tagged w/ Autism
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University of Pennsylvania Clinical psychologist, Dr. Mary Riggs Cohen, and her former patient, Jacob Heinz, share their thoughts about what it means to live with the silent disability called ASPERGER SYNDROME (ALSO CALLED HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM), a neurological disorder of the brain. Jacob Heinz was jailed in 2006 in a Bensalem, Pennsylvania Police Department sting operation via myspace.com where officers posed as a 13 year old girl and had sexual conversations. Given the skyrocketing autism epidemic bedeviling the United States, are adult men and women with asperger syndrome more likely to commit sexual crimes than others?University of Pennsylvania Clinical psychologist, Dr. Mary Riggs Cohen, and her former... more
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Dec. 18, 2009 – Autism disorders increased by 57% in just four years, the CDC today reported.
By the end of 2006, one in 110 U.S. kids had an autism disorder diagnosed by age 8: one in 70 boys and one in 315 girls, reflecting a nearly fivefold higher risk for males.
The new CDC estimate of autism prevalence, obtained from analysis of child evaluation records in 11 states, is virtually identical to autism numbers reported for 2007 from a huge telephone survey reported last October.
Are today's kids really more likely to have autism, or are doctors and parents just getting better at recognizing this family of developmental disorders?
"At this point it is hard to say how much is a true increase and how much is improved identification," CDC behavioral health scientist Catherine Rice, PhD, said at a news conference. Rice is the lead author of the CDC report.
Rice admits that no single factor or simple explanation can account for the increase. And advocates for autism research say the size and rapidity of the increase can't be explained away.
"Two decades ago we were looking at a prevalence of one in 5,000 children. Now we're looking at one in 100. That really is a staggering increase," Geraldine Dawson, PhD, chief science officer of advocacy group Autism Speaks, tells WebMD.
Dawson said the new numbers justify a huge increase in federal spending on research and treatment.
"The question is what will it take for the federal government to begin to respond to this crisis," Dawson says. "President Obama during the election campaign made a promise that there would be a billion dollars spent every year on finding the causes of autism. We feel that this kind of data coming from a CDC study really requires that level of response."
Rice expressed similar concern.
"The CDC considers autism spectrum disorders to be a significant public health issue," she said. "This report underscores the need for a coordinated and strong response to improve lives of people with ASDs."
Parents Detect Autism Earlier
A major finding from the CDC study was that the vast majority of parents of children with an autism disorder -- 70% -- expressed concern over their child's development when the child was younger than 3 years old. Most expressed concern by the time the child was 2.
Yet children were, on average, four and a half years old before they were diagnosed with an autism disorder.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics has encouraged routine screening of children for autism at ages 18 and 24 months," Rice said. "Pediatricians should listen to parents if they have a concern, but also proactively follow the screening recommendations regardless of whether parents have concerns."
The Rice study was released today by the CDC as special report of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.Dec. 18, 2009 – Autism disorders increased by 57% in just four years, the CDC... more
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Sophisticated scans showed the brains of people with autism are less active when engaged in self-reflective thought.
The findings provide a neurological insight into why people with autism tend to struggle in social situations.
The study, by the University of Cambridge, appears in the journal Brain.
Autism has long been considered a condition of extreme egocentrism.
But research has shown the problem is people with the condition have trouble thinking about, and making sense of, themselves.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8407857.stmSophisticated scans showed the brains of people with autism are less active when... more
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Autism and its lesser-known relatives in the autism spectrum of disorders has found itself on the receiving end of a generous amount of attention lately. With straight facts and compelling evidence, humanity can further delve into the condition’s depths and learn about what it is by educating itself on what it is not.
Link: http://nursepractitionerschools.org/10-myths-about-autism/Autism and its lesser-known relatives in the autism spectrum of disorders has found... more
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eva2
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added this
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2 years ago
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The founder of this network needs your feedback, assistance, and dedication for the autism awareness. Those that are struggling through issues, and the pressure of being online, when a family member does not want that person to be online. Has a VHS to DVD and audio converter boxes, Dell Inspiron 350 desktop computer and V305 All-In-One Printer, a projector and VHS/DVD combo at homeThe founder of this network needs your feedback, assistance, and dedication for the... more
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"A new movement helps hone unique traits of disorder into valuable skills.
Ron Brix’s longtime job as a computer systems developer for Wrigley, the gum and candy maker, required intense attention to detail, single-minded focus and a willingness to work on something repetitively until perfect.
The secret he credits to his success? Autism.
Brix, age 54, was diagnosed in 2001 with Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism often marked by the exact traits that help make him an ideal employee.
"My career would not have existed at all without the autism," says Brix.
It's often seen as a heartbreaking diagnosis, but now some revolutionary companies see autism as something else: a resource.
A quiet movement is growing around the globe to help transform the unique attributes of high-functioning autistic adults into sought-after job skills."
Another great reason to get your child vaccinated!"A new movement helps hone unique traits of disorder into valuable skills.
Ron... more
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JACKSON, N.J., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- During its research into the application of neuroscience in business, a New Jersey based think tank, The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes®, LLC (The Center) made an inadvertent and amazing discovery.
The Center examined the neuroscientific dynamics of logic and emotion in decision making while researching neuroscience in business. They found unique corollary relationships between various brain chemicals (neurohormones, neurotransmitters, etc.). This apparent pattern led to a new path of research for the team outside of business. By looking at extensive scientific literature they discovered a cascade of hormones that emanate from the brain (hypothalamus). This same pattern of correlations was again apparent throughout the cascade. The group added a research biologist and started to test the pattern on genes (proteins). It remained consistent. The Center then called upon advisors from chemistry and physics to see if the pattern would apply in physical sciences.
To the amazement of the group, it became apparent that this pattern of corollary relationships could be applied to scientific processes for maintaining equilibrium (homeostatic relationships) throughout all of science; from subatomic particles to chemistry as well as between biological substances.JACKSON, N.J., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- During its research into the application of... more
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And from the very start, the cannabis was a godsend for Sam’s family. “The first time we did it, we wanted to see if it would work at all,” Steve recalls. “It was an amazing experience, I’ll never forget it, as we watched what happened, it was like ‘He’s back!’ It was like all this anguish, pent-up rage and aggressiveness went away — it just calmed him down.” http://hempnewstv.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/10-year-old-with-autism-benefits-from-medical-marijuana/And from the very start, the cannabis was a godsend for Sam’s family. “The... more
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NY Senator Kevin Parker District 21 braved through the afternoon rain to visit the
autistic children at the Hear Our Voices School and International Center for
Autism Research and Education (also known as Icare4autism). He met with
Founder and President Joshua Weinstein and received a firsthand look at the
new sensory room at the Hear Our Voices School and the International Center
for Autism Research and Education.
His main purpose for the trip was to view the rooftop area for the "Raise
the Roof Campaign." This campaign focuses on adding two more floors to the
currently 2-story building.
Senator Kevin Parker told Founder & President, Mr. Joshua Weinstein, "The
work that you do transcends this community. the work that needs to be done
is also for the neediest populations"
The International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICARE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding a cure for autism. The goal of ICARE is to conduct research while engaging in collaborative programs among similar institutions to build consensus and strengthen the approaches surrounding issues and best practices with a similar goal − to prevent autism ( www.icare4autism.org)NY Senator Kevin Parker District 21 braved through the afternoon rain to visit the... more
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In September 2009, at the age of 24, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder that affects social skills, attention and motor skills. This video shares some of my thoughts and feelings about Asperger's. Soundtrack is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.In September 2009, at the age of 24, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, an... more
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As the mother of an autistic child, Marie Myung-Ok Lee is navigating uncharted territory as she struggles to manage her son’s condition. She has Picture 4bravely come forward to share her son’s battle with this mysterious disorder, and to discuss how medical marijuana has brought them both back from the brink of despair. Read more > http://ow.ly/zdB3As the mother of an autistic child, Marie Myung-Ok Lee is navigating uncharted... more
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As the mother of an autistic child, Marie Myung-Ok Lee is navigating uncharted territory as she struggles to manage her son's condition. She has bravely come forward to share her son's battle with this mysterious disorder, and to discuss how medical marijuana has brought them both back from the brink of despair.
During what Marie calls the "dark phase," her son J had unpredictable mood swings that could erupt into fitful rages. Her 9-year-old would scream during lengthy tantrums, he refused to eat and threw his food on the floor. J broke plates, windows, and other household items as a way of expressing his pain and frustration. The family would hide out within the confines of their home until the darkness passed.
J's behavior disrupted his school performance and terrified the staff. "The teachers were wearing tae kwon do arm pads to protect themselves against his biting," Marie said. The school monitored J's daily outbursts on an "aggression chart" that documented as many as 300 episodes in one day that involved hitting, kicking, biting, or pinching another person.
With her son in crisis, Marie had no choice but to perform an intervention. But the only solution offered by child psychiatrists came in a pill bottle. "His school tried to force us to medicate him," says Marie, who feared the risk of dangerous side effects associated with commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal. Many of the FDA-approved drugs on the market used to treat symptoms of autism have no proven safety track record for use in children.
Despite the unknown risks, more kids are using prescription drugs than ever before. The number of children on psychiatric meds has skyrocketed in recent years, according to reports in medical journals such as Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Prescription drug use is growing faster among children than the elderly and baby boomers. But when it comes to medicating kids with marijuana, the issue becomes taboo.
"There's no such thing as a harmless drug, but marijuana is much less harmful than other drugs," said Lester Grinspoon, M.D., a professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Grinspoon is a leading expert in the field of medical marijuana, who has authored several books on the subject. "No one in the world has died from marijuana," insists Grinspoon, who has spent four decades researching the illicit drug.
Undeterred by the social stigma, Marie pursued this more natural approach to calm J's demons. After discussing her wishes with J's pediatrician, Marie decided to check out Marinol, a synthetic form of THC, which is the primary cannabinoid in marijuana. After fine-tuning J's dosage, she began hearing praises like, "J was a pleasure to have in speech class," instead of complaints about his violent episodes.
After a few months, J built up a tolerance to the drug and his unruly behavior returned. "The drawback of taking Marinol is that it's only THC. That's the most powerful cannabinoid, but it may not be the most relevant," said Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. Earleywine says there are about 70 different cannabinoids in the marijuana plant, many of which have medicinal value. Marie decided to take a chance on the real deal.
All it took was a signed prescription and a background check for J to become the youngest person in Rhode Island to obtain a license for pot. After buying some marijuana-infused olive oil, Marie made a batch of pot cookies. That night, J ate half of one cookie and "he was tired and conked out," said Marie, who checked hourly on his sleep, "half-expecting some red-eyed ogre from Reefer Madness to come leaping out at us." To her relief, J slept soundly and appeared happy and mellow the next day.
Over the past four months, Marie has documented her son's progress in an online blog entitled, Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot, Part II. While she doesn't believe marijuana is a cure for autism, it "allows J to participate more fully in life without the dangers and sometimes permanent side effects of pharmaceutical drugs." Dr. Grinspoon has seen positive results with a number of his autistic patients who are undergoing pot therapy. "I can confidently say to a parent that marijuana relieves some types of pain. It's not going to hurt them if you use it responsibly," Grinspoon says. Ingesting the drug works better because the effects can last up to eight hours. "A little goes a long way," says Earleywine, who reminds parents that the drug can take up to an hour and a half to kick in, "so wait a little while before administering any more."
While a growing number of distressed parents are turning to the herbal remedy, many moms with autistic kids are skeptical. "I feel it does more harm than good," says Trish, the mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism. "You are sedating the child, not treating the cause of the rage." Trish believes that medicating kids with pot is a cop-out. "Nobody said parenting was going to be easy, or that the solution to every problem is to get our children stoned."
The mainstream medical community shuns the subject, and the government refuses to fund any research that would legitimize marijuana use in treating autism or aggression disorders. "Marijuana is a very loaded subject," says Cara Natterson, M.D., a pediatrician and mother of two. "As a parent and as a pediatrician, I feel a responsibility to know that what I am putting into a child -- mine or someone else's -- is safe and tested."
The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes the legalization of marijuana, but does support further research into the potential medical benefits of cannabis. "We need to make sure the treatment is safe -- we haven't done that," Natterson adds. The doctor can sympathize with parents who desperately want to help their child. "But wanting to advocate for your child and making sure your child is safe are two different things," Natterson said.
Marie is confident that she has made the right choice when she sees J's transformation. "He doesn't look stoned. He just looks like a happy little boy."
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/can-marijuana-help-kids-autismAs the mother of an autistic child, Marie Myung-Ok Lee is navigating uncharted... more
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Steven Wiltshire (born in 1974) is an accomplished architectural artist who has been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. Wiltshire’s work has been the subject of many television documentaries; neurologist Oliver Sacks praised his artistic work in the chapter “Prodigies” in his book “An Anthropologist on Mars.” Stephen Wiltshire’s many published art books include “Cities” (1989), “Floating Cities” (1991) and “Stephen Wiltshire’s American Dream” (1993).
Wiltshire is presently working to complete his last drawing in a series of city panoramas, this time of his spiritual home, New York City. Wiltshire’s collection of already completed works depicting some of the world’s most iconic cities already includes London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Rome, Madrid, Frankfurt, Dubai and Jerusalem. A 20-minute fly-over Manhattan this past weekend provided the memory for a 20-foot panorama of the city that he’s drawing throughout this week at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. Viewers can watch his progress on a live web cam or by visiting the Institute while he works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, Oct. 26 to Friday, Oct. 30, 2009.
This piece includes a number photographs, a slide show of Stephen Wiltshire's work, a video of Wiltshire's current work drawing the panorama of New York City and a live web cam of him at work on the panorama.Steven Wiltshire (born in 1974) is an accomplished architectural artist who has been... more
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The home secretary Alan Johnson has "stopped the clock" on the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon after new medical evidence emerged. Johnson told MPs his 11th hour intervention was to allow McKinnon's legal team to consider medical reports and make legal representations.
Gary McKinnon is accused by the US of what they call the biggest military computer hack of all time for hacking into Pentagon networks. McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, says he was just looking for evidence of UFO sightings and meant no harm.
Supporters of McKinnon say he's at suicide risk if he's exported to a maximum security prison in the States. The US government, embarrassed that one man could hack into some of their most secure military networks from his bedroom in London, have been piling on the pressure to get him extradited to America under a terrorism extradition agreement for some time now.
Critics of the 2003 US-UK extradition treaty, which was created to allow terrorism suspects to be sent between the two countries, argue it's lopsided and gives a better deal to the USA.
McKinnon's mother spoke out after this latest announcement and echoed those sentiments, saying “We should not have a Government that is so powerless it cannot stand up against America for the right of its own citizens.”The home secretary Alan Johnson has "stopped the clock" on the extradition... more
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richjm
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2 years ago
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After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims.
The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, and sealed to protect the plaintiff's identify. It was obtained through individuals unrelated to the case.
The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal "Vaccine Court," was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the "defendant" in all Vaccine Court cases.
The child's claim against the government -- that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism -- was supposed to be one of three "test cases" for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court.After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of... more
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When Cathlene Echan walked into her pediatrician's office two weeks after giving birth, she was nervous about discussing her recent decision not to vaccinate her second baby.
But Echan, of Orange County, Calif., did not expect to be asked to leave.
"The doctor said it was too much of a liability to have us as patients," said Echan, a 28-year-old stay at home mom. Echan's oldest child, Josiah, now 5, had just been diagnosed with autism around the same time her second son Torren, now 2, was born.
Echan said she did research and read articles online about autism, she talked with other parents and then came to the pediatrician's office with doubts about vaccines.
"I hadn't come to a conclusion at that point when I saw the doctor, but I was so nervous because they're brothers, and I thought there could be a predisposition for it," said Echan. "As a mom, I can't knowingly do something to my second child when I believe it played a role in causing my older child's neurological disorder.
"She was very nice at first, but when I asked her to give him [Torren] a checkup, she said, 'you need to leave,'" said Echan.
Echan's situation is a growing problem for parents and pediatricians alike. Despite adamant statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers of Disease Control that vaccines have no link to autism, an anti-vaccination movement is growing online, from parent to parent, and through activist celebrities, such as actress Jenny McCarthy.
Now, more and more doctors are feeling compelled to say "no" back to these parents. The issue was raised Wednesday at the annual American Academy of Pediatrics meeting in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Gary Marshall, a presenter at the meeting, said there are some cases when it's ethical and legal to refuse to continue to see, or treat, a child.
...More...When Cathlene Echan walked into her pediatrician's office two weeks after giving... more
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To hear his enemies talk, you might think Paul Offit is the most hated man in America. A pediatrician in Philadelphia, he is the coinventor of a rotavirus vaccine that could save tens of thousands of lives every year. Yet environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slams Offit as a “biostitute” who whores for the pharmaceutical industry. Actor Jim Carrey calls him a profiteer and distills the doctor’s attitude toward childhood vaccination down to this chilling mantra: “Grab ‘em and stab ‘em.” Recently, Carrey and his girlfriend, Jenny McCarthy, went on CNN’s Larry King Live and singled out Offit’s vaccine, RotaTeq, as one of many unnecessary vaccines, all administered, they said, for just one reason: “Greed.”
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Has irrational fear has brought about the resurgence of preventable childhood diseases or does the risk outweigh the benefit?To hear his enemies talk, you might think Paul Offit is the most hated man in America.... more
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lu7cky
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2 years ago
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The question concerning whether or not children who receive vaccinations are more likely to have autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may have been indirectly and/or partially answered by the results of a study reporting that children with the disorder do not have higher levels of mercury in the bloodstream than children who are developing normally.The question concerning whether or not children who receive vaccinations are more... more
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