the number of autism cases increased in the 1980s, coinciding with a push for greater childhood vaccinations, which increased above recommended levels children's exposure to mercury in the vaccine preservative thimerosal. However, autism diagnosis continued to rise even after thimerosal was removed from US childhood vaccines in 2001.
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jaspersneed11 months, 2 weeks ago
"However, autism diagnosis continued to rise even after thimerosal was removed from US childhood vaccines in 2001."
Now you're simply being disingenuous. First of all thimerosal has NOT yet been exhaustively "removed" from the extant US childhood vaccination stock. Secondly, the diagnosis rates for autism in children vaccinated SUBSEQUENT to its ultimate, complete removal is what will weigh most heavily in an accurate assessment. That point has not been reached, nor that data collected.
When science's pursuit of truth is corrupted by hidden, commercial interests, there are times, thankfully, when public policy manages to get ahead of the curve on important matters, this being one good example. Tobacco and lung cancer is another. Would you care for me to find you some quotes from "scientists" who still maintain there is not yet CONCLUSIVE evidence of a provable link between smoking and disease?
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