Comments on: Autism, Genetics, and Family: New Questions http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:51:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: What Do You Think About Genetic Testing and Autism? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-535881 What Do You Think About Genetic Testing and Autism? Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:14:25 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/#comment-535881 [...] is currently no genetic test for autism; the mention of one can incite a serious discussion: If there were a prenatal genetic test for autism, and if expecting parents found out that they [...] [...] is currently no genetic test for autism; the mention of one can incite a serious discussion: If there were a prenatal genetic test for autism, and if expecting parents found out that they [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-537789 Kristina Chew, PhD Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:59:48 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/#comment-537789 And I hope to keep it that way......... I was using the notion of a "single cause" in a more general sense, as you note, in reference to theories of autism causation that "single out" one thing in particular (the MMR vaccine; one could say that <a href="http://www.autismvox.com/from-mother-blaming-to-mercury-blaming/">Bettelheim's theory</a> was also a "single cause theory," with the cause being parents). Single cause theories need particularly to be treated with care due to their seeming to provide single courses of treatment.... And I hope to keep it that way……… I was using the notion of a “single cause” in a more general sense, as you note, in reference to theories of autism causation that “single out” one thing in particular (the MMR vaccine; one could say that Bettelheim’s theory was also a “single cause theory,” with the cause being parents). Single cause theories need particularly to be treated with care due to their seeming to provide single courses of treatment….

]]> By: M'sDad http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-537700 M'sDad Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:40:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/#comment-537700 Kristina - once again a phenomenally useful and helpful post, aiming for a balanced understanding of the complexity of autism - thanks! I feel somewhat peevish for picking a nit, however; you observe that the controversy over the "vaccine court" and Wakefield has fed discussion of a "single cause" theory, but it's not clear to me that Wakefield subscribes to the idea that the MMR is a "single cause"; whether or not one believes that his work is "junk science" and/or that he is a borderline malicious opportunist, my understanding is that his contention has been that the MMR is a trigger for GI disturbances in some children because of their specific genetic makeup... and those GI disturbances create neurological disruption as well. Certainly at least one of the doctors associated with the clinic Wakefield co-founded (Thoughtful House, in Austin TX) seems to be taking a "genetic predisposition, variety of possible harmful environmental triggers" tack with his recent book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Course-Autism-Scientific-Physicians/dp/product-description/1591810612"> Changing the Course of Autism</a>. Granted, he still medicalizes the definition and approach to autism, but after all, that's his professional background... Of course, in our litigious society, if there is a court set up for litigation over a particular type of "trigger" (especially if the litigation is against a category of company that is easily characterized as "big and nasty and profiteering"), it makes perfect sense that parents in search of financial resources would (attempt to) emphasize that trigger. Much harder to go after more diffuse environmental triggers, let alone internal biological/developmental triggers. The more I read and think, the less convinced I am by the vaccine theory; and I don't think I buy the MMR theory either (especially for the overwhelming majority of the population; I'm less certain that there are absolutely *no* children whose genetic makeup is such that they *would* indeed be harmed by a live-virus measles vaccine, but proving a negative is notoriously impossible). But I also think that partisans on both sides have found it useful to demonize the opposite side by characterizing its positions as stark and non-nuanced, and I'm not sure that is all that helpful in moving toward a better set of resources (however one chooses to define that) for individuals with autism... another reason why I am so grateful for the low-partisanship buzz of this blog. Thanks again, Kristina! Kristina – once again a phenomenally useful and helpful post, aiming for a balanced understanding of the complexity of autism – thanks! I feel somewhat peevish for picking a nit, however; you observe that the controversy over the “vaccine court” and Wakefield has fed discussion of a “single cause” theory, but it’s not clear to me that Wakefield subscribes to the idea that the MMR is a “single cause”; whether or not one believes that his work is “junk science” and/or that he is a borderline malicious opportunist, my understanding is that his contention has been that the MMR is a trigger for GI disturbances in some children because of their specific genetic makeup… and those GI disturbances create neurological disruption as well.

Certainly at least one of the doctors associated with the clinic Wakefield co-founded (Thoughtful House, in Austin TX) seems to be taking a “genetic predisposition, variety of possible harmful environmental triggers” tack with his recent book, Changing the Course of Autism. Granted, he still medicalizes the definition and approach to autism, but after all, that’s his professional background…

Of course, in our litigious society, if there is a court set up for litigation over a particular type of “trigger” (especially if the litigation is against a category of company that is easily characterized as “big and nasty and profiteering”), it makes perfect sense that parents in search of financial resources would (attempt to) emphasize that trigger. Much harder to go after more diffuse environmental triggers, let alone internal biological/developmental triggers.

The more I read and think, the less convinced I am by the vaccine theory; and I don’t think I buy the MMR theory either (especially for the overwhelming majority of the population; I’m less certain that there are absolutely *no* children whose genetic makeup is such that they *would* indeed be harmed by a live-virus measles vaccine, but proving a negative is notoriously impossible). But I also think that partisans on both sides have found it useful to demonize the opposite side by characterizing its positions as stark and non-nuanced, and I’m not sure that is all that helpful in moving toward a better set of resources (however one chooses to define that) for individuals with autism… another reason why I am so grateful for the low-partisanship buzz of this blog. Thanks again, Kristina!

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-537692 Kristina Chew, PhD Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:19:40 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/#comment-537692 Sounds like a fabulous household for him to be in----my son is an only child. We have been living with my husband's elderly parents and a live-in nurse for the past year and it has been a very good thing for him to live with other people and learn to be in a household that is not always focused on him. Best wishes---- Sounds like a fabulous household for him to be in—-my son is an only child. We have been living with my husband’s elderly parents and a live-in nurse for the past year and it has been a very good thing for him to live with other people and learn to be in a household that is not always focused on him. Best wishes—-

]]> By: resilientmom http://www.blisstree.com/articles/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-537662 resilientmom Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:59:41 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/autism-genetics-and-family-new-questions/#comment-537662 This website is comprehensive and valuable. My circumstance adds credence to a myriad of suggestions in this artice. Our child affected with autism is one in a set of quadruplets. He is the only one of his siblings that is on the spectrum. He did have a medical insult at 6 months of age, where he had a cardiac arrest due to a lung cyst, which was subsequently removed. Naturally, following anoxia, we looked for symptoms accompanied with oxygen deprivation. The only obvious issue was that he "seemed deaf". That started our journey to the diagnosis of autism, which many parents ultimately experience (the hearing question). The environmental stimulus in our home, was that of 3 other children who beckoned his attention. Admittedly, the first 5 years were eventless, in that it did not matter to him that they existed. Eventually, their presence became of paramount importance, and he responded to their being part of his world. Specialists credit our son's zealous interest in people, to the fact that he was raised in a family of 6, and was never allowed to retreat, due to the sheer numbers in his household. Genetics? Environment? The questions remain. Respectfully, Resilientmom http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/resilientmom This website is comprehensive and valuable.
My circumstance adds credence to a myriad of suggestions in this artice.
Our child affected with autism is one in a set of quadruplets. He is the only one of his siblings that is on the spectrum. He did have a medical insult at 6 months of age, where he had a cardiac arrest due to a lung cyst, which was subsequently removed.
Naturally, following anoxia, we looked for symptoms accompanied with oxygen deprivation. The only obvious issue was that he “seemed deaf”.
That started our journey to the diagnosis of autism, which many parents ultimately experience (the hearing question).
The environmental stimulus in our home, was that of 3 other children who beckoned his attention. Admittedly, the first 5 years were eventless, in that it did not matter to him that they existed. Eventually, their presence became of paramount importance, and he responded to their being part of his world.
Specialists credit our son’s zealous interest in people, to the fact that he was raised in a family of 6, and was never allowed to retreat, due to the sheer numbers in his household.
Genetics? Environment? The questions remain.
Respectfully,
Resilientmom
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/resilientmom

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