Comments on: Is There an Autism Epidemic?

By: Another Hidden Horde?: Vaccine Court, Better Diagnosis, and Another Concession

Another Hidden Horde?: Vaccine Court, Better Diagnosis, and Another Concession — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:33:26 +0000

[...] declined by “roughly the same amount in the special-education data,” as noted in the May 2007 Chronicle of Higher Education. Further: Such trends suggest that states were using the new autism category to classify children [...]

By: The Extraordinary Claim of the Autism Epidemic

The Extraordinary Claim of the Autism Epidemic — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:38:17 +0000

[...] person, or even what autism was. For me, the “autism epidemic” has taken the form of an epidemic of understanding: Somehow, once (over 8 years ago) I knew that Charlie had autism, I started to see a lot more [...]

By: Mercurys Rising in Nature Medicine

Mercurys Rising in Nature Medicine — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:31:11 +0000

[...] and others who write about “autism related quackery.” Those who state that there is no epidemic of autism and that we need to look much more carefully at how the diagnostic criteria for autism have changed [...]

By: Genes, Activism, and Why We Still Have the Push Mower

Genes, Activism, and Why We Still Have the Push Mower — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:56:45 +0000

[...] the politics of autism. Let others debate about the MMR and mercury and whether or not there is an autism epidemic; it seemed best to use phrases such as “genetic predisposition” and [...]

By: Autism Vox » Bullying, Ashley X, Eugenics, and One Celebrity Reference

Autism Vox » Bullying, Ashley X, Eugenics, and One Celebrity Reference — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:52:14 +0000

[...] attests to the overuse of the word “epidemic” in regard to the challenges potentially faced by children today (while indicating the [...]

By: Club 166

Club 166 — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:27:50 +0000

I’m with Newschaffer on this one.

I don’t think that the data definitively shows that there is or is not an increase in the prevalence of autism. Certainly, the broadening of diagnosis criteria and increased recognition have led to a lot of the increase in reported prevalence, but I don’t think there is enough data to rule out a real increase in prevalence simultaneously occurring.

I do think that the data definitively rules out thimerosol/vaccination as the cause of any increase in autism.

And even if there is an increase in prevalence, that does not justify using experimental hogwash on children to try to “cure” them. Educational and societal supports are what are needed, no matter what the true prevalence or cause(s).

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:31:41 +0000

I thought the Chronicle story did one of the better jobs at describing various viewpoints. Majia Holmer Nadesan in Constructing Autism shows how numerous cultural and sociological factors contribute in something like “autism” even being considered in regard to children.

By: María Luján Ferreira

María Luján Ferreira — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:03:42 +0000

Hi Kristina
I agree with Dr Shattuck and Dr Newschaffer and appreciate the position of both of them, leaving the space to consider the picture to be incomplete at the present (and past) situation to have a conclussion.

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:32:34 +0000

But, examining the rates of people with Down Syndrome and autism is like comparing apples to oranges. Down Syndrome can be identified through definitive medical tests, whereas autism isn’t identifiable (yet?) in the chromosomes. Someone either has or doesn’t have the missing chromosome–it doesn’t work the same way with autism.

Although I do think the fact that research shows that 90% of all fetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted does raise legitimate concerns regarding prenatal testing for a developmental disability such as autism. Not in the manner that you suggest, GW, but for other reasons.

By: George Washington

George Washington — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:16:39 +0000

Um, might all the abortions of Downs Syndrome kids have had something to do with lowering those numbers? If there’s no epidemic, you should be able to find the 1 in 150 76 year olds. I won’t hold my breath waiting for you to do that.