LasssiterBeRight:
If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Well, now we know what the next project is for the "How is Babby Formed" people.

darch: MidnightSkulker: No, he's a ridiculously active and stubborn two year old - just like I was at his age - and if I don't crack down on his behaviour right now, he's going to be a complete brat, which is unacceptable. I'm not going to spend years bullying doctors into giving him a label when I know this kid just really *does* need an extremely firm disciplinarian. He's strong willed, not special needs. I was *exactly* the same way when I was his age.


If you are/were so aware of how difficult YOU were for your parents, why in the WORLD would you want to repeat that experience for yourself? Some kind of self-inflicted cosmic retribution? Guilt? I don't get it.

My son was unplanned, and my personal morals do not allow for abortion. I do not intend to have more children - I'd thought about it, but have decided against it. If I ever do, it'll be via domestic adoption. I'm currently waiting to be old enough for doctors to take me seriously and let me have a ligation.

LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

On the outside chance you're not trolling, I offer some reading material(new window)

Firefly4F4: White_Rabbit: Someone PLEASE remove this woman's license to be a practicing physician! How the HELL do you make it through undergrad (presumably in a biology-related field) and then med school without internalizing the scientific method?

I think you missed the part where it said this:

Dr. Rochelle Neally, a chiropractor at the Long Beach Autism Center in California questions large-scale medical studies.

Med school & the scientific method didn't come into play.

Phew. Yes, my skimming abilities have grown rusty post-college.

Jenny McCarthy is an idiot. And anyone who believes she's an autism expert, just because she's a celebrity, is an idiot too.

No surprise that the only 'doctor' they could find to defend their wacky beliefs is a chiropractor. Who discounts scientific evidence in favour of anecdotal reports.

This bunch of ninnies deserves to have autistic kids.

Feel bad for the kids, though.

LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Easy, he was misdiagnosed. Autism, as it stands, is not something you can "beat". It can be managed, and Jenny is doing more harm than good to finding causes and prevention methods.

I really hope Matt Stone and Trey Parker take jabs at Jenny McCarthy for their upcoming episodes of South Park.

subby, until you have a child, UNTIL YOU HAVE A CHILD, you just won't understand

serpent_sky: SonikTooth: but also, she criticizes the "big money of monolithic pharmaceutical companies" implying they are working under the agenda of making money regardless of health consequences, the obvious financial conflict of interest.

um, is it not that obvious that this doctor is simply protecting her vested interest in treating autism-diagnosed kids by "prescribing" some special diet and following their progress. she doesn't stand to gain by suggesting the patients need behavioral therapy, the most common autism treatment, thus she wins by promoting the special diet. of course, pharmaceutical companies promoting vaccines for their financial benefit is terrible, but an individual doctor promoting their treatment to the tune of their financial gain is A-OK.

Oh, no, she is different... the money she earns from caring for autism patients -- be it through diets, anti-vaccination, spine bending, or any number of things -- is different because she's one person, not the big, bad pharmaceutical companies.

While I fully realize that pharmaceutical companies are not benevolent entities and many times, do things that are not in the best interests of doctors or patients (my old therapist used to tell me horror stories of their drug peddlers and the amount of free things she'd get -- when she couldn't even WRITE prescriptions. It was in a discussion about general practitioners prescribing psychiatric medications when they were not experts in it, as that came close to killing me once.).... it is very easy to exploit people's distrust of "big pharmaceutical", which has been demoinzed to the point of stupidity.

You really wouldn't want to live in a world without prescription drugs. Are they over-prescribed? Yes. But frankly, without some of these drugs, we'd all be dying of simple infections. Some people would be basket cases. Women would lose some of the most reliable control over their reproductive systems. Some people would be covered in acne or rashes. And without vaccines, we'd have polio, smallpox, and all sorts of other horrific things.

Do we need prescriptions to make our eyelashes grow in thicker? Probably not. (I saw a commercial for that today and just sort of stared blankly at the tv....) But do we need antibiotics in case of actual infections (not the common cold)? Of course.

I wish people would see that with something as large as the pharmaceutical industry, yes, you'll get some bad. But the benefits of its existence far, far outweighs that bad.


But I have thin eyelashes and it makes me sad...

BabyOtter:

Do we need prescriptions to make our eyelashes grow in thicker? Probably not. (I saw a commercial for that today and just sort of stared blankly at the tv....) But do we need antibiotics in case of actual infections (not the common cold)? Of course.

I wish people would see that with something as large as the pharmaceutical industry, yes, you'll get some bad. But the benefits of its existence far, far outweighs that bad.


But I have thin eyelashes and it makes me sad...

That, and if you lie to your doctor, you can use it to grow a Heamer style pubic afro.

CapitolG: BabyOtter:

Do we need prescriptions to make our eyelashes grow in thicker? Probably not. (I saw a commercial for that today and just sort of stared blankly at the tv....) But do we need antibiotics in case of actual infections (not the common cold)? Of course.

I wish people would see that with something as large as the pharmaceutical industry, yes, you'll get some bad. But the benefits of its existence far, far outweighs that bad.


But I have thin eyelashes and it makes me sad...

That, and if you lie to your doctor, you can use it to grow a Heamer style pubic afro.

saddlesablazin: Ok I'm not defending Jenny or saying I agree with that thinking, but keep in mind that at one time the pinnacle of medicine was covering yourself with leaches. Just saying.



I had no idea he served medicinal purposes!

I'm surprised no-one's commented on this bit yet:

FTA:
Children with autism are often picky eaters.

Isn't that sentence EQUALLY valid without having the underlined bit in there?

LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Are you for real? Because I have you farkied as (at least pretending to be) a birther moron. You can't possibly be an anti vacc idiot as well, can you?

Ant:
LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Are you for real? Because I have you farkied as (at least pretending to be) a birther moron. You can't possibly be an anti vacc idiot as well, can you?

I don't know why you'd imagine that there wouldn't be overlaps in the major categories of moronity.

Sorry to interrupt your "Hate Jenny McCarthy" orgy, but there is scientific backing for the link between gluten and autism:

Autistic Behavior Improves with Gluten-Free
In one of several studies linking gluten and autism, parents reported improvements in their children during the gluten-free period. The study "tested the efficacy of a gluten-free and casein-freediet in treating autism using a randomized, double blind repeated measures crossover design. The sample included 15 children aged 2-16 years with autism spectrum disorder. Data on autistic symptoms and urinary peptide levels were collected in the subjects' homes over the 12 weeks that they were on the diet."1 0 (Elder, 2006). Elder reported this in an article entitled,"The gluten-free, casein-free diet in Autism: results of a preliminary double blind clinical trial" in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, last year.
Another study looked improving function in autistic children and gave dietary restrictions, including removal of milk and other casein dairy products, wheat and other gluten sources, sugar, chocolate, preservatives, and food coloring are beneficial and a prerequisite to benefit from other interventions. Researchers went on to say, many nutrient supplements are beneficial and well tolerated, including dimethylglycine (DMG) and a combination of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and magnesium, both of which benefit roughly half of ASD cases. Vitamins A, B3, C, and folic acid; the minerals calcium and zinc; cod liver oil; and digestive enzymes, all offer benefit. Immune therapies (pentoxifyllin, intravenous immunoglobulin, transfer factor, and colostrum) benefit selected cases. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids offer great promise.1 1 (Kidd, 2002).


I found this at: http://www.centerimt.com/Research-Gluten.asp (copy and paste, sorry - for some reason it won't link.)

And speaking from personal experience, I have found this to be true. My son is on the autism spectrum (he was thoroughly tested by the doctors and researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center - Child Development Clinic.)

I have observed an unmistakable difference in my son's behavior and ability to function normally when gluten is removed from his diet, just like a number of studies have also demonstrated.

I don't know anything about Jenny McCarthy other than her public persona (just like the rest of you) but I do know what it is like to have a child with autism. I know the pain of it, and the desperate search for answers.

I'm pretty tired of these assholes telling me so unequivocally what DOES NOT have a connection to autism. How can they possibly know that, when they don't know what DOES cause it? (For all they know, fresh air and sunshine causes it!)

Also, isn't it pretty hard to prove a negative? (I could prove to you that a blue rabbit does exist by producing a blue rabbit for you to examine, but I could never PROVE that at least one does not exist.)

So, when people claim to have done precisely that, based on one study, I get pretty skeptical. At best, they could say that their study does not support the views held by Jenny McCarthy and others - that's it.

When these people offer me some data on what DOES cause autism, then I'll be more interested. Until then, they can get bent. I'll take my own personal observations over their un-verifiable claims any day...

JustTheTip:
[Wharglbargl deleted]

When these people offer me some data on what DOES cause autism, then I'll be more interested. Until then, they can get bent. I'll take my own personal observations over their un-verifiable claims science any day...

And this is why not a damn person gives a flying fark what you or Jenny has to say.

JustTheTip: Sorry to interrupt your "Hate Jenny McCarthy" orgy, but there is scientific backing for the link between gluten and autism:

Autistic Behavior Improves with Gluten-Free
In one of several studies linking gluten and autism, parents reported improvements in their children during the gluten-free period. The study "tested the efficacy of a gluten-free and casein-freediet in treating autism using a randomized, double blind repeated measures crossover design. The sample included 15 children aged 2-16 years with autism spectrum disorder. Data on autistic symptoms and urinary peptide levels were collected in the subjects' homes over the 12 weeks that they were on the diet."1 0 (Elder, 2006). Elder reported this in an article entitled,"The gluten-free, casein-free diet in Autism: results of a preliminary double blind clinical trial" in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, last year.
Another study looked improving function in autistic children and gave dietary restrictions, including removal of milk and other casein dairy products, wheat and other gluten sources, sugar, chocolate, preservatives, and food coloring are beneficial and a prerequisite to benefit from other interventions. Researchers went on to say, many nutrient supplements are beneficial and well tolerated, including dimethylglycine (DMG) and a combination of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and magnesium, both of which benefit roughly half of ASD cases. Vitamins A, B3, C, and folic acid; the minerals calcium and zinc; cod liver oil; and digestive enzymes, all offer benefit. Immune therapies (pentoxifyllin, intravenous immunoglobulin, transfer factor, and colostrum) benefit selected cases. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids offer great promise.1 1 (Kidd, 2002).


I found this at: http://www.centerimt.com/Research-Gluten.asp (copy and paste, sorry - for some reason it won't link.)

And speaking from personal experience, I have found this to be true. My son is on the autism spectrum (he was thoroughly tested by the doctors and researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center - Child Development Clinic.)

I have observed an unmistakable difference in my son's behavior and ability to function normally when gluten is removed from his diet, just like a number of studies have also demonstrated.

I don't know anything about Jenny McCarthy other than her public persona (just like the rest of you) but I do know what it is like to have a child with autism. I know the pain of it, and the desperate search for answers.

I'm pretty tired of these assholes telling me so unequivocally what DOES NOT have a connection to autism. How can they possibly know that, when they don't know what DOES cause it? (For all they know, fresh air and sunshine causes it!)

Also, isn't it pretty hard to prove a negative? (I could prove to you that a blue rabbit does exist by producing a blue rabbit for you to examine, but I could never PROVE that at least one does not exist.)

So, when people claim to have done precisely that, based on one study, I get pretty skeptical. At best, they could say that their study does not support the views held by Jenny McCarthy and others - that's it.

When these people offer me some data on what DOES cause autism, then I'll be more interested. Until then, they can get bent. I'll take my own personal observations over their un-verifiable claims any day...



And I think you used "unequivocally" when you meant "emphatically". Otherwise the use of the word doesn't enrich your meaning.

A single study with 15 kids from disparate age ranges...which is OK considering that the do only tout it as a "preliminary" study. But the kicker is that it is contradicted by much larger scale experiments using similar criteria. This is why we don't simply rely on preliminaries.

JustTheTip: derp derp

That was funny. Very convincing :) 8.5/10, at a confidence level of 0.05.

superoogie: Ant:
LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Are you for real? Because I have you farkied as (at least pretending to be) a birther moron. You can't possibly be an anti vacc idiot as well, can you?

I don't know why you'd imagine that there wouldn't be overlaps in the major categories of moronity.

There is more overlap than you can possibly imagine. There is a good chance he is also a truther.

meat0918: superoogie: Ant:
LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Are you for real? Because I have you farkied as (at least pretending to be) a birther moron. You can't possibly be an anti vacc idiot as well, can you?

I don't know why you'd imagine that there wouldn't be overlaps in the major categories of moronity.

There is more overlap than you can possibly imagine. There is a good chance he is also a truther.

Your mainstream Alex Jones and Jeff Rense inspired conspiracy theorists believe pretty much everything you can imagine. Chemtrails, fluoride, 9/11, bilderbergers... their threshold for belief is so low any crackpot can score a goal. They are intellectual gutter sluts.

ZipSplat: meat0918: superoogie: Ant:
LasssiterBeRight: If there's no link how did Evan beat Autism?

Physicians are the third leading cause of death in the USA. Source: John Hopkins, Institute of Medicine and JAMA.

So, sure, let's listen to the crazy 'tards who use pills and knives for everything. I plead with you to listen to Doctor-Advice. It's evolution in action and is helping to keep the population down.

Are you for real? Because I have you farkied as (at least pretending to be) a birther moron. You can't possibly be an anti vacc idiot as well, can you?

I don't know why you'd imagine that there wouldn't be overlaps in the major categories of moronity.

There is more overlap than you can possibly imagine. There is a good chance he is also a truther.

Your mainstream Alex Jones and Jeff Rense inspired conspiracy theorists believe pretty much everything you can imagine. Chemtrails, fluoride, 9/11, bilderbergers... their threshold for belief is so low any crackpot can score a goal. They are intellectual gutter sluts.

I wonder if I can drain them of some of their money...

meat0918: I wonder if I can drain them of some of their money...

Look at Jeff Rense's homepage, COVERED with bullshiat that only an idiot would buy. Same thing with Alex Jones. They seem to have no ethical standards, apparently because they are unable to compose themselves long enough to consider having them. And of course there's the InfoWars shop.

Ahem...

Link (new window)

Link (new window)

Link (new window)

Link (new window)

Link (new window)

Mmmkay?

JustTheTip: Sorry to interrupt your "Hate Jenny McCarthy" orgy, but there is scientific backing for the link between gluten and autism:

And speaking from personal experience, I have found this to be true. My son is on the autism spectrum (he was thoroughly tested by the doctors and researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center - Child Development Clinic.)

I have observed an unmistakable difference in my son's behavior and ability to function normally when gluten is removed from his diet, just like a number of studies have also demonstrated.

i'm sure you were expecting this, so here goes. you deserve it.

you have a single data point. you are obviously correct. how could anyone question the almighty you? only if they are total morons, of course. LOL

people who are telling you unequivocally how to raise your child are assholes. people who are telling there is no known link between gluten in the diet and autism, on the other hand, are correct to the best of current knowledge.

you can feed your unique child a unique diet all you want. there is nothing wrong with that at all. but it is relatively clear that any improvement in your child's behavior was not the result of his diet. perhaps your child has really just learned how to better control his/her behavior due to the fact that your child has gotten older and learned more life skills.

inelegy: Isn't it precious when broads get notions in their pretty little heads?

Don't call the dames broads.

JustTheTip:
I'm pretty tired of these assholes telling me so unequivocally what DOES NOT have a connection to autism. How can they possibly know that, when they don't know what DOES cause it?


Well, according to the researchers in the article something like 20 years worth of studies and tests tells them that it doesn't have a connection.

But hey, believe what you want to believe.

Stupid or not,,,,,,

Apologies to Don Wiss for the copy/paste, on gluten sensitivity/Celiac and behavior:

The following is taken from the "Celiac Sprue" handout flyer from CSA/USA: "...; personality changes (especially common in children with sprue; they become unable to concentrate, are irritable, cranky, and have difficulties with mental alertness and memory function); can also occur in adults; ..."

The following is from the February 1995 Sprue-nik Press newsletter. It included Misc. Highlights from the 1994 American Celiac Society Conference. "Question (to Alessio Fasano, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, University of Maryland): Is there an association between celiac disease and attention deficit or hyperactivity in children? Yes, but only for untreated celiacs. Once the child goes on a gluten-free diet, these problems tend to disappear. A related question: Is there a link between behavioral problems and celiac disease in children? Once again, the answer is yes, but only for untreated celiacs. It is the malnutrition that leads to the problem."

From Gluten Intolerance Group of North America - "Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy: Up-Date for Health Care Professionals" May, 1992: "Behavioral changes - such as irritability and inability to concentrate, may be reported in undiagnosed children. Adults often relate difficulties in short-term memory and concentration...."

From Coeliac Disease, by Dr. Michael Marsh, Blackwell Scientific Publications, November 1992. - Chapter 2 (by Jacques Schmitz) - p.30 - "The effects of the gluten-free diet are most often spectacular, particularly in toddlers. Behavioural disorders are the first to subside..."

Marsh's book again - Chapter 3 - on CD in adults, written by Peter Howdle and Monty S. Losowsky. p. 55 - "Psychological changes have also been widely investigated, but are difficult to quantify. Many patients appear to be depressed, while others are irritable, morose or difficult to relate to... Nevertheless, in some case reports, treatment with a gluten-free diet has resulted in spectacular improvements in mental function."

From a speech by Ivor D. Hill, MD. Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University entitled "Clinical Presentation of Celiac Disease in Children" given on July 14, 1995:
Behavioral Disturbance: Emotional symptoms are common in children with celiac disease, although they are not often the initial mode of presentation of this condition. Children with celiac disease have been described as "extremely irritable, fretful, capricious or peevish. Nothing seems to please them and although they are quite unlike themself". They often exhibit features of extreme emotional dependence on their mothers, frequently clinging to them and showing marked irritability and fretfulness when separated. In addition, they are often emotionally withdrawn from their environment, and this withdrawal may even resemble autism. The association between celiac disease and autism is still a matter of considerable debate in some circles.

Jenny McCarthy is wrong, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic.

Only in America would it take researchers from the Mayo Clinic to get Jenny McCarthy to shut the fark up. What medical training has she had, aside from blowing some interns behind a dumpster at Johns Hopkins.

cmb53208: Only in America would it take researchers from the Mayo Clinic to get Jenny McCarthy to shut the fark up.

Don't count your eggs...

Breastfeeding Limked To Autism(click)

From the article:
Merzenich: I've been trying to encourage the Autism Foundation and others to pursue correlative studies in humans. The Centers for Disease Control have been worried about these chemicals and their potential effects in the development of babies for a long time and since about 1999 or 2000 they have been issuing warnings about them both about PCBs and PBDEs. Their concern has been primarily about women exposed to these chemicals in areas where they are known to be in relatively high concentrations but, in general our study adds to the worry and it really indicates that it's in the great public interest to determine quickly whether or not these chemical poisons which are very widespread in the American environment, in the world environments, are adding to the risk of onset of these developmental disorders. They are still being produced in the hundreds of thousands of tons as fire retardant chemicals and we know that the PBDEs have been growing and increasing in concentration in American females and in their milk ,doubling every two to five years. So they are still very rapidly increasing in concentration and actually the concentration is equal or past the level of concentration of PCBs. Even though the PCBs were banned there was a large quantity produced and it's out there in the environment and its very very slowly degraded. And it actually accumulates in animal tissue and its basically lipidophilic so it's concentrated in animal fat and it basically has been growing in concentration. Concentration has increased up until recently even though it was banned a long time ago because it gradually accumulates and in mammals it's very, very difficult to get rid of it. It's not broken down effectively in the body so it accumulates slowly, increasing in concentration across the life span in humans...only relatively recently levels of PCBs recorded in human tissue in the US have been going down but, at the same time as they go down the PBDEs go up... The problem is that these chemicals are concentrated in breast milk at a level of about six fold as they are in regular body tissues. Because they are concentrated in fat, in a sense the mother is concentrating these poisons and delivering them in relatively high dose levels to infants.

inelegy:
Isn't it precious when broads get notions in their pretty little heads?

Knoughah:
Don't call the dames broads.

Skirts are nuthin' but trouble...

I just read that whole article... Does that mean I have autism?


You know...Because apparently EVERYTHING is a cause of autism now.

Alx_xlA: jshine: TFA:"What they call 'scientific' are these expensive double-blind tests,"

It's difficult to say, but the Picard facepalm doesn't quite cut it here. So, here's a link for the EPIC FACEPALM (new window) on YouTube.

That's got to be the stupidest thing I've seen today. Please don't do that again.

Mentat:
Nice gams.

Thanks, baby. You seem like a good egg yourself. Wanna dust this thread and grab a little giggle juice?

Mentat: Coyote Doyenne: inelegy:
Isn't it precious when broads get notions in their pretty little heads?

Knoughah:
Don't call the dames broads.

Skirts are nuthin' but trouble...

Nice gams.

Not bad for a wench

Alphakronik: Actually, her problem is this.


Autism rates jump nearly 50% in children who are born to women over the age of 35.



Doesn't explain her son though. She was 30 when she had her son, not over 35.

And didn't anyone notice the comment that parents are tired of science that doesn't give them an answer?
So if the best an 18 year solid study can come up with is "Looks like there's no correlation there." then the science must be bad because, dang it, science is supposed to give us ANSWERS!
And the answers must be the answers we've already agreed are the right ones, or it's bad science. (No donuts!)
My head exploded on this issue years ago.

PastryChef: And didn't anyone notice the comment that parents are tired of science that doesn't give them an answer?
So if the best an 18 year solid study can come up with is "Looks like there's no correlation there." then the science must be bad because, dang it, science is supposed to give us ANSWERS!
And the answers must be the answers we've already agreed are the right ones, or it's bad science. (No donuts!)
My head exploded on this issue years ago.

Yeah, I saw it. Some things are... just too stupid to touch.

I remember 15 or so years ago reading similar articles stating that there is no scientific evidence linking high sugar intake and hyperactivity in children. Everyone I know with kids will laugh at that.

My 18 year old daughter has Asperger's and ADD. She is not hyperactive and was really a very well behaved child. When she was a child people in restaurants and so on used to complement us on her good behavior. Her ADD exhibits itself in her short attention span and likelihood to get lost in her own thoughts rather than pay attention to the task at hand. I have two other neurotypical children who were raised by the same parents with the same rules, discipline structure, etc. so I don't think our parenting is the issue at hand.

I don't claim that immunizations had anything to do with my daughter's autism. However, eliminating wheat gluten from her diet (and, later, providing digestive enzymes with any wheat intake) improved her social skills and nearly eliminated her emotional meltdowns within DAYS of our trying it. She takes meds for the ADD and has undergone years of behavioral therapy for the Asperger's, but the single best thing we have done for her in treating her autism is tackling the wheat gluten issue. I was skeptical and tried it in desperation. The effects were startling. Now that she is grown, she can identify the feeling of being "wheaty" when she has forgotten to take her enzymes or has inadvertently consumed wheat. It makes a difference to her which she can identify.

Is she "cured?" No. But it made a big difference for her. I'm not interested in convincing any scientists of this or in trying to prove why. I just know it worked for us.

My son is diagnosed with Aspergers and my daughter is PDD-NOS and ADHD. After they were diagnosed and I was educated on ways to handle them when they act out, their behavior improved to the point that I'm almost never embarrassed to have them out in public. They are better behaved than some non-ASD kids we know. Although it's true that they were both vaccinated and I do not have them on a painfully restrictive diet, I honestly in my heart believe that this is just who they are. Me + hubby = weird kids.

To Penguin_named_Nori: there is a possibility that things other than autism responding (but often correlating with it) could be responding to the gluten aspect. But I don't think anyone here is nearly as worried about the dietary matter as they are the vaccine matter.

What an incredible read. To those of you who wished autism on the children of others, I'd like to remind you that the way someone is born does not make them a curse or a punishment, and that you're party to the same dehumanization of autistic people that may well happen to single out, marginalize and objectify you for whatever difference you might have.

To those of you, the many who stood up for the rights of the cognitively different and for the safety of our species thanks to vaccines, thank you so very much for being almost unilaterally sensible and rational in your statements.

I'm learning lots about autism, Asperger's and other linked cognitive and developmental matters and this article and the responses here helped shed more light on this woefully misunderstood set of topics.