comment on: Can children with autism recover? If so, how?

[Guest guest]

The following character strings (each searched separately) do not appear

in the paper: chelation, methyl, methylcobalamin, specific carbo,

thimerosal, mercury, arsenic, trichloroethylene, PCB, cadmium, and

organo (as in organophosphate, organochlorine). However, elevated

levels of mercury, arsenic, trichloroethylene, cadmium, and

organo-pesticides are associated with autism. Perhaps Helt et al were

steered away from environmental factors for which medical treatments can

alleviate intra-body levels and (in some but not all cases) improve

overall traits occurring in specific children.

All in all, the aforementioned omissions in Helt et al help us put the

paper's establishmentarianly safe " findings " into a proper perspective.

The Autism Research Institute's " Parent Ratings " (0) remain an

instructive guideline for parents and physicians.

- - - -

To get the article, you might try writing to the lead author (1). What

seems to be a meta-analysis needs be compared with data such as ARI's

Parent Ratings (0). Many meta-studies achieve conclusions based upon

establishmentarian preferences - because maverick studies often don't

get done or get done by dedicated establishmentarians. If chelation

helped many, is chelation included in Helt et al? If mB12 has helped

many, is mB12 included in Helt et al. GFCF? SCD? What's in Helt? What's

in Parent Ratings? If industry and/or industry-loyal NIH bigwigs haven'

allowed categories of studies to be funded, then the absence of studies

helps shape outcome of meta-analyses. The tone of the abstract is quite

establishmentarian, perhaps the content is more balanced.

- - - -

*0. Parent Ratings of Behavorial Effects of Biomedical Interventions*

htp://www.autism.com/treatable/form34qr.htm

1. *Can children with autism recover? If so, how?*

Helt M, Kelley E, Kinsbourne M, Pandey J, Boorstein H, Herbert M,

Fein D.

Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT,

06268, USA, molly.helt@....

Neuropsychol Rev. 2008 Dec;18(4):339-66. Epub 2008 Nov 14.

Although Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are generally assumed to be

lifelong, we review evidence that between 3% and 25% of children

reportedly lose their ASD diagnosis and enter the normal range of

cognitive, adaptive and social skills. Predictors of recovery

include relatively high intelligence, receptive language, verbal and

motor imitation, and motor development, but not overall symptom

severity. Earlier age of diagnosis and treatment, and a diagnosis of

Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified are also

favorable signs. The presence of seizures, mental retardation and

genetic syndromes are unfavorable signs, whereas head growth does

not predict outcome. Controlled studies that report the most

recovery came about after the use of behavioral techniques. Residual

vulnerabilities affect higher-order communication and attention.

Tics, depression and phobias are frequent residual co-morbidities

after recovery. Possible mechanisms of recovery include: normalizing

input by forcing attention outward or enriching the environment;

promoting the reinforcement value of social stimuli; preventing

interfering behaviors; mass practice of weak skills; reducing stress

and stabilizing arousal. Improving nutrition and sleep quality is

non-specifically beneficial.

PMID: 19009353