Cell Phones and Electromagnetic Radiation Correlated to Autism—and that’s all
April 16, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Back in October of 2006 I noted a theory connecting cell phone, ipods, and other small electronic devices to autism; back in February I noted a claim that electropollution could be an environmental cause for autism. Today’s Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News reports on resarch done by Tamara Mariea, founder of Internal Balance, on autism, cell phone usage, and EMR (Electromagnetic Radiation). “The epidemiologic curve of autism parallels too closely with the increase [sic] usage of wireless devices to not look at it,” according to Mariea and Dr. George Carlo, whose Safe Wireless Initiative offers a number of books, documentaries, and “safety devices.” This parent testimony is cited:
“My son is currently 11 years old and we have been researching and utilizing many types of biomedical services since Michael was four years old. We have chelated, detoxified, and supplemented with many different types of nutrients. This has been in addition to all the other traditional recommended therapies for autism, such as OT, ABA and Speech Therapy. One of the most important discoveries in the last seven years that has made a dramatic impact toward my son’s recovery was the realization that Michael was severely sensitive to EMR. Not only was he sensitive, but it was holding his body hostage from freeing toxic heavy metals. In addition, every time Michael was in the car with me while I was on a cell phone, he would literally flip out. I did not realize until Tamara educated me that I was radiating my son’s body with EMR. After looking at the impact that EMR had on his neurochemistry it made terrific sense. We have implemented the strategies suggested by Tamara and we are moving faster toward his recovery than ever.
Is it possible that Michael may have been reacting not to EMR but simply to the sound of his father’s voice engaged in conversation with another person and, specifically, another person not in the car?
Anecdotally, often when I talk on my cell phone and it is just me and Charlie—out for a walk, in the car—-Charlie reaches for the phone and says “hi to Dad! talk!”—-I suspect because he wants to be part of the conversation, too. After all, he is here with me and shouldn’t I be devoting my words to him?
It is always useful to recall that correlation does not equal causation.
… One of the most important discoveries in the last seven years that has made a dramatic impact toward my son’s recovery was the realization that Michael was severely sensitive to EMR. Not only was he sensitive, but it was holding his body hostage from freeing toxic heavy metals.
Someone needs to tell her that all she needs to do is to put tinfoil hats on everyone in the family. Also, get rid of the family’s microwave, turn off the TV, and just to be safe, not use anything electrical at all.
Failing that, she might actually try hanging up the phone and talking to her kid.
I don’t know if I should laugh or cry… That’s one of the most pathetic theories I’ve heard.
Oh Kristina, I love the way you bring things to light. “Duh”, as my oldest would say these days…of course children hate it when their parents are on the phone. They will interrupt, cry, tantrum…typical or autistic. Hmmmm…interesting how some people don’t understand those connections and assume their autistic children don’t have feelings too, like the need for attention when alone in the car with a parent. I love your views and the way you brought a smile to my face on such a sad day.
Laura, so good to hear from you——Charlie has started to take my phone, say “hi” to Jim, and not give it back! Talk about a strong message being sent.
I just have to sigh……
There have been countless theories relating to the supposed harm mobile phones “cause”. So it doesn’t surprise me that the naysayers against this sort of technology are now targetting disorders like Autism. Ever heard the one about high voltage power lines?
It’s theorising like this that just muddies the waters even further than the chelation theory could ever do – and prevents true understanding!
Some times I read a post and just have to say “Oh Wow”. It appears that the kids may be doing better than the parents are.
This is right up there with watching tv causes triggers autism. It seems everytime one of our friends ar family hear these stories they feel the need to call and tell me the new discovery and then I spend the next hour trying to explain that just because someone said it on tv does not make it true. I am getting tired of the people out their so desperate to “fix” their children that they are confusing correlation with causation. I feel for them Thay are missing out on their child now trying to fix them for later.
My son has autism and I have labels around the spectrum (no AS when I was a kid) and we both have sensory issues. I dislike anyone talking to me in the car and prefer to drive just listening to music. Funny though how some are ASSUMING the kid is upset because he is being ignored. My son also tells people to stop talking because he doesn’t want to hear the noise. So I think concluding that it is a desire to interact or use the phone is showing bias. You think the person is a curebie or has an idea you disagree with and therefore they must be ignoring their son. You are drawing conclusions from anecdotal evidence much like you claim the other person is doing.
As far as cell phones, computers or electrical appliances it also reminds me of how when I was a kid and very anxious it almost seemed like I could hear the electricity or the sounds of appliances beind so loud and distracting. So I wonder if there isn’t something to some of this involving electricity and appliances – but not as a cause – just an aggravation to someone who is sensitive to it. And if you are already bordering on overload those aggravations can be extreme. On another group someone mentioned how much better they felt when the electricity had gone out – not because that is a cure for sensory issues but because I don’t think people realize how much background noise there is from all this stuff.
I might also suggest that if they are in the car and playing music it may be even more irritating to have someone talking over the music. I don’t know why people can not sit quietly and have to constantly make noise or think there is something wrong if they aren’t constantly interacting.
“So I think concluding that it is a desire to interact or use the phone is showing bias. You think the person is a curebie or has an idea you disagree with and therefore they must be ignoring their son. You are drawing conclusions from anecdotal evidence much like you claim the other person is doing.”
LB, thank you so much for pointing this out—I think what you note—about a child not wanting to hear “someone talking over music””—is the case with my son; he often wants to hear music in the car and then requests for us not to talk while it is playing. I’ve never discussed this particular topic with anyone before and that’s why I wanted to note my own use of anecdotal evidence.
I’ve learned from my son that “interacting” does always mean having to talk or make eye contact etc.. Plenty of other ways to go about this.
Thank you again.
Hi, Kristine.
I was speaking overall not necessarily directing my response towards you in particular. I think anecdotal evidence is important and useful as a first step in trying to figure out behaviors. The problem comes when people start speaking in absolutes – It isn’t “this” it must be “that”. I don’t think you were doing that and just wanted to clarify that point. When someone can not quite communicate their needs (even if someone is verbal sometimes too there just aren’t any words) then you need to be open to possibilities.
And many things can affect behavior but that has nothing to do with cause/cure of autism as this person making the suggestion about the cell phone seems to imply. I don’t agree with the their theory either by the way.
LB, thanks for the clarification—I am really glad you made the point about anecdotal evidence.
“When someone can not quite communicate their needs (even if someone is verbal sometimes too there just aren’t any words) then you need to be open to possibilities.”
Thank you for saying this, too—-it’s something I think about always regarding my son.
LB,
You’re right. When I recommended that the person get off the phone and talk to her kid, it was an assumption that he would want to be talked to.
What I should have said is that she could hang up the phone and pay attention to her kid. That way, she would know whether he wanted to be talked to or not.
In our case, Buddy Boy is quite verbal, and lets us know when he doesn’t want to talk with us, and whether he wants the radio up, down, or the station changed.
I don’t know who initially introduced this idea of correlation and causation. This phrase has been misused by so many people, especially here. Please think about it before you say this again. Almost all discoveries were made by correlational observations. Almost all inventions were made by causational understanding. Discoveries and inventions are two entirely different things. Scientists discover, engineers invent. In other words, discoveries are made by observing a correlatation and conjecturing a theory to explain it and finally proving it. Isaac Newton observed that most objects fell down. This correlational observation led to the discovery of gravity. Virtually all discoveries in science are driven by correlational observation and putting forth a theory to explain it. There are, of course, exceptions. Einstein theorized relativity well before it could be observed.
So, please, without the ability observe correlations we would still be living in caves. Please stop saying correlation does not mean causation if you don’t understand how scientific discoveries are made.
Whether or not exposure to RF has an impact on he nevous system is yet to be studied at the cellular level. That study starts with correlational observatons.
Read enough reports about “possible causes of autism” and correlations are noted, fast and furious. Best wishes.
What’s the correlation between looking for trouble and finding it? I think Occam’s razor is kind of helpful in these situations, in addition to correlation not equal to causation.
FWIW–we are the kind of Luddites who must have been the last folks in N. America to have cell phones and various electronic things, such as computers. Eleanor was diagnosed with autism well in advance of those purchases and neither seem to make no never mind to her.
The sun is the largest source of EMR on this planet. But we have evolved with it for millions of years and have built natural protection from the harmful portion of its spectrum. UV is absorbed by the upper layers of the atmosphere, and our skin pigments protects us from the small portion reaching the planet. The same holds for all particles with higher energies than UV. Our planet provides some shielding and our bodies have evolved to provide additional shielding. But there is virtually no solar radiation in the MHz to GHz range (some times they occur during solar flares and sun spots, but they are exceptions). Furthermore, this spectrum of radiation can travel vast distances through the atmosphere without much absorption loss. This is why it has been a boon for communication applications.
However, almost everything that naturally exists only in tiny quantities have been proven to be toxic to humans. Lead and coal were mined in great quantities during the industrial revolution. All of these proved to be greatly toxic (but there are some who still say that there is no evidence mercury or lead is toxic, and also claim that ozone depletion and global warming are all just a myth).
I think you will find it difficult to cite an example of a chemical compound or element that is scarce on this planet but also harmless to humans. If you think about evolution, that should make sense (unless you are one of those don’t believe in evolution either).
We have never been bathed in MHz to GHz EMR on this planet throughout our existence. It would actually be quite amazing if we in fact turn out to be immune to that portion of the spectrum. Perhaps that is one way to disprove evolution.
Cheers to AMS! I will quote you on your corelation and causation explanation. Has anyone actually read the study? Rather than picking apart someones anecdote or giving us this crap about co-relation and causation. READ IT!! It is excellent. At the very least this merits further investigation. Maybe, just maybe this could lead to something that could truly help our kids. Isn’t that what we want? Read the study and when you’ve done that read the article in the Elsevier journal. Out of time: A possible link between mirror neurons, autism and electromagnetic radiation by Ian M. Thornton
Psychology Department, University of Wales Swansea. There may be more to this than you think.
I like how everyone is quick to be smarmy and rude about the theory, when in fact it DOES make sense, and all these assholes being facetious have not a clue, but LESS THAN A CLUE about autism causes, and should justly STFU
“smarmy and rude”
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Well, based on the phrasing of your comment, you seem to be an expert in that arena.
I see the CAPS. I’m convinced.