Autism
Autism questions and answers
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Q: Is it possible to lose an autism diagnosis after a year of diet and detox?
Jenny McCarthy claims that her son Evan lost his "Autism Diagnosis" after a year of diet and detox. Is this really possible? My understanding is that either you have it or you don't there is no in between. Looking for some medical professionals answers here.
A: True autism, that which is genetic, would remain after a year of diet and detox, although their compliance and ability to control their own behaviour would improve on the diet.
Q: How would you go about getting an Autism diagnosis for a young adult?
My brother showed many signs of Autism as a child and my mother neglected us so he never got diagnosed. The school labeled him ADHD but now that I'm an adult I see that his behavior was not ADHD at all. I am pretty convinced he has either Autism or Aspergers. (sp?) This is the first opportunity we've had to get him some answers because our biological mother is finally out of the picture. He is 19. If anyone has any help that would be great!
A: Is he interested in being evaluated? As an adult, this will need to be his choice. Besides that, this is difficult to answer as it wasn't mentioned whether he has insurance or not. If he does, the first step would be to obtain a list of mental health providers who do evaluations from the insurance company. If he has managed care, you'd need a referral from his primary care physician.
If he does not have insurance, you'll need to do some research on mental health clinics in the area. He's still under 21, so if you can locate something like a Child Development Clinic, they would be able to evaluate and diagnose. Some avenues to look into for a clinic would be local hospitals and universities. Googling is also a great resource. Just google your city/state and autism diagnosis, treatment, etc. Just know that without insurance, these evaluations can be expensive.
good luck!
Q: Where are autism rates the highest? Does autism have a link to too much iodine for young children?
I know there are studies saying that Iodine deficiency could lead to autism, but what about too much for children.
A: There has been much debate on the causes of autism but as of yet science is still limited in pinpointing a cause other than discussing genetics versus environmental causes (it is both).
To answer your question on where it is prevalent, I have linked you to a graph that gives you data by state.
Q: Is autism a global issue, or is it only an issue in industrialized nations?
I am just curious whether autism is a global issue, or just an issue in countries where children get immunizations. Are there studies? On the Today Show, doctors were claiming that autism just surfaces around the same time children are immunized. Wouldn't this be easy to prove by assessing the rates of autism in children of underdeveloped nations (who haven't been immunized)?
A: Yes, it's a disease of all nations. But industrialized nations tend to have better medical care, so they can separate kids into "retarded" and "autistic." In countries without good medical care, the kids aren't separated like that. So it's hard to get hard numbers of how many kids are autistic. In fact, in the U.S. autistic numbers have been going up as numbers of kids diagnosed with other forms of mental disability have gone down, so diagnosis is improving here as autism is recognized more. There have been extensive studies in which some children were immunized, and others not, to see if rates of autism were different. They were not. Therefore, there's really no evidence that it's due to the immunizations, and considerable evidence that it's not due to the immunizations.
Q: How can I get my toddler with autism to feed himself?
I have a toddler with Autism. He is 18 months. I want to teach him to spoon feed himself. Any tips?
A: I worked with older adults for awhile and I just want to say that autism isn't a bad thing, I bet your toddler is an adorable baby and will turn out to be a wonderful person. I think that you should first try to introduce and practice things little by little, adding on. For example, have him hold the spoon, and see if he can pick it up, and then practice that for awhile, if it makes no sense to your toddler, then eat in front of him while adding on to the process. If none of these suggestions work, then keep experimenting because the learning style might be very different. Oh yes, and if your toddler gets frustrated with learning, if he can't do it right away and starts crying or something, show something to him that he can do, like if he draws, have him do that for awhile until his confidence is up again. Then continue to experiment with his learning style. This is actually really good because if you can find his niche with learning (the best way for him to learn) and the way to present it where he is most successful, he will grow a lot. If you are supportive, and loving and persistent, I am sure he will do great! You are so lucky to be able to have a beautiful baby! Good luck! Katie.
Q: Does anyone have a child with symptoms similar to those associated with autism, but it is something else?
My son is 20 months old. The symptoms that fit on the autism spectrum are that he speaks no words but can hear fine, he flaps his hands when frustrated, and frequent tantrums. But what doesn't fit is that he is very social, makes a few gestures, and plays with other children appropriately. They say he is probably on the spectrum. But I'm wondering if there are other disorders with similar symptoms. Any help would be great!
A: If you take your son to a DAN (defeat autism now) doctor, you will find that having some symptoms means they have the same pathogens and toxins as those with autism. Most with autism also have symptoms of Bipolar, ADHD, OCD, etc. There is a blurring of lines here. When these children are treated, not only are autism symptoms rid, but also these symptoms of other diagnoses, and even asthma and diabetes and epilepsy. The autism epidemic has opened the eyes of many that all kinds of diagnoses we thought had no known cause or cure, are really just from pathogens and toxins.
Q: Can a person with autism successfully get a girlfriend and have a successful relationship?
I have autism, and i would like to find a girlfriend (not online), but since i have autism, it makes it very difficult, does anyone know any good ways on how to get a girlfriend?
Do i have to befriend her first?
This is a serious question, no meant to be funny. I am really struggling here. And when i get a girlfriend, how should i treat her?
How do i know if they have a boyfriend(s)? How do i know if they secretly like me?
A: Be yourself.
That is all you can really do to truely find love.
Q: What is your opinion on the case of autism linked to childhood vaccinations?
Will the ruling in the case that makes a link between autism and childhood vaccines change your mind about getting your children vaccinated or will you continue to get the vaccinations anyway?
What is your opinion on the case? Do you believe there is really a link?
I'm not stating whether I agree there is a link or not. I am only looking for your opinion.
A: i got all mine and apparently i am living and healthy..... my daughter is 6 and healthy as an ox... son is 13 months and also healthy.... then my mom, dad, sister, brother and my 4 neices....... so in other words i would say it is a crock. Plus my children would not be allowed any other children that do not have vaccines updated..... i refuse to subject them to anything becuase the parents are so worried about something that was proven to not be the case. the chances of getting autism has been proven the be the same percentage as those who did get their vaccines....
Q: What do you attribute the huge increase in Autism diagnosis to?
According to several studies I have read recently, there was an 800% increase in the positive diagnosis of Autism in the decade 1993 to 2003.
I have my own theories on this, right or wrong. I am interested to hear your opinion on the matter.
Do you think it is purely to do with the improvement of the diagnostic methods, or is there some suspicious underlying reason for the huge increase?
A: I think there are several factors. Certainly a growing awareness in general, and absolutely better diagnostics. Many, many autistic children used to simply be labeled as, "mentally retarded." I for one, think that environmental factors will become more of an issue as more studies are done.
* Just an added mention, I am still pro vaccines.
Q: How do the professionals determine whether a child's autism is mild, moderate or severe?
I can't find a description of which particular behaviors separate the different classifications of autism. Is there an actual list the professionals follow to make this decision?
A: Depends on the testing procedures, how badly they fail. To put it in layman's terms, severe is an F, moderate, is D, mild is C. Depends on if it is a doctor or psychologist making the call
Q: How can I apply for an autism grant from the government?
I have Aspergers and have a very troubled life situation and I think an autism grant would help enormously. My workers don't know about government grants and cry scam at every app company site they look at. How do I go about applying. These grants are listedas for families with an autistic child, but what about an an individual adult with a form of autism (Aspergers in my case) applying for himself?
A: I don't know about a grant from the government, but visit some of these sites and the people there might be able to help you with that:
http://www.aane.org/about_asperger_syndrome/getting_help_asperger_adults.html
http://autism.about.com/b/2008/02/09/another-round-of-family-service-grants-from-autism-speaks-share-your-visions-and-ideas.htm
http://www.autismconsortium.org/empowering-families/are-there-grants-i-can-apply-for.html
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=11522
Q: What is the autism rate in the Silicon Valley?
I've looked everywhere and every source I find simply says that the US rate is 1 in 150 and the Silicon Valley rate is "much higher." How much higher? What IS the actual rate of autism in that area? And what source has the *actual number*?
A: i found a site that help you a lot of information
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020506/scautism.html
Q: How did Christopher's autism help in solving the mystery of the murdered dog?
From the book "The curious incident of the dog in the night time", how did Christopher's autism help in solving the mystery of the murdered dog Wellington?
A: That's a poorly framed question by whoever your teacher is, since from what I remember, Ed confesses to killing Wellington rather than Christopher discovering it himself, but it is Christopher's observational skills (which are arguably a product of his autism) that prompts him to discover the letters about his mom, which in turn prompts Ed to confess to everything.
Q: How might a 4 year old with autism be different to a 4 year old without?
I am just interested in how they would be different. I know it varies from child to child but I would just like to know how they might differ. I may be nanny-ing for a 4 year old boy with autism and would like to know how he may be different from a 4 year old without autism. Any help you can give me would be appreciated before I actually meet this boy.
A: There are varying degrees of autism, so every case is different depending on the individual and the severity, so it's hard to know exactly what you can expect from this particular boy. Here are some things that are often different about children with autism though:
- he is likely to have some repetitive behaviors or obsessions
- he might not interact much or well with others
- he might have delayed speech development
- he might not make eye contact
- he might have sensory issues (normal light might be painfully strong for him, normal noise might be overwhelming for him, he might taste food completely different than others or dislike being touched etc.)
- he might have poor motor skills for his age
- he might have meltdowns or throw tantrums more than other kids
- he might have a strong need for routine and sameness
- he might come across as in his own world
It would be a good idea to ask the boy's parents what he's like and whether you need to do something differently with him than with other kids.