Comments on: The Rhetoric of Never: Vaccines & Causation, the “Epidemic” & the Cause of Autism http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:49:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-535419 Kristina Chew, PhD Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:40:05 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-535419 Thanks for the information, Ms. Lane. Would it be possible to know what your sources are regarding myelin and autism? Thanks for the information, Ms. Lane. Would it be possible to know what your sources are regarding myelin and autism?

]]> By: Stephanie Lane http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-535417 Stephanie Lane Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:32:55 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-535417 Neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists and neurodevelopmentalists have always known that the symptoms of autism are similar to brain-injured patients/stroke victims; behaviors known as sensory-isms, common to those diagnosed on the autistic spectrum, are also seen where there is specific injury or lesions in the brain. Brain growth and development of the central nervous system develop as the myelin grows over the nerves of the central nervous system; it serves as an insulation so that signals sent along a nerve pathway can complete their trip. When a baby is born, the myelin has grown over the base of the brain stem, known as the medulla – responsible for reflex functions. Because the growth rate of myelin hasn’t been determined to be influenced by environmental factors, the child cannot reach his developmental peak until it has grown throughout the central nervous system. When the myelin has completed its growth at around eight years of age, it doesn’t guarantee that the child will have reached his peak. That depends on the opportunities which have been given to help him achieve his neurological potential. If anything hinders the process, (which allergens to mercury and other factors have been known to do) such as prenatal brain-injury, seizures or strokes – the development of the pathways that develop sense, processing and response in the auditory, visual or tactile areas can be to immature, hypo or hyper – sensitive. They will no give the brain accurate information, therefore the response we see as a behavior will reflect this. It is important that every child identify allergies, as well as have the opportunity to do the activities that correspond with each stage of brain development, so that he reaches his neurological potential. Each of the activities has a very specific role in triggering the advent of new function, such as building a house. Unless you lay a solid foundation, you cannot have sound walls and the roof will also be unsound. Each developmental stage of brain-development depends on the one before it. Neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists and neurodevelopmentalists have always known that the symptoms of autism are similar to brain-injured patients/stroke victims; behaviors known as sensory-isms, common to those diagnosed on the autistic spectrum, are also seen where there is specific injury or lesions in the brain.

Brain growth and development of the central nervous system develop as the myelin grows over the nerves of the central nervous system; it serves as an insulation so that signals sent along a nerve pathway can complete their trip. When a baby is born, the myelin has grown over the base of the brain stem, known as the medulla – responsible for reflex functions.

Because the growth rate of myelin hasn’t been determined to be influenced by environmental factors, the child cannot reach his developmental peak until it has grown throughout the central nervous system. When the myelin has completed its growth at around eight years of age, it doesn’t guarantee that the child will have reached his peak. That depends on the opportunities which have been given to help him achieve his neurological potential. If anything hinders the process, (which allergens to mercury and other factors have been known to do) such as prenatal brain-injury, seizures or strokes – the development of the pathways that develop sense, processing and response in the auditory, visual or tactile areas can be to immature, hypo or hyper – sensitive. They will no give the brain accurate information, therefore the response we see as a behavior will reflect this.

It is important that every child identify allergies, as well as have the opportunity to do the activities that correspond with each stage of brain development, so that he reaches his neurological potential. Each of the activities has a very specific role in triggering the advent of new function, such as building a house. Unless you lay a solid foundation, you cannot have sound walls and the roof will also be unsound. Each developmental stage of brain-development depends on the one before it.

]]> By: Science, Coincidence, and Mercury: What can you trust? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-535099 Science, Coincidence, and Mercury: What can you trust? Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:43:40 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-535099 [...] of “urban myth” to some, there are indeed some 4,800 plus families who think otherwise (this is one example). Again and again, one reads stories about how a child changed overnight from developing normally [...] [...] of “urban myth” to some, there are indeed some 4,800 plus families who think otherwise (this is one example). Again and again, one reads stories about how a child changed overnight from developing normally [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » The truth about autism: Not toxic and not the enemy http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-532046 Autism Vox » The truth about autism: Not toxic and not the enemy Sun, 18 Mar 2007 06:42:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-532046 [...] according to these sorts of theories, is actually caused by some kind of external, poisoning agent—by something that truly exists and can be pointed [...] [...] according to these sorts of theories, is actually caused by some kind of external, poisoning agent—by something that truly exists and can be pointed [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Why I Don’t Worry About Causation http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-531471 Autism Vox » Why I Don’t Worry About Causation Sun, 04 Mar 2007 08:10:54 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-531471 [...] This statement is indeed true, as evinced by some recent discussions here regarding environmental toxins and vaccines. When I read accounts of researchers, or of parents, in determined pursuit about what caused their child to become autisitic, to change from a happy and normally developing child overnight, I often feel as if I am reading a tightly paced mystery novel, or the script to a fast-paced suspense movie, in which the protagonist is (like the mother in Lorenzo’s Oil) on a hunt to find the culprit that did this to her child. [...] [...] This statement is indeed true, as evinced by some recent discussions here regarding environmental toxins and vaccines. When I read accounts of researchers, or of parents, in determined pursuit about what caused their child to become autisitic, to change from a happy and normally developing child overnight, I often feel as if I am reading a tightly paced mystery novel, or the script to a fast-paced suspense movie, in which the protagonist is (like the mother in Lorenzo’s Oil) on a hunt to find the culprit that did this to her child. [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Cause and Cure: On the disconnect of science and junk science about autism http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-531333 Autism Vox » Cause and Cure: On the disconnect of science and junk science about autism Wed, 28 Feb 2007 07:39:13 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-531333 [...] The past few days have seen some discussion of two topics—-cause and cure—that I have previously referred to as fighting words in discussions about autism. Yesterday’s post on The truth about autism: It’s not toxic led to a discussion about “cause” (which has been discussed here more than a few times; see, for instance, The Cause of the Autism Mother). A post on Amanda Baggs on CNN tonight set several rounds of discussion about “cure” into motion. [...] [...] The past few days have seen some discussion of two topics—-cause and cure—that I have previously referred to as fighting words in discussions about autism. Yesterday’s post on The truth about autism: It’s not toxic led to a discussion about “cause” (which has been discussed here more than a few times; see, for instance, The Cause of the Autism Mother). A post on Amanda Baggs on CNN tonight set several rounds of discussion about “cure” into motion. [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-530740 Kristina Chew, PhD Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:38:04 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-530740 Thanks, Cynthia. I do think it would be good to know about more of the history of health problems in the families of autistic children. Thanks, Cynthia. I do think it would be good to know about more of the history of health problems in the families of autistic children.

]]> By: Cynthia Whitfield http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-530739 Cynthia Whitfield Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:29:25 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-530739 We forget that children with autism often have autoimmune disorders within their families. I read an article recently that said, besides not giving shots to sick kids, we should think twice about giving shots to kids with a family history of neurological disorders or autoimmune problems. This makes sense to me. This could explain why studies are failing to see the connection between vaccines and autism many people see. They are just looking at large random groups of kids -- what they need to do is look at whether kids with such family histories develop autism at higher rates than families without such histories. At any rate, even the vaccine people themselves admit that some people will have serious adverse reactions to shots, including neurological problems. If we could figure out who those children might be, wouldn't that be great? I believe my son simply wasn't able to detox the Hepatitis B shot he got hours after birth -- and a difficult birth at that. He has a relative who died on ALS, an autoimmune disorder. There could be connection -- at any rate, we have to look at the populations better to see it. Not all populations are affected by the same potentially toxic trigger as others. We forget that children with autism often have autoimmune disorders within their families. I read an article recently that said, besides not giving shots to sick kids, we should think twice about giving shots to kids with a family history of neurological disorders or autoimmune problems. This makes sense to me. This could explain why studies are failing to see the connection between vaccines and autism many people see. They are just looking at large random groups of kids — what they need to do is look at whether kids with such family histories develop autism at higher rates than families without such histories. At any rate, even the vaccine people themselves admit that some people will have serious adverse reactions to shots, including neurological problems. If we could figure out who those children might be, wouldn’t that be great? I believe my son simply wasn’t able to detox the Hepatitis B shot he got hours after birth — and a difficult birth at that. He has a relative who died on ALS, an autoimmune disorder. There could be connection — at any rate, we have to look at the populations better to see it. Not all populations are affected by the same potentially toxic trigger as others.

]]> By: Autism Vox » The Vaccine-Autism Urban Myth http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-530615 Autism Vox » The Vaccine-Autism Urban Myth Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:04:21 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-530615 [...] It is the extent of this “disconnect”—-between scientific evidence confuting a vaccine-autism link on the one hand, and a continued “populist” belief that “vaccines caused my child to become autistic“—-that puzzles and yet intrigues me. Can it be that the “establishment” of scientists have sequestered themselves so far away up in the gleaming ivory tower white of their research labs that they simply cannot hear the stories of parents who again and again offer the simple evidence of their eyes: One day my child was normal. The next day, after the vaccine, he was not? [...] [...] It is the extent of this “disconnect”—-between scientific evidence confuting a vaccine-autism link on the one hand, and a continued “populist” belief that “vaccines caused my child to become autistic“—-that puzzles and yet intrigues me. Can it be that the “establishment” of scientists have sequestered themselves so far away up in the gleaming ivory tower white of their research labs that they simply cannot hear the stories of parents who again and again offer the simple evidence of their eyes: One day my child was normal. The next day, after the vaccine, he was not? [...]

]]> By: Another Voice http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-530679 Another Voice Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:49:27 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-rhetoric-of-never-vaccines-causation-the-epidemic-the-cause-of-autism/#comment-530679 Dan Schultz writes that prior to engaging in a debate regarding vaccine one should “Get educated. Look within yourself. The answers are there.” I must disagree. Immunology is a difficult and demanding branch of medicine. It is not something that bursts upon your consciousness during meditation. Can we be real about this? After a student finishes college, successfully completes four years of medical school, survives another four to five years of residency and passes those messy little Board Certification exams, if they are good and would like to work in research, they may get to work with the real researchers in the field. Does he or she have the answers; no. Are they qualified to begin searching for the answers; yes. I do believe he or she will go anywhere the search leads. We need more men and women like this in the search and joining inter-disciplinary teams already engaged in the research. We have technology today that would have been difficult to imagine ten years ago, we just don’t have enough people applying it to autism research. Let’s not say because they have not found the answers that is some type of twisted proof that they don’t want to find the answers. Dan Schultz writes that prior to engaging in a debate regarding vaccine one should “Get educated. Look within yourself. The answers are there.”

I must disagree. Immunology is a difficult and demanding branch of medicine. It is not something that bursts upon your consciousness during meditation. Can we be real about this?

After a student finishes college, successfully completes four years of medical school, survives another four to five years of residency and passes those messy little Board Certification exams, if they are good and would like to work in research, they may get to work with the real researchers in the field. Does he or she have the answers; no. Are they qualified to begin searching for the answers; yes. I do believe he or she will go anywhere the search leads.

We need more men and women like this in the search and joining inter-disciplinary teams already engaged in the research. We have technology today that would have been difficult to imagine ten years ago, we just don’t have enough people applying it to autism research. Let’s not say because they have not found the answers that is some type of twisted proof that they don’t want to find the answers.

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