Speech Delays and Disorders

A child's autism diagnosis can really mess with parents' heads. Media portrayals of children with autism and their adult spectrum-mates dwell almost exclusively on negatives and challenges, so when a parent is told that their child is autistic, they are usually incredibly upset.

It doesn't help when doctors lack the bedside manner to soften the emotional impact of their diagnoses, or have no information about contemporary autism therapies and resources. When that happens, parents are both freaked out and flapping in the wind. Their child's doctor was supposed to give them answers and guidance, but instead upended their lives, then shoved them out the door. No one can explain why they have an autistic child, and they know nothing about autism. They are emotionally reeling, angry with the medical establishment, and hungry for any information that will help their child.

see link for the rest of the story:

http://www.blogher.com/identifying-and-avoiding-autism-cults?dst=blogher|widget|oniVillage|messageboards|parenting

I only read the first couple of paragraphs to know where the article was about and where it was going.

I know about the DAN conference and heard about the mercury in vaccines back in the 1990's when I was working for Princeton Bio Center.  When I had kids, I checked it out and found the data to be "outdated" since vaccines no longer contain that and it's egg based the same as the flu vaccine.  I also went to Dr. Roberta Morgan's website, who was still advertising that information and told her to correct the data.  I know she works with autism and I'm pretty sure the data was corrected since then.

I know Jenny McCarthy wrote her book and a couple of friends have purchased it and used the gluten free and casin free diet with positive results.  One mom is a nurse and all 4 of her kids are vaccinated.  Both moms, with kids of autism felt that Jenny McCarthy misrepresented her facts with vaccines, but none the less agreed with the gluten free diet.  That's actually Celiac Disease not a vaccine disease.  But, books are books and it was already published.

I know Early Intervention in NJ, as well as other states, have gone through great efforts to inform pediatricians of developmental stages of kids and red flags for parents who need referrals to specialists or Early Intervention.  It's sad to see that pediatricians, are still not aware of "red flags" for autism or other developmental delays.

Sorting through the information can be most difficult for parents, especially those new parents with a first born.  My heart goes out to those parents still trying to find out a diagnosis, sift through tons of information, and make and self and family informed decision.  My heart also goes out to parents who have had to inform their own pediatrician of certain "red flags" so other kids and parents are not left in the dark.  It's not easy.   God Bless.  

Don't be so sure that vax. don't contain mercury. Mercury is also called thymerosol. There are certain flu vaccine's that still contain thymerosol. And it isn't just mercury that parents are concerned about. There are also ingredients like aluminum, aborted fetal cells, bovine blood, and many others that I can't think of right now.

I don't want to get into a vax debate. I also don't believe vaccine's caused Gabe to have autism...but I'm not taking chances and I am selectively vax'ing Zane. And going at a slow rate.

Kids with autism that do the GFCF diet don't necessarily have celiacs. Many of them actually test negative for the allergy....yet the GFCF diet works for them.

We do not do the GFCF diet. I have thought about it many times...but it's an all or nothing type thing....and very hard to follow if you aren't committed. Kudos to your friends for being able to follow it!!

Jessie mommy to Gabe(4.4 years ASD/CAS/SID)and baby Zane

We don't have a Dx yet and won't for some time as we are on a very long waiting list. At any rate, I have started to go a little crazy with what might be the cause of my DS's delay. Complications in my pregnancy, my DH's apgar score at birth, vaccinations...I mean the list could go on and on.

I decided that I really don't know now and he is going to start speech therapy and I won't dwell on the cause at this time. I am glad I did see this blog as I think there is alot of info out there that parents have to sift through.