Why Current Thinking is Wrong

There is no medical proof that what is affecting so many children today is actually classic autism. When the incidence of this condition started increasing, children were diagnosed only by their symptoms, and then placed in existing “psychological/developmental” category that had similar symptoms, which was autism. This was done in spite of the fact that these children had differences from patients with Kanner’s Autism, such as gross or fine motor problems and the loss of previously developed skills. Many/most children today have a history of being affectionate. (One of Kanner’s two main criteria defining those with autism was that they avoided affection.) The diagnosis of “autism” implies a developmental disorder, which is a structural, unchangeable condition. That is not what is happening today. Instead of examining the symptoms that didn’t fit the diagnosis—symptoms that could be caused by a medical disease—the medical community opted to just widen the autism umbrella to cover those symptoms.

A Medical Community in Denial

Even as the number of affected kids grew at an alarming rate, doctors and the medical system closed their minds to any other possibilities. No other developmental disability was growing at the rate seen with this new “autism.” There has never been an epidemic of a genetic or developmental disorder in the history of medicine; it is only possible with a disease process.

The consequences of this are not only that our children are not  getting needed treatment, but also that medications and supplements are widely being prescribed that have real physical risks to the body and the brain of a child. The premise is that since the brain is already “broken,” it’s acceptable to take risks by using very strong pharmaceutical agents or very risky alternative therapies.

These approaches do not look at why behaviors occur by objectively diagnosing areas of dysfunction. For some children, they may be in constant pain, such as with headaches or body aches. They may be extremely frustrated with their situation. They may be unable to think well because their brains feel “foggy” (often mentioned by adult CFS/CFIDS patients). They may be stuck at a younger developmental age due to compromised function in certain areas of the brain. Many of these could be resolved if treatment focused on an ill child with a real expectation of restoring function in the affected areas of the brain.

Common Medications and Our Concerns Regarding Safety

Several classes of medications currently are used in the treatment of children diagnosed with autism. Many of these powerful drugs are designed to control behavior and may pose serious risks to the health of the child.

Stimulant medications (amphetamines)
• has low success rate for ADHD
• worsens temporal lobes if used without SSRI
• poses risk for physical toxicity

Anti-convulsants
• may show short term benefit, but decrease nerve excitability leading to decreased brain/CNS function and IQ
• ONLY should be indicated for real seizure control

Anti-psychotic meds
• poses risk for serious side effects
• controls but does not cure—doesn’t fix problem areas

Anti-anxiety meds
• Poses risk of addiction
• lowers function in many brain areas
• controls but does not cure—doesn’t fix problem areas

These medications do nothing to improve the child’s health or well being, and in fact, may be harmful. In addition, they don’t address the root cause of this new “autism,” because, as noted, there is no recognition by the medical community that these children are suffering from a real disease process known as NIDS.