Chicks On Lit discussion

I haven't got my hands on this book yet but the premise of it alone has me with some questions. Especially for those that work with autistic children or have an autistic child. I have little experience with it.
My first question is about what do you think is the cause for autisim? Do you think there is a connection to immunizations?
What is something you wish people who dont have experience or understanding of autism know? What thing would you like us to understand or be aware of?
How has autisim touched or effected your life?

It is so very difficult to pin down the cause of autism. There are different levels on the spectrum (low to high functioning), there is 'classic' autism, and there is Asberger's Syndrome. To complicate matters more, some children have it from birth and some children are born perfectly health and then after a matter of time (usually within a couple of years) they begin to regress developmentally and/or neurologically (if there is an expert in the field reading this please correct any mistakes I make)and then are labeled autistic after being seen by an expert.

I've read that the children who experience normal birth and life for a time and then regress may be affected by their immunizations. There is absolutely no proof of it at this point.

Other causes that get batted around: Anoxia (lack of oxygen to brain during birth), mother having flu in the first trimester of pregnancy, heredity, and so on and so on...

Once an autistic child is born to a family, the chances are increased that another child with autism can be expected. The chances are small, but apparently raised.

How has autism affected my life? That is a story all by itself. I should write a book!!! My son is beautiful, a monster, a mighty wonder, pitiful, handsome, charming, self centered, a dictator (if he can get away with it), loving if he wants something, an animal, unfeeling... He will never love me, but he is attached to me. I love him and wish contentment for him.

There is so much more. I will give it in pieces because it is overwhelming.

Kathryne

The cause of autism is unknown. Many people believe mercury in vaccinations cause it or exacerbate it in some individuals. I don't completely buy that theory. I think there is a genetic component.

Autism presents differently in each kid, so there's not really a magic bullet in terms of treating the population.

What should people know? My son has autism but he is still a human being. He has things he likes and dislikes just as any other kid would. He may not be able to speak at this point but he communicates with us in other ways. Raising him is not always easy but I can't imagine my home without him.

Boy Kathryne, you are so eloquent and honest. I have friends that have autistic children (we usually use the words on the spectrum or ASD) One friend has twin autistic children, what a challenge!

I want to add that one of the reasons that ASD is more prevelant is because we weren't diagnosing these kids way back when. At our school, we have a few ASD teachers. Also, we are dealing with parents on the spectrum with kids on the spectrum. So, when we talk about the quirks these parents see nothing wrong with it. Talk about difficult. There are many undiagnosed adults walking around.

In one of the threads I have some characteristics of autism. We can't say that immunizations are the cause, because scientifically it hasn't been connected; however, there are many parents who wold disagree with that. Because of all the furor over immunizations, they finally took the mercury out of the immunization. Why it was there to begin with we will never know.

The one thing to know about autism in families is that dealing with it is a full time job. Support systems are a must as well as a good school.

One of the things that I like so much about this book is the fact that it gives insight that most people wouldn't normally get.

This subject really interests me. All of the comments by mothers and parents I have read come across in such a way that the love for their child (be it an adult with Asbergers or a child with autism) is so evident. It is my experience that children and adults with autism or asbergers are often extremely sensitive and caring individuals. Parents are the ones that know that about their child. Unfortunately, the child/adult does not come across as a caring individual because of the social skills usually demonstrated by them in groups of people.

These children/adults, in my experience, seem to sense that about the group of people they are with and their responses or interaction with people are based on this trust.

Are any of you aware of further reading in this area?

Meg,

O. Ivar Lovaas was one of the pioneers of research in autism. Very close to us at Washington State University we have Dr. Tristam Smith who has become a noted authority on autism. He studied under Lovaas. If you are good at finding articles, his can be found. Lovaas's are easy to find.

There are also three excellent female authors Temple Grandin (my favorite book of hers is 'Thinking in Pictures), and Donna Williams who are autistic, themselves, and then Dr. Uta Frithe. Temple Grandin has a Ph.D., as does Uta Frithe. I'm not sure of Williams' credentials, if any. But Grandin and Williams have such different stories and they are mesmerizing.

These are a few I can think of off the top of my head.

Enjoy!

Kathryne

Excellent source:

http://www.templegrandin.com/



Another great source:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepa...

Should be some good reading.

Kathryne

Kathryne,

Thank you for these sources. I'm ordering some of their work (if my library does not have them). I've bookmarked the "templegrandin" site as well.

Meg G

I found this book for a friend whose son has Autism......it's great for kids

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sinc...

I am in agreement Fw2books. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism! And it is a public health risk to not immunize your children.

I am not sure what causes it either, I only know that it shows up in boys more than girls.

I can tell you that a subject that interests me is how autistic students are educated in the public schools. We have had a couple of autistic parents pull their children because they did not believe they were getting an appropriate education.

I had the opportunity to attend a Seminar with Dr. Temple Grandin about 5 or 6 years ago. I met her, and the visit was very!! interesting. My son is 18 and mildly autistic. I also believe that Vaccines do not cause autism. I wonder about the mercury in the vaccines, though...

to S ~ thanks for the book suggestions~ I really appreciate it.