NYT: Do Toxins Cause Autism?

[Mike 03]

Like so many others here, I yearn to know why the percentage of children born with autism has spiked over the past decade.

Just more food for thought from a recent New York Times article:

Excerpt:

...The article cites “historically important, proof-of-concept studies that specifically link autism to environmental exposures experienced prenatally.” It adds that the “likelihood is high” that many chemicals “have potential to cause injury to the developing brain and to produce neurodevelopmental disorders.”

The author is not a granola-munching crank but Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, professor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and chairman of the school’s department of preventive medicine. While his article is full of cautionary language, Dr. Landrigan told me that he is increasingly confident that autism and other ailments are, in part, the result of the impact of environmental chemicals on the brain as it is being formed.

“The crux of this is brain development,” he said. “If babies are exposed in the womb or shortly after birth to chemicals that interfere with brain development, the consequences last a lifetime.”

Concern about toxins in the environment used to be a fringe view. But alarm has moved into the medical mainstream. Toxicologists, endocrinologists and oncologists seem to be the most concerned.

More here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html

[Orrex]

1. .

[Odin2005]

2. One problem: THERE IS NO EPIDEMIC.

More people getting diagnosed and DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY does not mean the actual rate is increasing. Sad that even experts are falling victim to such statistical fallacies. I would not be surprised if funding by bigoted pro-cure groups like Autism Speaks is why this BS bad science is being pushed.

[liberal_at_heart]

3. You have to understand it is different from a parent's perspective

It will take a long time to go from I want a cure for my child to just simply accepting that the child you gave birth to is autistic. It is heartbreaking to watch your child play alone in a corner while all the other children play together. My son is in the fifth grade. He spends recess circling the field while other kids are playing ball. When my son does try to play with the other kids he doesn't know how to correctly play and usually gets kicked out of the game. He eats alone at lunch and doesn't talk to anyone. I am glad you are comfortable with who you are and proud of who you are but I am not afraid to admit it is terrifying and heartwrenching as a parent to watch your child struggle.

[Odin2005]

5. I wish to be tolerated and accepted, not cured.

The problem is not the autistic person, the problem is how people TREAT that autistic person.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. I understand where you are coming from

Just because a person is accepted does not mean they can't receive treatment. My legally blind husband still sees the eye doctor to keep his remaining seeing eye healthy. My husband has a friend who lost an eye due to eye cancer when she was a child. Now she is grown and has a baby who is fighting eye cancer. You better believe that baby gets treatment. Her mother wants to save her eyes if they can. I accept my son but I still work with his teachers to improve his social skillsa and his academic performance. What about the parents out there who have autistic children that can't even look them in the eye or tell their parents they love them? Don't they deserve a chance to learn how to communicate with those they love? We can learn to accept each other and still want to help them.

[Bosso 63]

10. As a parent, I agree with you.

[Odin2005]

11. Sorry, but that "look me in the eye" comment was just wrong.

Their autistic children DO love them, why do they have to act like Neurotypicals for their parents to really believe it? it seems rather selfish to me on part of the parents.

[liberal_at_heart]

12. Well we just have different perspectives

Yes, as a parent I am selfish in that I want my son to hug me and tell me he loves me and I want to hug him and tell him I love him. If that is selfish I openly admit it and will not apologize for it. I am sorry you took offense. We just have different perspectives. That's all.

[Odin2005]

13. What about what HE wants?

No, this is not about "different perspectives", this is about what is right and wrong. Your "perspective" is a perfect example of Neurotypicalism in action.

[liberal_at_heart]

17. For your information he wants to hug me too and he does

He can show affection and does. He hugs me and tell me he loves me. He hugs his father and tells him he loves him. When he is sitting on the couch with his father he sits next to him and leans his head on his father's shoulder. You seem a bit defensive when a neurotypical has a different opinion than you do. I'm sorry you have faced so much discrimination in your life. As a parent I do have a different perspective than you just as I guess I have a different perspective because I am neurotypical. But that does not mean I am wrong in feeling the way I do. It doesn't necessasarily mean you are wrong either. Like I said we just have different perspectives.

[Book Lover]

15. You really want to know why? I'll tell you why

Because it's fucking hard to live with yourself and your family when the spectrum child you love and do *so much more* than parents of typicals for gives you nothing back, that's why. Even at the level of, did I do this thing (oh, I don't know, giving a present for example) right or wrong? No feedback, no way of knowing if what you do even registers. You except us parents to be emotionless? Get real and look at it from a parent's POV.

[liberal_at_heart]

20. oh wow are you speaking from personal experience Book Lover?

If you are I am so sorry. I can't imagine the pain you must have to deal with. I'm sure your child loves you dearly but as humans we do need that feedback and I am so sorry you cannot get that feedback.

[Book Lover]

14. This exchange reminds me of another saying we in the community are trying to get people hooked into:

If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.

Odin, you have no way of knowing what liberal_at_heart's son, or my son for that matter, "wants" in terms of expressing their love for their parents just because all three of you are on the spectrum. And chastising a mother who wants her child to express his or her love for her is cruel.

[Odin2005]

16. fearing that your autistic child does love you because he doesn't act NT is cruel.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[Book Lover]

19. You have it totally backwards, no surprise

But I am leaving this exchange at this point. I have no interest in fighting with you on this.

[laconicsax]

4. +1

[Forkboy]

18. Much like Bipolar syndrome.

Is it really increasing, or is it just a matter of more docs recognizing it?

I don't know. :shrug:

[kestrel91316]

6. No. Mercury in vaccines does.

:rofl:

[liberal_at_heart]

8. -1

[lazarus]

9. I thought it was

high fructose corn syrup. I can't keep up anymore.