Dachel Media Update: Hearings, Asperger's, Missing Family
Dec 2, 2012, CNN: Psychiatric association approves changes to diagnostic manual
Dec 1, 2012, Huffington: DSM-5: Psychiatrists OK Vast Changes To Diagnosis Manual
Nov 30, 2012, MSNBC: Autism Speaks co-founder: Congress needs to actFORBES Steven Salzberg is upset that Congress is giving credence to the vaccine-autism issue by bringing up it in testimony at the House autism hearing. He makes it clear: THERE IS NO EPIDEMIC AND THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN VACCINES AND AUTISM. I added my comments.
(By the way, Salzberg is a Professor of Medicine and Biostatistics in the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine.)
“Starting next year, the process of diagnosing autism may see drastic changes following the revision of the official guide to classifying psychiatric illnesses.
“After years of reviewing and refining criteria used by psychiatrists and other experts to diagnose mental health disorders, the American Psychiatric Association board of trustees on Saturday approved major changes to the manual, better known as DSM-5.
First of all, I would like CNN and every other news outlet talking about autism and the DSM 5 to note that autism is not a psychiatric/mental illness. It’s is a neuro-developmental disorder with many concomitant health issues like bowel disease and seizures. Second, it’s becoming quite clear with more and more “experts” talking about the DSM 5 and autism, that no one knows what’s going to happen to the numbers and no one can guarantee that lots of kids won’t lose services and coverage.
The video story from ABC News is at odds with what they’re telling us in print. Diane Sawyer introduced the subject by telling us that one in every 100 children has autism. Coverage then went on to describe how lots people will lose their diagnosis. ABC News also ran the Lindsey Tanner story saying Asperger’s individuals would be included in the new DSM definition.
Instead of covering the critical issues discussed at the House autism hearing this past week, ABC News aired a story saying that the epidemic will be over by May with the DSM 5.
“For the first time in almost two decades the nation's psychiatrists are changing the guidebook they use to diagnose mental disorders.
Among the most controversial proposed changes: Dropping certain familiar terms like Asperger's disorder and dyslexia and calling frequent, severe temper tantrums a mental illness….
“Catherine Lord, an autism expert at Weill Cornell Medical College who was on the psychiatric group's autism task force, said anyone who met criteria for Asperger's in the old manual would be included in the recommended new diagnosis.”
Lindsey Tanner talks about autism spectrum disorder in a story that continually referenced “mental disorders,” “psychiatric disorders,” and “mental illnesses.”” As a parent of a child with autism and someone very involved with the autism community, I would point out that our children are not mentally ill. Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting the entire child with many concomitant health issues.
It has not been established that “anyone who met criteria for Asperger’s in the old manual would be included in the recommended new diagnosis,” as Catherine Lord promises.
I have no words to add to this.
“Overwhelmed by their 4-year-old daughter's autism, James Firth and his wife vowed to kill themselves and their children if the girl's condition didn't improve or their money ran out, Melbourne police said late Friday.
“Firth, 43, Mai Dang Firth, 31, and daughters Trieu "Kiah" Co Firth, 2, and Chieu "Kristin" Quan Firth, 4, have been missing since Thursday. They live in Vietnam but were in the U.S. to get medical treatment for Kristin.”
MSNBC http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/11/30/autism-speaks-co-founder-congress-needs-to-act/“Bob Wright, co-founder of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, telling Congressional leaders autism is now an ‘epidemic’ and a national strategic plan is needed to combat the disorder.
“During an appearance on Andrea Mitchell Reports, Wright explained why Congress needs to make autism awareness and research more prevalent in America. According to the Center for Disease Control, the disorder affects one in 88 American children and is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. Wright said that a study his group did in South Korea showed even higher rates: one in 37 overall and one in 24 for boys. He hopes to replicate the methodology of that study in the U.S.
“‘This is a national crisis and there’s no sense of urgency,’ Wright told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell. ‘There’s no sense of setting goals, milestones and timelines with a lot of passion.’”
I posted this comment:
If you listen to the testimony Bob Wright gave before the House Reform Committee, you’ll hear about how his 11 year old grandson Christian was born healthy and was developing normally. “We thought he was very precocious. He seemed to be brighter than average. He had an enormous vocabulary and then he lost everything.”
Mr Wright added, “I’ll tell you without any secret, my daughter firmly believes that vaccines were the relationship that triggered him into this pit.”
Thousands and thousands of parents echo the feelings of Bob Wright’s daughter. The claim that an untested, ever-expanding vaccine schedule is linked to the epidemic of autism is the most heated controversy in medicine today and it shows no signs of going away.
While federal health officials deny any link and they have lots of studies--all tied to the vaccine makers--to prove it, they have no idea what causes autism. Despite two decades and millions spent in research, officials remain clueless about autism.
Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism
This is what worries me. The CDC has the figures for ASD kiddos born in 2002 and 2004. Btwn 2001 and 2004, there was less thimersol exposure. What if the figures of ASD did indeed go down when thimersol was taken out of many vaccines. I really think they are changing this fast so they can say it was the change in the DSM criteria.
Posted by: Jillba | December 04, 2012 at 10:22 AM
It’s (autism) is a neuro-developmental disorder with many concomitant health issues like bowel disease and seizures.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is true but not all of them experience bowel disease or seizures which are co-morbid illnesses.
Did Wakefield have any experience with autistics patient without bowel disorder?
Alain
Posted by: Alain | December 03, 2012 at 11:10 PM
I read the Forbes and your comments and the authors-- Makes my blood boil.
You did well Ann - -I know it get tiresome at times, arguring with people that are really clueless ????? - some how I doubt that.
Meanwhile on the Imus program - Linda Wiehls said that she had looked at the research and she says she beleives it is the vaccines - so there she said it -- but only this once.
Come on Linda Wiehls you can't say it once when this morning another baby was born and given a Hep B shot and is now running a temperature. The docs are probably pumping the antibiotics in it as we speak.
Posted by: Benedetta | December 03, 2012 at 07:59 PM