Autism Diagnoses Rise Among U.S. Children, CDC Finds

[proverbialwisdom]

Source: Bloomberg News

By Elizabeth Lopatto - Mar 20, 2013 12:01 AM ET

About 2 percent of American school children were diagnosed with autism disorders in 2011 and 2012, a 72 percent increase from the previous five years, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The current statistics were compared with the CDC’s 2007 report that found 1.16 percent of children ages 6 to 17 were diagnosed on the autism spectrum, according to their parents. Most of the increase was due to more diagnoses of milder autism disorders, the Atlanta-based agency said.

The current data show that 1 in 50 children have been diagnosed with autism or a related disorder, such as Asperger’s syndrome. The conditions are characterized by difficulty with communication, social functioning and by unusual responses to sensory information.

“Changes in ascertainment of autism spectrum disorders could occur because of changes in autism spectrum disorders awareness among parents or health-care professionals, increased access to diagnostic services, changes in how screening tests or diagnostic criteria are used, or increased special education placements in the community,” the authors wrote.

<>

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-20/autism-diagnoses-rise-among-u-s-children-cdc-finds.html

---

STUDY LINK: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

[proverbialwisdom]

1. Important caveats.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2013/03/20/autism-diagnosis-in-us-children-reaches-1-million-mark-survey-finds/

Autism Diagnosis in U.S. Children Reaches 1 Million Mark, Survey Finds
Published March 20, 2013
Fox News Latino

<>

The new estimate released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least 1 million children have autism.

The number is important — government officials look at how common each illness or disorder is when weighing how to spend limited public health funds.

It's also controversial.

The new statistic comes from a national phone survey of more than 95,000 parents in 2011 and 2012. Less than a quarter of the parents contacted agreed to answer questions, and it's likely that those with autistic kids were more interested than other parents in participating in a survey on children's health, CDC officials said.

Still, CDC officials believe the survey provides a valid snapshot of how many families are affected by autism, said Stephen Blumberg, the CDC report's lead author.

The study that came up with the 1-in-88 estimate had its own limitations. It focused on 14 states, only on children 8 years old, and the data came from 2008. Updated figures based on medical and school records are expected next year.

"We've been underestimating" how common autism is, said Michael Rosanoff of Autism Speaks, an advocacy group. He believes the figure is at least 1 in 50.

<>

[kimbutgar]

25. There is nothing that comes out of Fox that I believe.

They shrill for the big pharma and chemical companies which are contributing to this rise.

As a parent of a son with autism I can tell you that when my son was first diagnosed I knew few people who even knew about autism. Now whenever I explain my son's abnormal behavior and say he is autistic people want to talk and say I have a child who is also on the spectrum, or a niece or nephew, neighbor's kids, co-worker etc. This is bigger than they are willing to admit. If we don't spend the money on early intervention now we will be paying a lot more in social services, group homes and medical services for these people. My son is 20 and there isn't a lot out there for him now nor was there then. There are a lot more early intervention services now but only if you live in an area where they offer them or you can afford them because you can go bankrupt trying to keep up with medical bills. If you live in a poor area and your child is diagnosed you are shit out of luck.

[meadowlark5]

2. So what does our government and country have planned for these adults with autism?

I keep wondering this. Some of these kids with autism are pretty disabled. I see them at my boys' school and there is a spectrum and some of the kids are in class without any special education or aides. Or some have an IEP where they stay in the class but have different expectations for classwork and testing/grading. And some spend most of their time in the special education room with an aide.

Our govt keeps cutting and cutting programs. They will have a generation of hundreds of thousands of autistic kids who will grow into adults who very possibly will not be able to hold a job to support themselves. Autism is an equal opportunity disability and many of the parents of these kids will not have the financial means to set up some kind of financial account to help take care of their adult autistic child. And when the parents die, what happens with all of these people? They can't be thrown out into the streets. The republicans think everyone should be able to pull themselves up by their boot straps and support themselves. But there are going to be A LOT of autistic adults who genuinely won't be able to do that.

[cap]

4. If we become our brothers keepers

It may not be quite as tragic. The Amish have a lot of developmentally disabled in their community who hold jobs. They just work with them and give them tasks appropriate to their level of ability. Someone may be a bit slow at one thing but very good at others. It's just the way we do things because we forget that it takes a village.

[meadowlark5]

6. I don't think we can compare our country as a whole to the Amish

They are small communities and they do take care of their own. I don't see that happening in this country as whole. Look at how the poor, the disabled, those that are left without family or financial means to take them to the end of their lives. We're seeing it daily with this battle to take as much funding away from programs that help these people.

In the next 20+ years, I think this bird is going to come home to roost. There are going to be a lot of autistic adults with no where to go or people to take care of them. I have a brother with Aspberger's who, for now, is receiving services from the state. He lives in my deceased dad's house and my brother lives in the same town and helps him with home upkeep. The state services send a woman/aide to his home to help him grocery shop and teach him to cook. At some point, he may move into their adult apartment housing. However, I can't see that funding of these kind of services lasting under the attack the republicans are waging on social programs. My brother can function but could never hold a job. And certainly not a job that could support him. And if worse comes to worse, he has all of us to help him. Some of these people may not.

[cap]

59. Imagine if we could....

imagine if we did take care of our own and were a more tolerant people...

Thank God, your brother has some one.

[tavalon]

11. Not much

Our severely autistic son is graduating from high school in June. He will go on to a three year transition program in which he probably will learn nothing marketable. So, his three parents are going to get him an apartment and spend the next decade or so getting him ready to be able to go into a decent group home. And the govt. will be paying him $710 a month, of which $550 will go to the rent ($1200 actual) and the rest to food, which since he is gluten free, that should cover about a week. We'll try to get him food stamps. He's actually a damn lucky kid to have two biological and a step parent who love him with all of their hearts. But the government would rather he just go away.

[meadowlark5]

13. That will be the same with my brother

If he ends up moving into one of the apartments, most of his social security payment will go for rent and what little is left over will go to pay for groceries and utilities.

There is a possibility that my sister, who will retire soon but has a modest retirement fund, will move in with him and take care of him. So we have a few options. I'm not sure many people do or will when the time comes. And that is where the govt should have some kind of system in place for all of these autistic adults who may not have a social network to help them.

They are all worried about the baby boomer generation retiring and putting a strain on the system. Maybe autistic adults won't be those kind of numbers, but I do believe it's going to be a demographic which the govts, state and federal, are turning a blind to.

[kimbutgar]

26. I just got my son into a group home and it costs $1100 a month

I only get $650 a month from social security. It has become the biggest burden on my husband and I financially. But it got to the point he couldn't live with us anymore without one of us hurting the other. I realize my son will never live a normal life and I worry about his future so it's a one day at the time situation.

The way the GOP are going in this country they will resort to genocide if Paul Ryan gets his way with healthcare since he wants to destroy publicly funded healthcare in this country.

[meadowlark5]

27. "The takers and the makers"

Unfortunately, disabled adults like those with autism, down syndrome and sensory integration disorder will, through no fault of their own, need someone to help them throughout their lives.

I'm glad you found a group home for your son. I'm just sorry that it is so expensive. I have a feeling that there are companies that will begin looking at this demographic of people the same as they do the elderly with assisted living facilities. There probably will be places for these disabled adults to live but it will come with a hefty price tag. And you have to wonder if the care for that price will be worth it.

[juajen]

51. She will probably be eligible for SSI since she is a close relalative

and will be his caretaker. Check this out right away, as this will help your sister make a decision. SS does help in all kinds of situations, you just have to know your social security. Check the website first and get really familiar with SSI requirements; then call your local SS and make an appointment and discuss all of this with them. Good luck!

[meadowlark5]

60. Thank you. I did not know that

My one brother is executor of the estate but my sister acts as his guardian. Not legal guardian but handles everything health wise and deals with the aides from the regional center that provides his services. Which can be a whole other can of worms with those women. If they can get my brother to move into their group housing, they get even more funding for his services than they do now. It's all pretty bureaucratic and kind of sneaky some of the things that has been tried over the years.

I will make sure she knows this to make plans if that is the way this is going to go.

[Butterbean]

57. When I write to legislators, this is the primary argument I use for not

cutting current early intervention funding. Better to get a handle on things now, to teach skills now, than to pay for adults who are unable to contribute later in life. My son is in a self contained classroom, and he is one of those who needs the interventions and the training. He will live with us the rest of his life, and will need help to survive and hold down a job the rest of his life. It's not pessimism, it's just the facts.

[Blandocyte]

3. Due to the change in diagnostic criteria, or increase in symptoms?

Article doesn't seem all that clear about that, but I only skimmed it looking for info about the diagnostic criteria changing and the effects that might have on prevalence. Seemed the article was leaving room for a few explanations.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Changes in disagnostic criteria alone cannot explain the increase.

It is rapidly increasing in frequency, which means a) it is an epidemic and b) it has an environmental trigger or cause.

There are many other studies which show the same thing that don't rely on a phone poll.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

30. The criteria do keep shifting

As noted elsewhere in the thread, Autistic Spectrum disorders are now part of what we mean when we discuss "autism". In the past, the term would have been limited to classic Kanner autism. This makes it perhaps hard to effectively compare statistics for today with those of the past.

However, the 2013 DSM-V, the new edition, will be changing the definitions for autism again. Some (but not all) of the experts and professionals involved with rewriting the standards for the DSM-V have commented that part of the intent is to reduce the number of diagnoses. The DSM-IV standards are apparently considered to be too broad, too vague, and not scientifically robust enough, and some seem to think they underlie the apparent increase in the incidence of autism. (Being a bit paranoid, myself, I put this together with the ominous-sounding "War on Autism" and suspect they're trying to hide the problem by changing the definitions. Some of the new criteria could potentially be used to remove the diagnosis of any adult with an autism diagnosis who wasn't diagnosed as a child. I guess we'll see what happens....) At any rate, among the changes will be the removal of Asperger's Syndrome and the merging of several DSM-IV conditions under the umbrella label of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, with a level of severity specified.

[bhikkhu]

5. Linked to mercury content in high fructose corn syrup:

http://www.infowars.com/spike-in-us-autism-rates-linked-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup-consumption/

http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/columnists/is-mercury-lurking-in-high-fructose-corn-syrup/article_a83ed81b-49e2-5463-81b2-5579b2c8d7cd.html

[Archae]

9. Alex Jones' web site, reposting a "NaturalNews" article?

The tinfoil hat is really screwed on tight with this one.

[proverbialwisdom]

17. Here, from 2009.

Last edited Wed Mar 20, 2013, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-hatfield/our-melamine-theres-mercu_b_161334.html

...But as it turns out, the HFCS industry has been hiding some major skeletons in its closet -- according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) study (pdf), over 30% of products containing the substance tested positive for mercury.(For working link, search http://www.iatp.org/search/node/HFCS )

What makes this news truly shocking is not just that the manufacturers of high fructose corn syrup would put consumers' health at risk, but that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew about the mercury in the syrup, and has been sitting on this information since 2005.

Here's the connection, according to the IATP press release (pdf): The IATP study comes on the heels of another study, conducted in 2005 but only recently published by the scientific journal, Environmental Health, which revealed that nearly 50 percent of commercial HFCS samples tested positive for the heavy metal. Renee Dufault, who was working for the FDA at the time, was among the 2005 study's authors. In spite of Dufault's involvement in the study, the FDA sat silent on this one for three years, and in fact last August, allowed manufacturers to call the sweetener "natural."

See: http://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/1/2

<>

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms," said IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. "Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply."

http://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/1/2
Mercury from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar
Renee Dufault1*, Blaise LeBlanc2, Roseanne Schnoll3, Charles Cornett4, Laura Schweitzer4, David Wallinga5, Jane Hightower6, Lyn Patrick7 and Walter J Lukiw8

http://www.iatp.org/documents/table-a-total-mercury-detected-in-55-brand-name-foods-and-beverages-high-in-hfcs
HOME » ISSUES » DOCUMENTS » IATP REPORTS
Table A: Total Mercury Detected in 55 Brand-Name Foods and Beverages High in HFCS
By IATP
Published January 26, 2009

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-01-27-1476069x82.pdf
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-crossfield/is-high-fructose-corn-syr_b_161331.html

[barbaraj]

18. It seems mercury could well be the culprit

so why do we allow it, what hold do these corporations have on us? and...why do we buy into the denial of the elephant in the room..(again we as consumers this time) from the link.".Before now, our greatest threat for mercury exposure was through fish, followed by mercury amalgam in dentistry and through vaccines".."before now?" ...how long was it in infant formula?

[840high]

32. Thank you for links.

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. It's nice to know that the assertion of causes that have no scientific evidence to support them

has moved on from vaccines.

[bhikkhu]

14. Mercury is a much more plausible factor than vaccine

Its a well-studied poison and unquestionably a neurotoxin - http://www.epa.gov/hg/health.htm

The question is whether it is in HFCS or not, and from what I have seen it is, introduced as a part of the refining. How do you define evidence?

[proverbialwisdom]

19. Here's another perspective backed by scientific evidence. Read for some not nice to know realities.

http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2013/03/testimony-on-maine-ld-672-act-relating.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017105362
C-SPAN VIDEO: Autism Hearing, 11/29/12, House Committee Oversight and Government Reform

http://www.iatp.org/documents/study-links-autism-with-industrial-food-environment
http://www.iatp.org/blog/201212/dr-martha-herbert-on-autism-diet-and-the-environment

Challenge yourself to read only Ginger Taylor's entire March 2013 testimony submitted to the Maine legislature, if time is short.

[Archae]

20. Another wack job site, "Adventures In Autism."

They are extremely anti-vaccination, and proudly link to the Amazon page of this book:

http://tinyurl.com/c6wyg7t

There is mercury in our environment, due mostly at this time to coal plant emissions.

HOWEVER...

There is no confimrable evidence so far, that autism is caused BY mercury.

[proverbialwisdom]

24. What say you to just these points?

http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2013/03/testimony-on-maine-ld-672-act-relating.html

By Ginger Taylor
March 11, 2013

Below is my written testimony on LD 672 An Act Relating to Exemption from Immunization for Schoolchildren, urging the state of Maine to provide parents with true informed consent in vaccination.



The 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (Vaccine Injury Compensation Act or VICA) http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/authorizinglegislation.pdf:

details...

...27 years later the consequences of this well intended law have been devastating untold numbers of families, including mine.

1) The number of vaccines administered has skyrocketed:

When Pharmaceutical companies realized that they had a product line for which the could not be held liable for injury and death, and that governments would market for them via school mandates, they poured considerable resources into R&D for vaccines and aggressively began to market those vaccines to HHS. 

As a result, the Childhood vaccine schedule, unchanged for nearly 20 years, began to become inflated beginning in 1988, and is now almost three times what it was when the law was passed.

If I were to have a child today, that baby would receive more doses of vaccine by the time it was six months old than I did by the time I went to college.

The current vaccine schedule is untested as a whole, vaccines are recommended in combinations for which there is no safety testing, and doses are being added every year. 

<>

In conclusion:

...The Canary Party urges the State of Maine to engage in a thorough and critical examination of the CDC recommended vaccine schedule and undertake a dramatic overhaul of state vaccine policy and recommendations based in the information that has come to light on true vaccine risks in the last decade.

Vaccine policy should not be based merely on the reduction of communicable disease levels, but on overall health outcomes for children, including the true increased risk of autoimmune and neurological disorders that may be caused by an overaggressive and inappropriate vaccine schedule.

I'd have reversed the order of the last two paragraphs above.

[nenagh]

28. The number of different vaccines in the current vaccine schedule has skyrocketed...

And such an increase from 1988.

How do they test for the safety of giving so many vaccines together?

[bhikkhu]

31. Mercury is a known cause of developmental problems in the brain

that's not in question, and we know how it works and what levels are safe (more or less). The levels of mercury found in the study of HFCS are possibly a problem. .113 ppm has been given as an amount, where .100 - .290 or so in fish is considered a "moderate level, where only limited consumption is recommended.

I live in an area where there is plenty of fishing but also moderately contaminated fish, and I know plenty of guys who used to eat the fish they caught but won't any more. The recommendations for pregnant women are tighter because of the known effect of mercury on developing brain. No definite evidence of a link, but the theory is plausible and there may be a link.

As far as vaccines, I haven't seen anything suggesting a cause and effect, or any plausible explanation of how a vaccine might cause problems with brain development. The simple juxtaposition of two things means nothing - you have to have at least a theory of how one might cause the other.

[proverbialwisdom]

34. No theories? Then you'll have to read THIS.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20049118-10391695.html

[Pale Blue Dot]

35. And you'll have to read THIS.

But you won't.

http://www.skepdic.com/skeptimedia/skeptimedia130.html

http://sethmnookin.com/2011/03/31/more-embarrassing-anti-vaccine-reporting-from-cbs-newss-sharyl-attkisson/

[proverbialwisdom]

41. Your assumption is wrong. I'll have to get back to you, though. nt

[bhikkhu]

37. The theory that vaccine causes encephalopathy, and that encephalopathy causes autism?

the first part is supported pretty well here: http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2011/06/01/vaccines-and-brain-inflammation/ , and other studies that indicate (which I didn't know) that vaccination inherently causes inflammation. But only because inflammation is a basic response of the immune system.

So the question would be - if autism results from encephalopathy, why only in certain people, and why now and not before? Or, what is different now than before? If its simply the result of immune response, then you get the same thing (or worse) with disease as with vaccine, and anyone with kids would tell you sickness is a very common and regular occurrence.

In any case - thanks for the information.

[barbaraj]

38. I will read the

info , all of it, as we all should. But realize there are some, such a Mnookin who like Deer are questionable sources. This news, is huge, it clearly shows, the lessening of thimerosal has reduced the severity of AUTISM. Will it receive the media coverage of summer camp in Jersey? There is the clue , we are being manipulated by huge financial interests in pharmaceuticals, through the propaganda mill. Media is owned, and no one should find their source in Fox, Cnn, Msnbc, or any pharmaceutical sponsored outlet, this issue to be treated fairly would cause sponsor threats . It is what it is. Many were shaking their heads late last week, wondering why some obscure highway /autism issue was getting media coverage, an epidemiological waste of time from two years ago, now WE KNOW. We ( as in those that follow) were waiting for the reason for the diversion. Now the job is to tear this info down, while holding up the Denmark study as, "look at this, this is gold", while anyone, lay or not, can laugh when they read that those children who received their mmr most often did not have it preceded by a thimerosal shot. Which is wonderful for the brains of the children in Denmark, who already with thimerosal reduction have an autism prevalence of ONE IN FOURTEEN HUNDRED! That was not a study at all, that was an epidemiological pick and choose illogical accounting, one our CDC paid millions for.

[bhikkhu]

46. In several countries the ending of thimoseral use coincided with a steady increase in autism

...and in any case the idea of mercury being a cause for autism is pretty well shot down here: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/4/456.full

Largely on the basis that mercury has very predictable and known effect on the brain and nervous system, and these effects are completely different from what is found in autistic kids.

Its an article worth reading, as far as explaining well why some theories have no basis.

[proverbialwisdom]

50. Debunked!

If you want to venture into the weeds, see http://www.fourteenstudies.org/ . It's only fair that you become aware of how weak those claims are.

http://www.fourteenstudies.org/history.html

...We genuinely believe that any parent, doctor, journalist, or scientist who takes the time to read this site, look objectively at the studies we analyze, and push themselves to understand if the right questions have actually been asked will reach the same conclusions we do.

One final point: the studies we are reviewing on this site are typically filled with fairly rampant conflicts of interest. Conflict of interest tends to corrupt and bias, which is why it's so important to understand.

So, who are we? We are parents of children with autism...

[bhikkhu]

53. debunked briefly, and with no particular facts

anyone familiar with climate science should recognize that sort of thing - you don't have to make an argument to appear to "debunk" anything, you just imply conflicts of interest, incompleteness, and lack of positive proof.

That's the approach taken when one wants to keep believing, or cling to a belief which is leading no where.

[proverbialwisdom]

54. Nope.

http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/11/dr-david-gorski-admits-thimerosal-might-cause-autism.html

Witness the level of analysis of study designs.

[barbaraj]

55. The CDC accounting

answered the question! The children vaccinated after the lessening of thimerosal, with phase out around 2003, are being affected at a lower level,and not experiencing the severe symptoms of the older , more exposed children. Few shots carry the higher levels, rabies, some dt, and the FLU vaccines, some however continue to use "trace" amounts, which should be defined. It is regressive autism that seems to be in epidemic, this occurs during the days after the mmr , research is showing a synergistic activity on the live virus with preceding thimerosal exposures . Children getting the mmr without previous thimerosal shots don't seem to be developing regressive autism, leading researchers an avenue for study.The CDC , the FDA have all , on their pages, brought the subject forward "requiring more study", yet where is it?

[barbaraj]

52. some background in vaccine study fraud

the CDC presented this as the "STUDY" to PROVE autism isn't caused by vaccines..decide for yourself

ATLANTA, GA - POUL THORSEN, 49, of Denmark, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering based on a scheme to steal grant money the CDC had awarded to governmental agencies in Denmark for autism research.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/press/2011/04-13-11.html

Once in Denmark, THORSEN allegedly began stealing the grant money by submitting fraudulent documents to have expenses supposedly related to the Danish studies be paid with the grant money. He provided the documents to the Danish government, and to Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital, where scientists performed research under the grant. From February 2004 through June 2008, THORSEN allegedly submitted over a dozen fraudulent invoices, purportedly signed by a laboratory section chief at the CDC, for reimbursement of expenses that THORSEN claimed were incurred in connection with the CDC grant. The invoices falsely claimed that a CDC laboratory had performed work and was owed grant money.

[proverbialwisdom]

39. Giving credit where credit is due...

Last edited Thu Mar 21, 2013, 11:21 AM - Edit history (1)

I found the link here, http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2011/03/research-review-finds-vaccine.html ,
but didn't cite the secondary source to avoid the reflexive bias demonstrated by some on this thread.

For much more, GOOGLE: adventuresinautism.blogspot.com encephalopathy
Ignore the opinion aspects of the blog, if you must, just scan it for other invaluable information.

[bhikkhu]

45. Well, now having read more, I agree with you

both of the questions - whether autism might be caused by mercury, or by vaccines - seem to be answered well and finally by this:

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/4/456.full

It pretty well tears down any case for either.

[barbaraj]

47. Dr.Offit holds vaccine patents..

he has nothing honest to offer. He rushed a particularly bad vaccine to market and endangered the lives of many infants.

[bhikkhu]

48. The whole approach of "attacking the witness" doesn't work

The study is a summary of other studies. The writer is irrelevant.

In any case, I can't imagine addressing an argument by attacking the character of of an author, rather than addressing the facts of the argument itself.

[barbaraj]

7. one in ten thousand in 1980 to

one if fifty in 2013..better diagnosis couldn't account for this.
I doubt I could miss the beautiful little boys flapping on the playground, alone,
without another child within 20ft. Can we really believe they're just now getting
diagnosed? Here there's two in every classroom, those that are really severe aren't
in a classroom. Looks worse by "observation" than 1 in 50..although that would mean one in what 20 for boys? I wondered this week what shoe was going to drop when I saw tv covering a 2011 highway study that never amounted to anything..they always offer "noise" before the bomb.

[nonoyes]

12. The diagnostic criteria has widened to include

"Autism Spectrum disorders", a very large majority of people diagnosed fall into this category.

In 1980, in many parts of the country, children with a diagnosis of Autism were not in public schools AT ALL. Many were still in institutions, or uncounted, or, in some cases, died at a very early age of self-abusive behaviors.

those that are really severe aren't
in a classroom.

I don't know where you live, but in my state, yes, every child with a disability is entitled to a public education, and yes, we even have "classrooms for one" or "public education"' delivered to homes in very severe cases. Nonetheless, I have worked with public and special eduation schools with more than one genuinely autistic child, indeed several children in one classroom, having some special services in that classroom, and being mainstreamed with kids of normal abilities when possible for other activities, (art, music, mealtimes, or phys ed).

A large part of the upswing in children diagnosed has to do with autism spectrum disorders, a category not even specifically defined in in most public schools in 1980.

Children with autism spectrum disorders today often complete high school and many actually go on to higher educational settings.

[barbaraj]

15. well here in the trenches it

doesn't quite work that way. Severe cases of autism don't allow for inclusion, those at fourteen , diapered, non verbal, aren't the children we so often see, they are sometimes institutionalized, and sometimes sent to the growing number of "special needs" school. But surely this isn't an epidemic, I don't understand the denial. Here's a promising story..http://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131365437/a-scientist-s-saga-give-son-the-gift-of-speech

[Xipe Totec]

16. Maybe more geeks are getting married to each other?

In Brief

Silicon Valley and other tech-savvy communities report exceptionally high rates of autism. These trends might reflect a link between genes that contribute to autism and genes behind technical aptitude.

When two technical-minded individuals pair up, their children may inherit genes for useful cognitive skills, as well as genes involved in the development of autism.

Furthermore, high levels of testosterone in the womb may play a role in the development of both technical and autistic minds.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=are-geeky-couples-more-likely-to-have-kids-with-autism

[Butterbean]

56. This is what I believe, personally.

The math and tech gene thing. My kid isn't autistic because of mercury or toxins or HCFS. He's autistic because my genes plus my husband's genes equals autism. *shrug*

My husband is a very gifted engineer. I was dx'd intellectually gifted and in all the nerdy science classes growing up. In almost every single autism family I know (and I know A LOT of them) where the bio parents have produced a bio kid with autism, one or both of those parents is very math/science/tech oriented.

This is a very old article, but I like it:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html

My kid is who he is because he was born that way.

[Xipe Totec]

58. Personally, think normal is overrated.

I think there is room for a wider spectrum of humanity.

[cthulu2016]

21. I blame the fact we took mercury out of vaccines circa 2000.

[proverbialwisdom]

22. This discussion is way too technical for me to assess personally, but having scientists

making these assertions who are the parent or grandparent of a child with autism is a reason to pause.

http://www.rescuepost.com/files/hooker-autism-hearing-draft-testimony-draft-final-11-28-12-1.pdf
http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/12/brian-hookers-testimony-autism.html
Brian Hooker

http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/11/q-a-how-about-a-half-cup-of-mercury-hazardous-waste.html
http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/since-1938-there-have-come-to-our-attention.html
http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/12/poul-thorsen-called-industry-scumbag-scientist-and-mercury-shill.html
Jim Thompson

Their concerns are far from any legitimately marginalized or mocked.

[alp227]

36. Beware: The Age of Autism blog = quackery

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/06/27/luc-montagnier-hits-a-new-low-age-of-autism-rallies-to-defend-him/

[barbaraj]

42. Be AWARE

That the manipulation of media, sponsored by pharmaceuticals, should not have the last word in Science. Do think that Nobel prize winning scientists, Hopkins neurosurgeons, respected gastroenterologists, may just turn out to be the correct ones, while journalists sway our opinions like the wind, most often in the end, they are wrong ones. It's not politics, these are our children's lives.

[barbaraj]

23. who ..WHO..no, they never took them out

they used them as unlabeled "trace amounts" and continued the use in several vaccines as preservatives, including the baby flu shots..and now..the WHO and the AAP in Dec. allowed thimerasol back in..When they stopped using them in most vaccines, they did not have a recall, leaving them in use, on doc's shelves for three years until the expiration dates. My info comes from fda /cdc sites if you'd like to sift through, it's there.

[Tx4obama]

29. They said on the news that the results are not exactly correct, because ...

... they surveyed parents (not medical records, etc) and they said that only around 25% of the people responded to the survey.

They said that parents of autistic children were more likely to answer the survey as opposed to parents that did not have autistic children.

So, the conclusion on the news was that the survey could not really determine if there has been an increase on the number of new cases or not.

[barbaraj]

33. one in fifty..

Last edited Wed Mar 20, 2013, 10:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Results—The prevalence of parent-reported ASD among children aged 6–17
was 2.00% in 2011–2012, a significant increase from 2007 (1.16%). The
magnitude of the increase was greatest for boys and for adolescents aged 14–17.
Cohort analyses revealed consistent estimates of both the prevalence of parentreported ASD and autism severity ratings over time. Children who were first
diagnosed in or after 2008 accounted for much of the observed prevalence
increase among school-aged children (those aged 6–17). School-aged children
diagnosed in or after 2008 were more likely to have milder ASD and less likely
to have severe ASD than those diagnosed in or before 2007.

Read it..http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

The finding in the above paragraph: school aged children in or after 2008 ..milder..so the lessening of the levels of thimerosal by 2003 DID lessen the severity of the disease..why no mention..of this taboo evidence? This shows exactly what autism parents have suggested all along. The FDA said our children were receiving more than allowable amounts of mercury from these shots, and they were. Now we need to clean up the corn syrup issue, the coal burning plants , the pesticides, and stop being in denial.

[proverbialwisdom]

40. What are some parents of children with autism saying online about all this? ACTION ALERT, MOBILIZE!

http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/dachel-media-update-autism-climbs-to-1-in-50-kids.html#more

COMMENTS:

From Anne's article:

"The new statistic comes from a national phone survey of more than 95,000 parents in 2011 and 2012."

Think about the wasted "effort" .. in scarce resources and funds .. that supposedly was spent contacting 95,000 parents in one year? That would require contacting at least 260 "parents" a DAY .. for 365 days straight. How many people would it take to conduct such a survey?

Did the CDC really squander so much effort conducting a survey they KNEW would be attacked for it's flawed methodolody? If so .. the question is: WHY?

Posted...March 21, 2013 at 07:59 AM

http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/president-obama-1-in-50-american-kids-with-autism-.html

President Obama: 1 in 50 American Kids with Autism?

Summary and link to Action Alert Announcement, below.

http://capwiz.com/a-champ/issues/alert/?alertid=62527606&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Take Action: President must act on 1 in 50 Autism Rate
Fire Thomas Insel, Head of the IACC

     As most have you have probably heard, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the autism rate among American children in the US is now 1 in 50, and since boys outnumber girls with autism by a ratio of 4 or 5 to 1, somewhere between 3 and 4 percent of all American boys have an autism spectrum diagnosis.

Read it here: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

     Any expressions of concern from anybody with the power to do something about this disaster? No . And the press, as usual is soft pedaling the findings. Fifteen years ago the autism rate was 1 in 10,000, 12 year ago it was I in 2,500, 10 years ago it was 1 in 1000, and so on. When President Obama was elected in 2008 the official rate was 1 in 150, then it went to 1 in 88 and now it is 1 in 50. Where is it going to stop?

     And Thomas Insel, the federal “Autism Czar” who heads the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, is still wondering, “If there is a true increase in children affected...” Thomas Insel needs to be fired. He is clearly not up to the job.

     In 2008 presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama promised to be the “Autism President.” But what has he done? We are spending far less in research per diagnosed person than we were under George W. Bush.  The only generally recognized method of addressing autism, applied behavior analysis, was left out of the essential health benefits package in Obamacare.  And as we enter his fifth year in office the CDC still can’t even figure out if the rate is really going up. I am reminded of the song by Stevie Wonder, “If you really want to hear our views, you haven’t done nothing. “

     Please click on the Take Action Link to send an email to the President, your two United States Senators and your member of the House and ask when are  they going to take the autism epidemic seriously and do something. We suggest a start by firing Thomas Insel.

     And you might want to call the Whitehouse and ask politely when the President is going to become the “Autism President,” and he should start by firing Insel.

Whitehouse Comments Line 202-456-1111

     Please share this message with friends and family and post to Facebook and other social networks. And if you support the work of the Autism Action Network please like us on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Action-Network/162315170489749
 

So, the decision becomes do YOU trust the judgement of these parent-activists enough to follow their lead, maybe on faith, or do you sit back? I think the historical moment is analogous to this one, http://nymag.com/news/features/act-up-2012-4/ .

Search your conscience and decide wisely, please.

[proverbialwisdom]

43. My association isn't so far-fetched: "I want to go all Act-Up..."

That's Mama Mac, former PBS journalist Robert MacNeil's daughter. Brilliant writer, fierce parent advocate. Read this without feeling an emotional punch? Unlikely.

http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/awareness-is-for-pussies/

Autism Awareness Is For Wimps
Posted on March 1, 2013 by Thinking Moms' Revolution

[Godhumor]

44. This thread contains a pretty thorough list of BS websites to avoid at all costs

Age of Autism
Adventures in Autism
Thinking Moms' Revolution

All should be confined to creative speculation and never allowed to leave.

[Archae]

49. Another theory has popped up.

This theory claims that women who were abused as children are more likely to have autistic kids.
It was on Faux "news."

I see no way to link childhood abuse and autistic kids.
Logically it just doesn't work.

[barbaraj]

61. Heard the breakdown today

ONE IN THIRTY ONE BOYS!!

[Ter]

62. All because of vaccines and floride

Yet we continue to deny the truth.

[barbaraj]

63. Big money is taking down the brightest

and the best..We saw it coming when they belittled a Nobel prize winner who explained the action of vaccines..and even on this site..there are some that refuse to listen to the scientists yet listen to the lobbyists ..I don't get it..
http://www.examiner.com/article/scientists-suffer-for-trying-to-make-vaccine-side-effects-public

[proverbialwisdom]

64. HEADLINE: State with one of highest rates of autism turns out to be in normal range

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-state-highest-autism-range.html

State with one of highest rates of autism turns out to be in normal range

March 26, 2013
by Mary Jo Layton in Autism spectrum disorders


When New Jersey reported one of the nation's highest rates of autism last year - doubling in six years to one in 49 children - researchers described it as "beyond an emergency." But a federal study released this past week indicated that the high rate appears to be the norm nationally. Autism spectrum disorder now affects one in every 50 children, well above the one in 88 previously reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


"The good news is that the increase in autism isn't special to New Jersey," said Walter Zahorodny, an autism researcher at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "The bad news is that it's a significant increase and it's registering everywhere."

The findings released this past week by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and the CDC are spurring debate: While experts attribute the increase to better reporting, it also suggests that the disorder is being diagnosed more frequently in children with milder symptoms.

According to the study, 1 million children nationally are diagnosed with autism, a complex disorder that affects brain development and a person's ability to communicate, learn and form relationships.

"The feeling all along wasn't that New Jersey has more cases of autism - New Jersey was just more rigorous in ascertaining the incidence," said Dr. Joseph Holahan, medical director of the child development center at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson. "It's still one of the most common serious developmental disorders we see."

<>

"We still think one in 50 is an underestimate," said Michael Rosanoff, associate director for public health research and scientific review for the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

The real issue is we need to meet the demands of this public health crisis," said Rosanoff said. "This should be a wake-up call."

<>

Link from: http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/dachel-media-update-autism-awareness-assault.html

[proverbialwisdom]

65. Buried shocker.

Re: last year's CDC numbers from more rigorously designed study (with the 1 in 49 NJ stat),

Eighty percent of the children with autism in the New Jersey study were identified as having the most severe form of the disorder. Boys were more than five times as likely to be diagnosed as girls, both in New Jersey and in the rest of the country.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-state-highest-autism-range.html#jCp