Re: Dr. Oz Show Recap: What Causes Autism? What To Do About Vaccines?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the update. It hasn't aired here yet but I have it set to DVR.

[ ] Dr. Oz Show Recap: What Causes Autism? What

To Do About Vaccines?

Dr. Oz Show Recap: What Causes Autism? What To Do About Vaccines?

Today on the Dr. Oz show, Dr. Mehmet Oz discussed Autism and what causes it.

He says that 1 in every 110 children born in the United States will have

autism. Boys are more prone to it, at 1 in 70 children.

Dr. Oz says that autism is a neurological disorder that robs a child of an

emotional foundation. More and more children are being diagnosed with it

each year too. Why is autism on the rise? Mainly because doctors are getting

better at diagnosing it, and also because the diagnosis has spread to

include children with milder forms of it.

Alison Singer, President of the Autism Science Foundation, says that theres

a strong genetic component as to the cause of autism. Its not 100% of the

cause though, so they are researching environmental factors that interact

with the genes to trigger the disorder.

Dr. Oz outlined three theories as to the cause of autism. First is vaccines.

But that is extremely controversial because the original research by Dr.

Wakefield was proven to be fraudulent. Still, many parent associate

the onset of their childs autism with vaccines, and not just mercury.

Aluminum in vaccines should be researched.

Dr. Oz brought on a panel of pediatricians to discuss what causes autism.

Most of them said that science shows vaccines are safe, which the audience

(of parents with autistic children) seemed to disagree with.

Dr. Oz then had Dr. Bob Sears, author of The Autism Book, speak to the

subject. Dr. Sears vaccinates children, but on a different schedule. He does

the important ones first, spread out farther apart, and saves the lesser

important ones until the child is a bit older.

Dr. Ari Brown, spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, however

voiced concern that delaying vaccinations leaves the youngest, most

vulnerable babies at risk. She brought up a measles outbreak that happened

due to unvaccinated children, and one of them was Dr. Sears patient. Dr.

Sears then rebutted by saying that the studies which prove vaccinations are

safe are funded by the pharmaceutical companies. He is calling for better

studies that parents can trust.

Dr. Oz revealed that he did immunize his children but on a delayed schedule.

Another theory about the cause of autism is environment. Dr. Irva

Hertz-Picciotto from UC talked about a study that showed women who

lived within a quarter-mile of a freeway during their pregnancy have about a

twice the likelihood of their child having autism. She does not think

theres one cause of autism. She thinks there will eventually be found a

number of contributing causes.

The third theory is the age of the parentsnot just the mom. Dr. Brown says

the study shows that for every 10 years increase in age of the mom, the risk

of having an autistic child goes up by 30%. For fathers, for every 10 year

increase, the risk goes up over 20%. Alison Singer also say that science

indicates an increased risk of autism with fertility treatments. Dr. Oz

pinpointed the age of 35 as being the age over which the risk appears to

start growing.

Dr. Sears talked about dietary tips. He says hes seen so many children

improve on the gluten-free, casein-free diet.

Alison Singer talked about how early intervention makes a huge difference,

so if you see any early warning signs in your child, get him or her

screened.

According to Dr. Ari Brown, author of Toddler 411, some early signs of

autism in children under one year of age are: lack of eye contact, failure

to respond to name, constant repetitive behaviors, preference for unusual

comfort objects, lack of symbolic play or imitation, no babbling by 12

months, no gesturing by 12 months.

Signs in the second year of life are no words by 16 months, lack of social

skills, not following simple commands, not pointing to show you something,

not looking when you point at something, not pretending or imitating,

seeming disconnected, seeming deaf when not, does not feel pain or is

fearless, no interest in toys or doesnt play with them appropriately, keen

interest in inanimate objects.

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[Guest guest]

WOW what a show! I am shocked and saddened that Autism Speaks refused to come

on the show!!! On the other hand I'm shocked and happy that Dr. Oz spoke out

about how angry he was at Autism Speaks for the " advocacy " group not being

there. Autism Speaks basically said at some other time they would come on to

talk about blah blah blah -but again didn't want any part of the well done show

of what could be possible reasons for the rise in autism.

I thought Dr. Oz and his team did a great job of trying to share all views from

sides that didn't agree with each other even in regards to the experts. In fact

the only thing everyone did agree on...I think yes it was the only thing -was

the importance of Early Intervention. I loved the way they kind of pulled

together all sides on vaccinations and raised many great points.

I of course think the strongest " reason " presented was from the UCLA expert

about the environmental -which BTW would include toxins, diet and drugs -a wide

range.

And for the study that found parents that were older than 35 when pregnant at

higher risk for having a child with autism both mom and dad -I'd like to know

other variables. Careers included. Older parents tend to live very different

lives- so everything needs to be examined.

Will there ever be another show where they invite a room full of parents of

children with autism? (I say autism but as we all know that means such a wide

range including those that are not autistic) I mean I get it as we all do here

that we are passionate and have our opinions -but other than say Jerry Springer,

haven't all parents watched at least one Oprah show to know that when someone

stands up to ask the panel of experts a question if you are sitting in the

audience you aren't supposed to just start shouting out answers, where Dr. Oz

has to say " Well let's see what the experts have to say " or where the experts

are talking and people are yelling out what they don't agree with. Then again I

don't typically watch Dr. Oz and perhaps that's the way his show always is

-people just randomly shouting out stuff when people are trying to talk.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Alyssa!

The whole segment was probably 11 to 15 minutes tops if you take out commercials

this segment on " what has caused the dramatic rise in autism? " allowed opposing

sides pretty much not much more time than a twitter response.

For the short amount time, the amount of prominent experts, and the heated

audience which kept shouting things out, they actually did cover some good

points. The main one to me and which is why I LOVED this show? Putting people

together who would typically not be together -that's a start. That is why I

personally believe Autism Speaks should have been there- even if they disliked

the views of others. They may have all left still disagreeing with each other,

but perhaps with a point or two of understanding they didn't have previous.

Dr. Oz made it clear that he wanted this show to specifically address the rise

and to point out what they felt were 3 of the reasons. While you and others may

not want the vaccine theory even mentioned there are others who still embrace

that. I'm an environmentalist myself but I believe they should have had the

viral reason as the third vs. the age of the parent but as we all know here we

are not short for theories -just answers.

Number one tweet on the show from what I found didn't like the show either-

" When will @droz have a panel on #autism with guests (1) who have autism (2)

have children with autism & don't regard autism as a tragedy "

I didn't get the tragedy part at all -just that they were looking for the

reasons for the rise. Most panel members were doctors not parents -but the one

panel member Alison Singer, President of the Autism Science Foundation, has both

a child and a brother with autism...but regardless the above tweet was retweeted

Other tweets expressed they felt that autism was portrayed in too negative a

light as children with autism are social and loving.

Which brings up another possible reason for the dramatic rise in autism=

misdiagnosis of autism when it's actually another multifaceted communication

impairment such as apraxia. Or perhaps both autism and apraxia. But we know

from both parents in this group and professionals as I pointed out numerous time

there is a tremendous almost fifty percent being misdiagnosed with autism. And

in that regard perhaps it's good early intervention wasn't focused on in this

show other than it was an agreement point. Autism therapy is appropriate for

autism and inappropriate for say apraxia.

But again for a segment not much longer than the time it takes to watch the

YouTube video from the one parent on the panel who's belief for the reason for

autism is a genetic one I don't agree with but I'll listen to (not for nothing

siblings that live together are typically exposed to the same environmental

affects as well- obvious point! AND...doesn't explain the kids from Somalia

where there are zip zero in Somalia but off the charts in the US...what you can

acquire the genetic aspect by moving to the US?!!) Anyway -they covered key

points and opened the door for further communication.

Let's hope that can be continued with intelligent debates without petty name

calling and attacks to those like Dr. Oz who in my opinion tried to at least

answer a basic question.

Who better to know than this group that communication is so important? BTW

how's Matt doing?

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