Comments on: It is what it is: Autism Not Just in the Head

By: Research on the Brain and Autism

Research on the Brain and Autism — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:12:09 +0000

[...] has recently been talked about as a “whole body” syndrome—-recent research on the brain can still very much aid in understanding autism, and helps me [...]

By: Rod Van Mechelen

Rod Van Mechelen — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:50:11 +0000

Being 54 I was far removed from a time when an accurate diagnosis could have been made of my condition. Do I have Autism of Asperger’s? Hard to tell when the diagnosis depends primarily on childhood behaviors. My psychologist and psychiatrist watched me in session for months before concluding I have an ASD, most probably Asperger’s. Whatever, this I can tell you, most of my life I have spent in a hot flash. Never comfortable, always burning up. I was awash with inflammation. For years I took antioxidants. The only time I felt half okay was after a 90 minute work out when, briefly, the endorphins offered respite. Then a month ago I started eradicating gluten from my diet. I now feel not bad. No more pervasive inflammation. Have the brain issues magically vanished as a result? No, nor would it be realistic to expect that they would unless you believe it’s a simple pathology. Protracted application of an irritant has enduring consequences. Scar tissue accumulates or the flesh in other ways responds. Has my amygdala shrunk? In the absence of the irritant will it now resurge? Do my prefrontal cortices still have communication issues or are they now able to function together in a more typical fashion? Time will tell if the physiological problems correct themselves. In the meantime I am continuing to have my amalgam fillings replaced, I avoid flourine and other neurotoxins, and people around me are responding very positively to the changes in me. I’m more relaxed and my expression and mannerisms now seem inviting rather than threatening to them. That’s nice. I’ve been tired of being alone for a very long time.

By: The Heart vs. the Brain in Vaccine Court

The Heart vs. the Brain in Vaccine Court — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:47:35 +0000

[...] vaccine theory could prevail. When it comes to autism, the heart has a way of leading rather than the head, whatever the truth, whatever the real verdict of science. ASD, Aspergers, autism, bounty hunter, [...]

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 06:26:40 +0000

[...] autism—led me to see how science is intertwined in the politics of autism, be they about the environment or about new studies on genes for autism. And as a parent, it is crucial to know about the science [...]

By: Autism Vox » Autism Speaks Now

Autism Vox » Autism Speaks Now — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:42:01 +0000

[...] to a friend last week after I saw that Autism Speaks was promoting the Discover Magazine article on autism not being just in the head. “Autism Speaks congratulates these researchers for their important contributions to changing [...]

By: Autism Vox » David Kirby and Autism Speaks

Autism Vox » David Kirby and Autism Speaks — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:58:50 +0000

[...] in curing children from autism. The recent Discover Magazine article on not just being “in the head” is warmly praised, by both Kirby and, in her email posting, Wright. Kirby poses the [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:49:32 +0000

Marcie, I did really think of Charlie at the thought of enough ketchup for “fry boats” to swim through in a regatta…… For some reason, the notion of Charlie doing better simply as a result of “just him growing up” always seemed hard to believe. I guess a parent can’t help but to feel he or she has always to do something…..

The opening of the article really troubled me and the mention of other mother later. Why discuss this?

María, yes, my sense was that the article describes autism as genetic and biomedical; the treatments mentioned are biomedical. There’s plenty of contention about teaching methodologies I suppose one can hardly be surprised there are, too, regarding biomedical treatments—-It often seems to me that there is a spectrum here not unlike the notion of the “autism spectrum.”

“Devastating Digestive Derangements” would be DDD days then………………

By: Usal

Usal — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:32:31 +0000

Donna,

I was long done with my shots before thimersol was used. I also showed signs of being autistic before I’d had enough shots to suspect those as the cause of my autism.

Then when you look at the father, grand father and great grandfather that I am very similar to, it’s hard to believe that something recent is the cause of autism.

By: Usal

Usal — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:27:21 +0000

Wow, I must say she got it very wrong on thinking Kyle is no longer autistic. I’d be willing to bet that the changes in him have NOTHING to do with the treatment, but is just him growing up. The description of the conversation and the ketchup could very easily have come from my own past.

This smells like junk science to me.

By: C

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:52:03 +0000

What’s with these Moms wanting to end their lives?!? Do parents of children with other special needs entertain suicide? Having a daughter with autism I too sometimes fear for my child’s future but plotting my own demise is not on my to do list. That poor woman needs some help!