Back in Jersey Where There’s “Looming Dread of Autism”
July 20, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
So I come home to a sandy car and sand all over the couch (good signs of a fun trip to the beach) and this headline in the New Jersey Star-Ledger:
Rise in number of children diagnosed with autism makes parents wary
Reporter Kathleen O’Brien interviewed a number of doctors and, in particular, pediatricians, as well as parents of young children who have one particular fear, a “looming dread of autism” in any child who is not meeting those developmental milestones and might be lining up the trains (though, of course, what else does one do with those wooden Brio trains that have the magnets?):
With autism spectrum disorders now diagnosed in 1 out of 150 children nationally and 1 in 94 in New Jersey, rare is the parent who isn’t aware of autism. And with that awareness can come a new wariness of vaccines, which a vocal minority of autism activists blame for the jump in cases. Pediatricians report seeing more parents question, delay or even shun altogether the traditional round of childhood immunizations.
Autism is, if you will, the new polio. As O’Brien writes:
Every generation of parents has a worry unique to its era. In the ’40s, the specter of polio made mothers frantic about any trip to the neighborhood swimming pool. The ’80s brought the sense that every child risked abduction, his photo ending up on the side of a milk carton.
Earlier this month, the Star-Ledger sought parental input about parents having “unfounded fears” of autism in a child. I spoke to Ms. O’Brien; she noted that she had, in particular, been speaking to a number of pediatricians who were hearing parents again and again worry about the possibility of their child being autistic and, too, asking about vaccines.
A poll of parents of autistic children showed 54 percent believe autism is caused by vaccination shots, according to Harvey Bennett, director of Child Neurology and Development Medicine at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown. At a recent talk before a group of family physicians, he called that finding worrisome and “astounding.”
Pediatricians report more parents are either delaying shots, asking they be spaced out or refusing them altogether.
“They don’t listen to me. They don’t believe a word I say,” said Naomi Grobstein, a pediatrician with the Family Health Center of Montclair. “They say, ‘He’s not ready!’ or ‘He’s too young!’”
She reminds parents of the lethal risk posed by diseases like measles, diphtheria and tetanus.
“It’s easy to believe these shots aren’t necessary, because we don’t see these diseases anymore,” she said. “I ask them, ‘What if your child is the one who spreads measles around?’”
Yes, what if your child is one of the 127 measles cases that have been reported in the US?
O’Brien also notes the frustrations of doctors over the media attention to given to the “celebrities who either blame or suspect vaccines, such as actress Jenny McCarthy and radio talk show host Don Imus.” The latest Huffington Post piece by David Kirby has only (once again) added to the misinformation and fomented fear.
Kirby’s use of innuendo and hyperbole in this latest piece are masterful, from the viewpoint of rhetoric. If I had to teach a class on echoes of classical rhetorical techniques in contemporary culture, I would offer up many (if not most) of his pieces (like this one); I suppose I could also include some writings by Dan Olmsted. Is it possible that there’s a correlation between writing about the dangers of vaccines, mercury, thimerosal, and more than a little savvy about deploying rhetorical techniques to sway one’s readers?
The heart of Kirby’s latest is a curious least of “recent examples” of politicians (Rep. Brad Miller (R-NC); Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama; Presidential Candidate Sen. John McCain; Presidential Candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton) who have made references to vaccines and autism; doctors (Dr. Bernadine Healy, Dr. Julie Gerberding); vaccine and health organizations who have spoken of “exploring the possible links between vaccines and autism.” Here’s Kirby’s list:
1) Three United States Senators
2) The next President (and possibly Vice President) of the country
3) The Director of the CDC (and her “open mind”)
4) The former head of the NIH and the American Red Cross
5) The Chairman of a House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
6) A respected Pediatric Neurologist and Resident at Johns Hopkins University Medical School (Dr. Jon Poling)
7) The HHS Vaccine Safety Working Group
The CDC’s Vaccine Safety Research Agenda authors
9) Medical personnel at the HHS Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
10) The Strategic Planning Workgroup of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
11) The Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network
12) Leading autism researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical School
13) America’s health insurance companies
(1) and (2) are a bit repetitive, seeing as at least one of those United States Senators is going to be the next US President.
Regarding (6) Dr. Jon Poling is, of course, the father of Hannah Poling, concerning whom a concession from the government about her “pre-existing mitochondrial disorder” being “aggravated” by vaccines and leading to symptoms of autism was won.
Regarding (10): Kev at Left Brain/Right Brain also notes Kirby’s use of rhetoric and reviews the accuracy, or lack thereof, of Kirby’s statements, especially in regard to his reference to The Strategic Planning Workgroup of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and to “some” of its members wanting “’specific objectives on vaccine research’ included in the new, multimillion-dollar national autism research program, as mandated by Congress in the Combatting Autism Act.” There is one member of the IACC who, it seems, would definitely be in favor of such research—Lyn Redwood, Vice President of Safe Minds, which stands for “Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders”; perhaps it would be more accurate to say “one” rather than “some.”
Regarding other items on Kirby’s list: It seems that so long as one makes a public statement in which “vaccines,” “autism,” and “research” are referred to, this is “evidence” that one (or one’s organization, or government agency) think this is a topic to “explore,” perhaps in the same way as most anyone would speak about exploring the reasons for global warning.
At the BlogHer conference and at my panel on special-needs mom-bloggers, the main concerns were schools, services, getting a diagnosis and dealing with it, summer regression, day to day behaviors, issues of privacy and disclosure; I was the only one at the panel to mention vaccines as I write about them here, sometimes. I’ve more to say about the conference and my trip (which included a visit to my more than centenarian grandmother). Of to vacuum more sand and certainly good to be back here with my guys in New Jersey.
Which is, by the way, the original home of no less an organization than Safe Minds.
more than a little savvy about deploying rhetorical techniques to sway one’s readers?
At what point do you move from reporting to editorializing to flat-out propaganda? I think Kirby may have jumped that shark.
and past the point of no return…..
As a teacher who is recovering from pertussis (whooping cough) and who most definitely caught it from some non-vaccinated child because that child’s parent(s) had some internet/media induced fear of vaccines, I would have loved to have coughed directly on everyone on Kirby’s list — oh and Kirby himself — during my most contagious phase. I spent four days in the hospital with secondary pneumonia from the pertussis and am none too pleased that teachers aren’t advised that the pertussis vaccine wears off every 5-8 years and should be updated. With all of these vaccine hysteria parents putting teachers (and other students) at risk teachers (and non-hysterical parents) really need to be informed which vaccines they need to have updated and how frequently. No wonder my health insurance is so high.
Glad you made it home safely, wish you’d been able to stay longer last night. Very happy to be back with my family, as well.
I saw that headline in my google alerts. I hate that phrase, “looming dread of autism”. How melodramatic.
Looking forward to hearing more about the conference and especially summer regression.
I’m so surprised at the percentage of parents with autistic children who believe vaccines caused the problem.
When I look back at the twins’ infancy (and even at photos), it is so clear to me that the autism was always there. I do understand people wanting to space the shots out, but not stopping vaccinating altogether.
When he refers to the “workgroup” isn’t he referring to the subgroup that includes Peter Bell, Mark Blaxill, etc. as opposed to the IACC itself? Vaccines were brought up numerous times during the workgroup’s most recent meeting which you could listen to via phone. Bell and Blaxill both mentioned vaccines and their importance… Can’t recall who else did. Wasn’t able to listen to the whole thing.
Kirby says “some members” in the Huff Po post in referring to an IACC workgroup but, with characteristic vagueness, does not indicate whether he refers onto the workgroup or to the IACC in general. A commenter, Kelli Ann Davis, on Left Brain/Right Brain adds her clarification.
So much of what Kirby wrote is predicated–whether intentionally or not–on the notion that people are simply too shallow to look too deeply beyond what is implied prima facie in his assertions. Yet, it takes only the slightest scratching of that surface to uncover and collapse that fragile rhetorical house of cards. I honestly do not understand why more people do not have the capacity to do that. Are we that stupid? We’re going to stupid our children into early graves if we don’t get a handle on this bs sooner rather than later.
And by that, I mean real actual graves, not some metaphorical resting place for the child that would have been without that bogeyman called autism.
The workgroup meeting was July 8, so I am assuming that this was in reference to a report to the July 15 IACC meeting.
Whether tom-ay-to or tom-ah-to, the use of “some” without names or ratio, is meant to be suggestive of a sizable number or even majority. It doesn’t speak to the response from the group at large or the specifics in context.
@Emily, I’d like to think we’re not but, someone clearly is.
Have you seen this photo, Britney Spears with Jenny Mc Carthy?:
http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/britney-spears-supports-generation-rescue-204915/
Also, did you ever find that post. I have looked and googled all over. I posted it here to save it for future reference and now nothing.
Ms. Chew; What if the country were to set up a national registrar for all the pws in the country to tell the people what towns that use man made FLUORIDE[lead and arsenic], so if the woman that is pregnant or is about to become pregnant might not went to drink the water with the man made FLUORIDE in it, Then if a child gets Autism it would be easy to see if it or the vaccines had the biggest effect on the AUTISM rate state by state. The information would have to include natural Fluoride=amount of man made Fluoride and what doseage the total ppm. May be you could get some big names to help. I myself think would do more to find out what may cause Autism. Just call me nuts. But it is just as good as some of the other theories thareat some other people have. Or are the going to study vaccines for another 20 years. I am sure that would make the phamaceutials =ada =ama and others as well.
Regan, exactly. Kristina, I’d really like to think that, too. I think the capacity is there but training is sorely lacking.
@Emily, well we’ll have to keep working at it—
@Bonnie, I think I found it! Could you remind me what the topic was? Did see the photos—-not sure what that all adds to “awareness”!
@donald savitz, as you know, before there would be such a registry set up, there’s need to be studies and evidence justifying it and, seeing the many needs of families with autistic children today, it’s best to devote energies to ensuring that they have the best schools and services, for their lifetimes. Or that’s the thinking here. Very best.
That link to the photos with Britney actually alered me to a new cat game show as I clicked on the banner and gave them revenue, oh well Nick is excited and I need to make sure we have game channel before Nov.
The link I had posted that you may have found is about a NJ mom whose blog is being used against her in IEP by school since she writes positively about kid.
“KRA
Jul 20, 2008 at 3:17 pm
As a teacher who is recovering from pertussis (whooping cough) and who most definitely caught it from some non-vaccinated child because that child’s parent(s) had some internet/media induced fear of vaccines, I would have loved to have coughed directly on everyone on Kirby’s list — oh and Kirby himself — during my most contagious phase. I spent four days in the hospital with secondary pneumonia from the pertussis and am none too pleased that teachers aren’t advised that the pertussis vaccine wears off every 5-8 years and should be updated. With all of these vaccine hysteria parents putting teachers (and other students) at risk teachers (and non-hysterical parents) really need to be informed which vaccines they need to have updated and how frequently. No wonder my health insurance is so high”
I am so sorry that you had to get so sick. But to give you a little perstpective on the issue. My son almost died in my arms, shortly after receiving the Pertussis (DTP) Vaccine years ago. He was lucky to survive but has Autism, including severe processing speed deficits, that will probably keep him from having an independent life despite his intelligence. So, Im sorry you were sick, but I firmly stand by the parents who are weary of giving their children so many vaccines so soon. I wish I knew than what I know now.
@spidermom, hope your son is doing ok now?
@KRA, it is a point that schools would have to consider, what to do if the numbers of unvaccinated children increase……
Bonnie,
The link I had posted that you may have found is about a NJ mom whose blog is being used against her in IEP by school since she writes positively about kid.
I think this is your comment from July 13
@ spidermom I can’t imagine your pain and anger, I hope your son is doing better now. I know that as my father held me in the hospital last month while I could not breath, I had gone through three different antibiotics and the doctors were saying it could go either way his pain was unbelievable (had she been with us I am sure my mother’s would have been too). It is always horrendous to watch your child on the brink of death. Thankfully I am getting better. People who get pertussis or other preventable diseases like measles, rubella or polio are not always so lucky.
@Kristina Chew at the very least the Department of Education in each state has the names/addresses/e-mail addresses of all practicing teachers – why not send out info about how frequently vaccines should be updated in teachers and alerts if there is a case of preventable, communicable disease in your area?
Kirby says “some members” in the CORRECTED version. In the first version, posted at Huff Post, he wrote that the IACC workgroup as a whole “announced,” which was totally false (and this in a post in which he accuses Amanda Peet of lying!). I suppose someone told him he was in error. But this is just his sloppy journalism, as usual.
Thanks Regan for finding that link. I appreciate your taking the time to do that.