Ahhh, the Autism debate! What causes it and what doesn't. We have a daughter diagnosed with Autism PDD/NOS She is 6 years old. She has also been diagnosed with Early Onset Bipolar. Here's my 2 cents...
I read EVERYTHING I COULD FIND ON THE INTERNET AND IN BOOKS! We went through MANY Doctors and "specialists". This is what I believe, MY OPINION, on Autism.
First, most of you know we have 5 children. Only ONE has Autism. All 5 had their vax on the "regular" schedule. Why does only ONE of our children have Autism then? This is what I believe is the reason... When we were first told she had Autism I said to the Dr. ,"no she doesn't, she communicates fine" I'm thinking Rain Man or a child who sits and doesn't communicate at all. A child who is a genious at Math, Art or Music. This wasn't our daughter. We saw MANY Dr's, all giving us the same diagnosis. As research with Autism has grown, the diagnosis has become more spread! More and more children are diagnosed with Autism, because research has advanced to be able to give an ACURRATE diagnosis. Instead of MIS-diagnosing. Autism isn't on the rise...the correct diagnosis is! Alos I believe you can't CURE Autism. If you say your child was/is cured of Autism, then they were probably not diagnoses properly. The symptoms can be minimized or stablized or lessened with therapy, but never CURED. (IMO with all the research I have done).
Same thing goes with diagnosising Bipolar in young children. When I tell people she has Bipolar people are like "No way, she's too young". It has been researched that the children who exhibit these symptoms as children are the same children who are diagnosed with Bipolar as teens or young adults. OR the children are mis-diagnoses as ADHD. We've tried diet, treatments, therapy, etc. Nothing worked until she was put on the proper medications. Which are bipolar medications. She is like a clock with the full moon!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE research Autism...ALL OF IT! Not just the link to vax. That is NOT a proven cause of Autism!!!
Deb