Over the years, I've come to rely on the fact that my son responds differently to germs. My son has tested positive a couple of times for strep, but he only had one symptom, a minor sore throat with minor redness. No fever, no aches, energy normal. My pediatrician thinks differently, but whatever, and I move on.
Years ago I had read about a new emerging disorder called PANDAS in a couple of the autism books, but never paid too much attention to them because my son never presented with tics. Nor did he seem to ever get strep throat. Boy was I wrong. Thanks to our nutritionist, I have revisited this disorder, called PANDAS. I believe both my children have this - their presentation doesn't fit to a tee, but it's the closet explanation yet to what is happening to my children.
In a nutshell, a strep infection attacks the central nervous system, causing OCD and tics among other things. The majority of children today are believed to have strep in their system during an outbreak, but are symptom-free. Until recently, this was the case for my kids, although my daughter has had occasional blinking episodes for the last couple of years. I've always chalked this up to seasonal allergies.
Strep has broken out in their school this fall, many kids have been absent. At the same time, my son and daughter both got tics. In addition, my daughter got very emotional and clingy. True, we could attach this to numerous other reasons, but it totally matches with the timing.
Below are numerous links. I highly recommend any parent with a child with an ASD or ADD/ADHD to review this information, in the interest of making informed health care choices. This has been going on for over 10 years.
Here's a general discription taken from an NIH website:
PANDAS, is an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. The term is used to describe a subset of children who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders such as Tourette's Syndrome, and in whom symptoms worsen following strep. infections such as "Strep throat" and Scarlet Fever.
The children usually have dramatic, "overnight" onset of symptoms, including motor or vocal tics, obsessions, and/or compulsions. In addition to these symptoms, children may also become moody, irritable or show concerns about separating from parents or loved ones. This abrupt onset is generally preceeded by a Strep. throat infection.
What is the mechanism behind this phenomenon? At present, it is unknown but researchers at the NIMH are pursuing a theory that the mechanism is similar to that of Rheumatic Fever, an autoimmune disorder triggered by strep. throat infections. In every bacterial infection, the body produces antibodies against the invading bacteria, and the antibodies help eliminate the bacteria from the body. However in Rheumatic Fever, the antibodies mistakenly recognize and "attack" the heart valves, joints, and/or certain parts of the brain. This phenomenon is called "molecular mimicry", which means that proteins on the cell wall of the strep. bacteria are similar in some way to the proteins of the heart valve, joints, or brain. Because the antibodies set off an immune reaction which damages those tissues, the child with Rheumatic Fever can get heart disease (especially mitral valve regurgitation), arthritis, and/or abnormal movements known as Sydenham’s Chorea or St. Vitus Dance.
In PANDAS, it is believed that something very similar to Sydenham’s Chorea occurs. One part of the brain that is affected in PANDAS is the Basal Ganglia, which is believed to be responsible for movement and behavior. Thus, the antibodies interact with the brain to cause tics and/or OCD, instead of Sydenham Chorea.
If you are looking for traditional information, information your doctor has,the publication Pediatrics has a position on P.A.N.D.A.S. The cause (strep) and effect(tics, OCD behaviors) cannot fit into the scientific method just yet, so they are calling it an unproven hypothesis. I have to say it does sound very challenging. They do not recommend antibiotics for treatment.
This NY Times article talks primarily about OCD and the strep connection.
Here's an NIH website that describes this disorder.
The medical foundation, CIDPUSA is also a good reference.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Birthdays, Tics, and Tremors, Oh My....
Leo turned 9 this week, his party was today. He loved getting his name announced on the loudspeaker at school and bringing in GFCF cupcakes. Fruit wouldn't fly this year, I am the fruit pusher. When I asked him what he wanted to bring, he at first named things that I knew he didn't like (like chocolate). He said, "But my friends like that kind of stuff." What a sweet boy, thinking of them when it's his day. He's so over-programed after years of NOT eating what they eat.
After negotiating a happy medium, "healthy" cupcakes, he was happy with all vanilla with vanilla frosting.
I asked how his friends liked them, for years they have passed even the most discriminating eaters, as I always apply generous amounts of frosting. He said, "I warned them Mom." But, warning aside, he said everyone liked them, just like previous years. And Leo was considerate in reminding me to leave one cupcake frosting-free for one of his friends.
We listened to all his birthday messages from his cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandmas. It brought tears to his eyes! A good birthday. A big weekend - a sleep-over with 14 boys for a friend's birthday, his last baseball game, and I hadn't a care in the world. I am beyond grateful.
I am happy to report that Leo has had a super year so far. He's got a wonderful teacher that is upbeat and seems to "live" for teaching. And no issues so far. He's learning a lot, and his new knowledge is really obvious. His teacher reports that he's a "delightful" boy with a lot of enthusiasm. He's learning cursive and actually likes it. Fine motor? Really? He's looking forward to learning more letters so he can write more words. He hangs out with different kids this year at recess - the baseball kids, but when it's rainy and there's indoor recess, he's back with his old best pal from kindergarten. I love this of course. He also likes to play wall ball.
He also sat next to his old best pal at his birthday party. His cousin on the other side. Very sweet! He's part of the nerd herd, in the top math class. He loves math, not a surprise. I look forward (sort of) to Parent/Teacher conferences. I wonder what she'll say - Leo reports he does talk-out-of-turn, but isn't sure if he does it less than last year. We'll see, but that's not what's on my mind. I'm thinking about testing. How will he test? Will he be able to demonstrate what he knows? Or will there be a gap? A processing issue? Untimed tests? A big year.
As I had mentioned, my daughter Sydney had been presenting minor tics (blinking and grimacing). After 3 days on the new protocol, she was tic free. I was elated. So quick! Temporarily, as one week later, Leo began blinking, and most distressing to me, presenting with something like strabismus. His eyeballs would roll horizontally back and forth, mostly to the right. I began feeling a bit P.T.S.S., but got myself together and immediately put together a protocol similar to my daughter's. As a birthday gift to me, Leo woke up on his birthday symptom-free. Yay!
Both were symptom-free for a couple weeks until I ran out of some of the enzyme. Then the tics appeared, minor, but were present especially around bedtime. I feel like I'm waiting for a million dollars to arrive (the enzymes). I'll be blogging about the cause of these tics soon....but in a nutshell, this is a symptom of strep. So when strep goes around as it indeed does, this is how it manifests in my children. No sore throat, no fever, no traditional illness.
I felt like a gift was laid upon my lap, I got an email from a mom of a 15 year old recovered boy. Merry Christmas early! I was so happy to hear from a mom of a child that is older than mine that is doing so well, and more importantly, happy. She wrote a passage titled "Then" which brought me back to when Leo was little. Perfect timing, as I always reflect back around Leo's birthday, as that's when he was diagnosed on his 2nd.
Artemisia got me thinking about Leo as a tiny baby:
I was really excited when I got pregnant. I was adopted later in life (thankfully), so I had always looked forward to a point where I'd have my own naturally family. When Leo began having small tremors following nursing at 2 months old, I was the only one that didn't think it was right. An infant shouldn't be having tremors, my instinct told me. I remember the pediatrician telling me it was probably nothing, but when pressed he referred me to a neurologist. I was so embarrassed, a new mom, sweaty, feeling awkward, nursing in front of him in his cold office. Did I mention I have giant breasts? Even before I was pregnant? Thank god I had the company of my husband. I got through it.
The neurologist dismissed them as nothing, and told me to go on with life and if things worsen, to let them know. Things didn’t worsen, but they stayed the same. That was bad enough. I dreaded the end of a feeding, looking down for any stir and followed by the familiar jittery movements. As tiny as they were, they seemed so huge that they took up the room.
Do nothing? Their words didn’t ring true to me. Everyone told me to believe the doctors. This is the Big Apple after all. Who am I, an insecure first-time mom, to question them?
By the time Leo was 4 months, severe separation anxiety kicked in. I couldn’t put him down for a second. Literally. I was so distressed. What was I thinking? I can’t do this, this whole mom thing. I must be doing something wrong and I have to get to the bottom of it. Leo had to be constantly held, he nursed EVERY hour just one side, and I couldn’t leave him in the care of anyone but my husband.
We babysat my friend’s baby that was just a few days older with no hiccups. This was the big plan, trading date nights so us new parents can get out. The baby was sweet, calm, and aloud me to put him down under the play mat. Adorable. We took lots of pictures of Leo’s first friend.
When it was our turn for a night out, I was filled with anxiety. I knew this may not work, but I had to try. Everyone told me that we just needed practice. That’s all, just practice. The family came over, excited about the prospect of extra responsibility. I didn’t know what to do. I felt like a deer in the headlights. In the arms of strangers, my screaming infant was so wound up he threw up. Embarrassed, I let my new mommy friend go home, pretending that we’d try another time. My hope for a new social circle went out that door too. I hung up my newly purchased post-pregnancy duds in the closet, knowing I may not see those puppies for a while. I knew something was different about my son, and I hoped that this ‘high maintenance’ stuff would eventually fade. No one seemed concerned. “All babies are different, everything is normal for a baby” is what I was told.
I watched while other moms seemed to move forward into the next phase, life with a baby. I stayed home far more than I ever expected with my baby I couldn’t leave. Leo had a sleep schedule that began with him waking at noon and going to bed at midnight. I tried tinkering with this, but regardless of what cruel things people suggested I do with a 4 month old, I stuck with my gut. Half the day was over for my new mommy friends before I left my apartment. I looked forward to my weekly ‘play dates’ with the other moms until I got a comment about Leo’s lack of expression. I got very upset but kept it to myself. The pediatrician continued to tell me that everything was normal, even when I told him I was concerned about his head control. Of course, we discovered later Leo had hypotonia and overall weakness.
In my new house in the suburbs, the isolation continued. Failed attempts with babysitters kept me at home with Leo rather than going back to work. One babysitter worked out if I left just for an hour. She was getting a degree in Early Childhood and wasn’t concerned either.
About a year later I began the search for what was 'wrong' with my baby, finally taking ownership of his wellness (and mine). After I self-diagnosed him, the rest is history, history we've all made. That was a long time ago, almost 9 years ago that my journey began.
My story is no different than thousands of moms out there. But we survive.
We figure it out.
After negotiating a happy medium, "healthy" cupcakes, he was happy with all vanilla with vanilla frosting.
I asked how his friends liked them, for years they have passed even the most discriminating eaters, as I always apply generous amounts of frosting. He said, "I warned them Mom." But, warning aside, he said everyone liked them, just like previous years. And Leo was considerate in reminding me to leave one cupcake frosting-free for one of his friends.
We listened to all his birthday messages from his cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandmas. It brought tears to his eyes! A good birthday. A big weekend - a sleep-over with 14 boys for a friend's birthday, his last baseball game, and I hadn't a care in the world. I am beyond grateful.
I am happy to report that Leo has had a super year so far. He's got a wonderful teacher that is upbeat and seems to "live" for teaching. And no issues so far. He's learning a lot, and his new knowledge is really obvious. His teacher reports that he's a "delightful" boy with a lot of enthusiasm. He's learning cursive and actually likes it. Fine motor? Really? He's looking forward to learning more letters so he can write more words. He hangs out with different kids this year at recess - the baseball kids, but when it's rainy and there's indoor recess, he's back with his old best pal from kindergarten. I love this of course. He also likes to play wall ball.
He also sat next to his old best pal at his birthday party. His cousin on the other side. Very sweet! He's part of the nerd herd, in the top math class. He loves math, not a surprise. I look forward (sort of) to Parent/Teacher conferences. I wonder what she'll say - Leo reports he does talk-out-of-turn, but isn't sure if he does it less than last year. We'll see, but that's not what's on my mind. I'm thinking about testing. How will he test? Will he be able to demonstrate what he knows? Or will there be a gap? A processing issue? Untimed tests? A big year.
As I had mentioned, my daughter Sydney had been presenting minor tics (blinking and grimacing). After 3 days on the new protocol, she was tic free. I was elated. So quick! Temporarily, as one week later, Leo began blinking, and most distressing to me, presenting with something like strabismus. His eyeballs would roll horizontally back and forth, mostly to the right. I began feeling a bit P.T.S.S., but got myself together and immediately put together a protocol similar to my daughter's. As a birthday gift to me, Leo woke up on his birthday symptom-free. Yay!
Both were symptom-free for a couple weeks until I ran out of some of the enzyme. Then the tics appeared, minor, but were present especially around bedtime. I feel like I'm waiting for a million dollars to arrive (the enzymes). I'll be blogging about the cause of these tics soon....but in a nutshell, this is a symptom of strep. So when strep goes around as it indeed does, this is how it manifests in my children. No sore throat, no fever, no traditional illness.
I felt like a gift was laid upon my lap, I got an email from a mom of a 15 year old recovered boy. Merry Christmas early! I was so happy to hear from a mom of a child that is older than mine that is doing so well, and more importantly, happy. She wrote a passage titled "Then" which brought me back to when Leo was little. Perfect timing, as I always reflect back around Leo's birthday, as that's when he was diagnosed on his 2nd.
Artemisia got me thinking about Leo as a tiny baby:
I was really excited when I got pregnant. I was adopted later in life (thankfully), so I had always looked forward to a point where I'd have my own naturally family. When Leo began having small tremors following nursing at 2 months old, I was the only one that didn't think it was right. An infant shouldn't be having tremors, my instinct told me. I remember the pediatrician telling me it was probably nothing, but when pressed he referred me to a neurologist. I was so embarrassed, a new mom, sweaty, feeling awkward, nursing in front of him in his cold office. Did I mention I have giant breasts? Even before I was pregnant? Thank god I had the company of my husband. I got through it.
The neurologist dismissed them as nothing, and told me to go on with life and if things worsen, to let them know. Things didn’t worsen, but they stayed the same. That was bad enough. I dreaded the end of a feeding, looking down for any stir and followed by the familiar jittery movements. As tiny as they were, they seemed so huge that they took up the room.
Do nothing? Their words didn’t ring true to me. Everyone told me to believe the doctors. This is the Big Apple after all. Who am I, an insecure first-time mom, to question them?
By the time Leo was 4 months, severe separation anxiety kicked in. I couldn’t put him down for a second. Literally. I was so distressed. What was I thinking? I can’t do this, this whole mom thing. I must be doing something wrong and I have to get to the bottom of it. Leo had to be constantly held, he nursed EVERY hour just one side, and I couldn’t leave him in the care of anyone but my husband.
We babysat my friend’s baby that was just a few days older with no hiccups. This was the big plan, trading date nights so us new parents can get out. The baby was sweet, calm, and aloud me to put him down under the play mat. Adorable. We took lots of pictures of Leo’s first friend.
When it was our turn for a night out, I was filled with anxiety. I knew this may not work, but I had to try. Everyone told me that we just needed practice. That’s all, just practice. The family came over, excited about the prospect of extra responsibility. I didn’t know what to do. I felt like a deer in the headlights. In the arms of strangers, my screaming infant was so wound up he threw up. Embarrassed, I let my new mommy friend go home, pretending that we’d try another time. My hope for a new social circle went out that door too. I hung up my newly purchased post-pregnancy duds in the closet, knowing I may not see those puppies for a while. I knew something was different about my son, and I hoped that this ‘high maintenance’ stuff would eventually fade. No one seemed concerned. “All babies are different, everything is normal for a baby” is what I was told.
I watched while other moms seemed to move forward into the next phase, life with a baby. I stayed home far more than I ever expected with my baby I couldn’t leave. Leo had a sleep schedule that began with him waking at noon and going to bed at midnight. I tried tinkering with this, but regardless of what cruel things people suggested I do with a 4 month old, I stuck with my gut. Half the day was over for my new mommy friends before I left my apartment. I looked forward to my weekly ‘play dates’ with the other moms until I got a comment about Leo’s lack of expression. I got very upset but kept it to myself. The pediatrician continued to tell me that everything was normal, even when I told him I was concerned about his head control. Of course, we discovered later Leo had hypotonia and overall weakness.
In my new house in the suburbs, the isolation continued. Failed attempts with babysitters kept me at home with Leo rather than going back to work. One babysitter worked out if I left just for an hour. She was getting a degree in Early Childhood and wasn’t concerned either.
About a year later I began the search for what was 'wrong' with my baby, finally taking ownership of his wellness (and mine). After I self-diagnosed him, the rest is history, history we've all made. That was a long time ago, almost 9 years ago that my journey began.
My story is no different than thousands of moms out there. But we survive.
We figure it out.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Goodbye To My Rabbit
One of my bunnies, Brother, died suddenly yesterday. I'm very sad. I'm not sure how he died, but I suspect he ate something poisonous (they roam wild for part of the day) or that he caught a virus that attacked his nervous system.
Brother leaves behind Sister to eat the left over broccoli and apple cores by herself. She'll live a sole bunny existence, tolerating the dogs, the cat, and the various kids that visit her.
Brother and Sister together symbolize my duplicity on my blog - my private life and my Autism Advocacy life. Kind of weird that one side has passed. Am I jinxed?
Certainly, both sides of my life are alive and doing well - I'm working a lot on my writing goals and maintaining my main website. Things have calmed down a bit since the Jenny McCarthy 'explosion' that was my inbox. I'm back to a regular number of people asking for advice on how to get services or a dx. I'm grateful to the media that so many people have confirmation of Autism, hope, and some ideas that may work for their child. Funny writing grateful and media in the same sentence.
The kids are doing well, no issues so far this year and they both have very good teachers. This fall I'm focusing on my daughter's health - she's been presenting some minor facial tics (occasional eye blinking and grimacing) which is quite scary but not surprising. We have her on a detox/supplement protocol designed for her "environmental Tourettes."
For now, I don't have to worry about Leo since he's probably the healthiest in the bunch. I have no reason to complain, my job is so much fun, and my fall routine isn't too hectic. Of course, there's always Parent/Teacher Conferences mid-November. Leo says he still does the 'talking-out-of-turn', so we'll see what his teacher says. Ironically, he reports he doesn't do it in math class (a different teacher), when that was his topic that caused his excitement last year.
So we have just one bunny left. We'll enjoy her, but we'll certainly miss the most mischievous one, our Houdini bunny that could escape almost any pen.
Brother leaves behind Sister to eat the left over broccoli and apple cores by herself. She'll live a sole bunny existence, tolerating the dogs, the cat, and the various kids that visit her.
Brother and Sister together symbolize my duplicity on my blog - my private life and my Autism Advocacy life. Kind of weird that one side has passed. Am I jinxed?
Certainly, both sides of my life are alive and doing well - I'm working a lot on my writing goals and maintaining my main website. Things have calmed down a bit since the Jenny McCarthy 'explosion' that was my inbox. I'm back to a regular number of people asking for advice on how to get services or a dx. I'm grateful to the media that so many people have confirmation of Autism, hope, and some ideas that may work for their child. Funny writing grateful and media in the same sentence.
The kids are doing well, no issues so far this year and they both have very good teachers. This fall I'm focusing on my daughter's health - she's been presenting some minor facial tics (occasional eye blinking and grimacing) which is quite scary but not surprising. We have her on a detox/supplement protocol designed for her "environmental Tourettes."
For now, I don't have to worry about Leo since he's probably the healthiest in the bunch. I have no reason to complain, my job is so much fun, and my fall routine isn't too hectic. Of course, there's always Parent/Teacher Conferences mid-November. Leo says he still does the 'talking-out-of-turn', so we'll see what his teacher says. Ironically, he reports he doesn't do it in math class (a different teacher), when that was his topic that caused his excitement last year.
So we have just one bunny left. We'll enjoy her, but we'll certainly miss the most mischievous one, our Houdini bunny that could escape almost any pen.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Top Reason Why Parents Must Read Actual Research Rather Than Headlines:
What’s been for dinner all this week? Jenny McCarthy. What’s for breakfast just this morning, timed on purpose with perfect execution? Take a look at the morning headlines:
1) New York Times: Vaccine Compound Is Harmless, Study Says, as Autism Debate Rages
2) Wall Street Journal: No Vaccine Link to Behavior;
CDC Study Finds Kids' Mental Acuity Not Hurt by Mercury
3) Reuters: Study shows no language effects from vaccines
All 3 headlines refer to the same article that will be published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Parents and the general public possibly think there are several studies out there if you are just browsing at a newsstand. Herein lies the dilemma when we live in the world of convenience. We have to be careful.
I look forward to reading yet another correlational government study that yet again proves nothing. It’s not really science; the science that the CDC and the FDA insists the Autism Community must follow but they pick and choose when to follow. Rather than looking at our own children, as Jenny says, our research.
I’d like to go on record to say I had some major problems with some of the things said this week (more later), but all in all I am happy that the message of treatment and hope is out there for the masses. My main website stats hit the roof and I had so many parents email me for help in getting a dx, finding services and doctors in there area. All good news no matter what faction people belong to.
1) New York Times: Vaccine Compound Is Harmless, Study Says, as Autism Debate Rages
2) Wall Street Journal: No Vaccine Link to Behavior;
CDC Study Finds Kids' Mental Acuity Not Hurt by Mercury
3) Reuters: Study shows no language effects from vaccines
All 3 headlines refer to the same article that will be published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Parents and the general public possibly think there are several studies out there if you are just browsing at a newsstand. Herein lies the dilemma when we live in the world of convenience. We have to be careful.
I look forward to reading yet another correlational government study that yet again proves nothing. It’s not really science; the science that the CDC and the FDA insists the Autism Community must follow but they pick and choose when to follow. Rather than looking at our own children, as Jenny says, our research.
I’d like to go on record to say I had some major problems with some of the things said this week (more later), but all in all I am happy that the message of treatment and hope is out there for the masses. My main website stats hit the roof and I had so many parents email me for help in getting a dx, finding services and doctors in there area. All good news no matter what faction people belong to.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
The Wholey Trilogy
My health book for this summer was The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and his son, Thomas Campbell II. This book was compelling, disturbing at some parts, and a beautiful companion piece to my other favorite environmental health books. In my dream world, all parents would be required to read my Wholey Trilogy:
The China Study
Fast Food Nation
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Now that I've joined the club (reached age 40), I now see the effects of old age and just plain old living all around me (translation = cancer, heart disease, grandparents moving to assisted living, friends' parents dying). Quite sobering! I don't know anything about the C word or heart disease, so I figured that I better learn now while I still have my faculties (questionable, I know). The author is a long time government scientist that in fact was part of the panel that discovered the link between cholesterol and heart disease.
Today, Dr. Campbell does further research by joining up with Dr. Chen and this study. What's compelling is how large it is - 350 variables of health and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across China and Taiwan, and conclusively demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The culprit is simple - animal protein. Not fat or cholesterol, but animal protein. The Western Diet, the diet of Affluence. By the doc that helped put cholesterol in the picture in the first place. It's quite compelling.
I also like that he doesn't preach details, just advocates for a plant based diet. End of story. Period.
Fast Food Nation supplies the history of fast food and industrialization of our food supply and what we are really eating. The Omnivore's Dilemma fills in the details left out by FFN about our centralized food supply and what we are actually eating. Finally, The China Study follows up with how our food supply causes disease. Conclusion? Mass production and centralization works for widgets, car parts, even Amazon.
For food? Obviously not. This generation's children and their parents are paying the price through illness, disorders, disabilities, and the high cost of insurance.
NY Times: Food Additives Raise Hyperactivity
September 6, 2007
Some Food Additives Raise Hyperactivity, Study Finds
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Common food additives and colorings can increase hyperactive behavior in a broad range of children, a study being released today found.
It was the first time researchers conclusively and scientifically confirmed a link that had long been suspected by many parents. Numerous support groups for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have for years recommended removing such ingredients from diets, although experts have continued to debate the evidence.
But the new, carefully controlled study shows that some artificial additives increase hyperactivity and decrease attention span in a wide range of children, not just those for whom overactivity has been diagnosed as a learning problem.
The new research, which was financed by Britain’s Food Standards Agency and published online by the British medical journal The Lancet, presents regulators with a number of issues: Should foods containing preservatives and artificial colors carry warning labels? Should some additives be prohibited entirely? Should school cafeterias remove foods with additives?
After all, the researchers note that overactivity makes learning more difficult for children.
“A mix of additives commonly found in children’s foods increases the mean level of hyperactivity,” wrote the researchers, led by Jim Stevenson, a professor of psychology at the University of Southampton. “The finding lends strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) at least into middle childhood.”
In response to the study, the Food Standards Agency advised parents to monitor their children’s activity and, if they noted a marked change with food containing additives, to adjust their diets accordingly, eliminating artificial colors and preservatives.
But Professor Stevenson said it was premature to go further. “We’ve set up an issue that needs more exploration,” he said in a telephone interview.
In response to the study, some pediatricians cautioned that a diet without artificial colors and preservatives might cause other problems for children.
“Even if it shows some increase in hyperactivity, is it clinically significant and does it impact the child’s life?” said Dr. Thomas Spencer, a specialist in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Is it powerful enough that you want to ostracize your kid? It is very socially impacting if children can’t eat the things that their friends do.”
Still, Dr. Spencer called the advice of the British food agency “sensible,” noting that some children may be “supersensitive to additives” just as some people are more sensitive to caffeine.
The Lancet study focused on a variety of food colorings and on sodium benzoate, a common preservative. The researchers note that removing this preservative from food could cause problems in itself by increasing spoilage. In the six-week trial, researchers gave a randomly selected group of several hundred 3-year-olds and of 8- and 9-year-olds drinks with additives — colors and sodium benzoate — that mimicked the mix in children’s drinks that are commercially available. The dose of additives consumed was equivalent to that in one or two servings of candy a day, the researchers said. Their diet was otherwise controlled to avoid other sources of the additives.
A control group was given an additive-free placebo drink that looked and tasted the same.
All of the children were evaluated for inattention and hyperactivity by parents, teachers (for school-age children) and through a computer test. Neither the researchers nor the subject knew which drink any of the children had consumed.
The researchers discovered that children in both age groups were significantly more hyperactive and that they had shorter attention spans if they had consumed the drink containing the additives. The study did not try to link specific consumption with specific behaviors. The study’s authors noted that other research suggested that the hyperactivity could increase in as little as an hour after artificial additives were consumed.
The Lancet study could not determine which of the additives caused the poor performances because all the children received a mix. “This was a very complicated study, and it will take an even more complicated study to figure out which components caused the effect,” Professor Stevenson said.
Some Food Additives Raise Hyperactivity, Study Finds
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Common food additives and colorings can increase hyperactive behavior in a broad range of children, a study being released today found.
It was the first time researchers conclusively and scientifically confirmed a link that had long been suspected by many parents. Numerous support groups for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have for years recommended removing such ingredients from diets, although experts have continued to debate the evidence.
But the new, carefully controlled study shows that some artificial additives increase hyperactivity and decrease attention span in a wide range of children, not just those for whom overactivity has been diagnosed as a learning problem.
The new research, which was financed by Britain’s Food Standards Agency and published online by the British medical journal The Lancet, presents regulators with a number of issues: Should foods containing preservatives and artificial colors carry warning labels? Should some additives be prohibited entirely? Should school cafeterias remove foods with additives?
After all, the researchers note that overactivity makes learning more difficult for children.
“A mix of additives commonly found in children’s foods increases the mean level of hyperactivity,” wrote the researchers, led by Jim Stevenson, a professor of psychology at the University of Southampton. “The finding lends strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) at least into middle childhood.”
In response to the study, the Food Standards Agency advised parents to monitor their children’s activity and, if they noted a marked change with food containing additives, to adjust their diets accordingly, eliminating artificial colors and preservatives.
But Professor Stevenson said it was premature to go further. “We’ve set up an issue that needs more exploration,” he said in a telephone interview.
In response to the study, some pediatricians cautioned that a diet without artificial colors and preservatives might cause other problems for children.
“Even if it shows some increase in hyperactivity, is it clinically significant and does it impact the child’s life?” said Dr. Thomas Spencer, a specialist in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Is it powerful enough that you want to ostracize your kid? It is very socially impacting if children can’t eat the things that their friends do.”
Still, Dr. Spencer called the advice of the British food agency “sensible,” noting that some children may be “supersensitive to additives” just as some people are more sensitive to caffeine.
The Lancet study focused on a variety of food colorings and on sodium benzoate, a common preservative. The researchers note that removing this preservative from food could cause problems in itself by increasing spoilage. In the six-week trial, researchers gave a randomly selected group of several hundred 3-year-olds and of 8- and 9-year-olds drinks with additives — colors and sodium benzoate — that mimicked the mix in children’s drinks that are commercially available. The dose of additives consumed was equivalent to that in one or two servings of candy a day, the researchers said. Their diet was otherwise controlled to avoid other sources of the additives.
A control group was given an additive-free placebo drink that looked and tasted the same.
All of the children were evaluated for inattention and hyperactivity by parents, teachers (for school-age children) and through a computer test. Neither the researchers nor the subject knew which drink any of the children had consumed.
The researchers discovered that children in both age groups were significantly more hyperactive and that they had shorter attention spans if they had consumed the drink containing the additives. The study did not try to link specific consumption with specific behaviors. The study’s authors noted that other research suggested that the hyperactivity could increase in as little as an hour after artificial additives were consumed.
The Lancet study could not determine which of the additives caused the poor performances because all the children received a mix. “This was a very complicated study, and it will take an even more complicated study to figure out which components caused the effect,” Professor Stevenson said.
This quote was quite shocking: “Even if it shows some increase in hyperactivity, is it clinically significant and does it impact the child’s life?” said Dr. Thomas Spencer, a specialist in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Is it powerful enough that you want to ostracize your kid? It is very socially impacting if children can’t eat the things that their friends do.”
Hmm...Dr. Spencer must not be a father. Or someone that sees that our children need to be healthier, that's we got a crisis on our hands. When you think you've seen it all, I found this quote very surprising and disturbing. Smoking used to be (still is?) cool, does he think us parents should weigh the social pros and cons of that as well? I think we've come a long way with education and smoking. We need to do this with food as well. Food marketers will rise to the occasion and quickly provide what people are willing to buy.
We need to educate parents and schools about healthy food choices. After all, we now have a federal mandate, the Wellness Policy that should be enforced across the country now, beginning last year. Economics plays a role in how quickly and effectively change will happen. Health has a lot of competition - better roads, better curriculum, classroom facilities, the list goes on.
The biggest obstacle I used to think were parents unwilling to stand up and make healthier choices, letting go of Betty Crockerish childhood memories. Standing up to their own parents that give their kids candy every chance they get. Deciding to pay more than $2.50 for their child's school lunch, when they go and spend $8 to $10 on lunch themselves.
But yet again we must fight our pediatricians? I am beyond disgusted.
Who would've thought someone would be FOR additivies and preservatives?
On a personal note, my daughter Sydney experienced the cafeteria for the first time this year, as a fresh 1st grader. She did come home in tears the first few days, complaining that most of her friends bought lunch. She wanted to eat what everyone else ate. I can't blaim her and I empathize. I went through the same thing with Leo, and today he is confident and fine with it.
Some kids brought their lunch, but Sydney's food was different - leftover Mexican Shredded Chicken over brown rice, Pasta Salad with lots of veggies, or a turkey wrap. Real food with no additives or preservatives. Sydney eats like Leo does because it's healthier. Gluten isn't good for anyone.
I reminded Sydney what she knew already, processed food versus whole,organic, and how important healthy food is. She got it. I told her to explain what she's eating, that her lunch from home is healthier than the cafeteria. Most moms would have to agree in this town, and I do know that this isn't always the case....In many places across the country, school lunches and breakfasts are IT, the only food a child will get. How sad is that! I am indeed happy that we have these programs for those reasons.
I told Sydney to say "So?" if people make fun of her lunch. And to stand up for herself. A tall order I know, but she didn't take any crap. She's a confident girl, more than Leo, so I know she got her point across and she felt better about her "difference".
She's a popular girl, so guess what has happened the following week? Some of the girls started bringing THEIR lunch that contained fresh fruit and other items that Sydney had been bringing. Two other girls brought strawberries for classroom snack, just like Sydney. All 3 girls made it cool! Now why can't more parents advocate for these scenarios, making healthy food the food of choice, the cool food?
We went out for icecream the second day of school to celebrate. My point (hopefully) that she does get to have unhealthy food too. I don't want them to feel deprived. A delicate balance of what is everyday food and what is a treat. I'm wingin' it here, but so far things have worked out. I temporarily won the cafeteria battle, but lost the classroom battle - Syd's teacher uses chocolate as a reward. Candy candy candy! It never ends.
Food doesn't have to be the focus of all celebrations. At least junky food doesn't! There are many ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays without food. Here are some links for people that may be interested:
Alternatives to Food Rewards. Connecticut State Department of Education, 2004.
http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/Student/NutritionEd/index.htm
Classroom Party Ideas. University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County.
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/2372/15801.pdf
Healthy Fundraising. Connecticut State Department of Education, 2005.
http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/Student/NutritionEd/index.htm
Let’s Party: Party Ideas for School and Home. West Virginia Department of Education, 1994.
http://wvde.state.wv.us/ctrc/materials.html
Let’s Play: Innovative Games and Activities for Kids. West Virginia Department of Education,
2002. http://wvde.state.wv.us/ctrc/materials.html
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Backpacks
Is your child's backpack making the grade?
Thu Aug 30, 2:21 PM ET, Reuters
With a new school year underway, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is reminding parents that wearing backpacks improperly or ones that are too heavy put children at increased risk for back injuries and muscle strain.
A recent study of backpack-carrying pre-K through 9th graders showed that unhealthy changes in posture are magnified if the backpack weighs more than 10 to 15 percent of the student's body weight. The APTA recommends that backpack loads be kept to this limit.
Physical therapist and APTA member Dr. Mary Ann Wilmarth warns in an APTA-issued statement that injury can occur when a child bearing an overloaded backpack resorts to arching the back, bending forward, twisting, or leaning to one side.
These changes in posture can lead to improper alignment of the spine. A backpack load that is too heavy also causes muscles to work harder, leading to strain and fatigue, and rendering the neck, shoulders, and back more vulnerable to injury.
College students are not immune to backpack-related injury; they too risk injury to their back when carrying overloaded backpacks and wearing them inappropriately, Wilmarth found in a recent study.
The APTA offers these tips for safe backpack use:
Use both straps. Slinging the backpack over only one shoulder using a single strap causes one side of the body to bear the brunt of the weight. By wearing two shoulder straps, the weight of the backpack is better distributed, which promotes better posture.
Wear the backpack over the strongest mid-back muscles. The backpack should rest evenly in the middle of the back near the child's center of gravity. Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow the child to put on and take off the backpack with ease. Tighten the straps so that the backpack does not extend below the lower back.
In addition to lightening the load, the APTA suggests organizing the contents of the backpack by placing the heaviest items closest to the back.
They also favor ergonomically designed backpacks to enhance safety and comfort. Hip and chest belts are useful, as they help transfer some of the backpack weight from the back and shoulders to the hips and torso.
Wilmarth's studies suggest that backpacks with wheels are a good option for younger students who don't change classes or need to go up and down stairs frequently. However, there are precautions to take with "rolling backpacks" as well.
For example, the extended handle needs to be long enough so that the child is not forced to twist and bend, and that the wheels need to be sufficiently large so that the backpack doesn't shake or topple. For more on backpack safety, visit www.apta.org.
Thu Aug 30, 2:21 PM ET, Reuters
With a new school year underway, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is reminding parents that wearing backpacks improperly or ones that are too heavy put children at increased risk for back injuries and muscle strain.
A recent study of backpack-carrying pre-K through 9th graders showed that unhealthy changes in posture are magnified if the backpack weighs more than 10 to 15 percent of the student's body weight. The APTA recommends that backpack loads be kept to this limit.
Physical therapist and APTA member Dr. Mary Ann Wilmarth warns in an APTA-issued statement that injury can occur when a child bearing an overloaded backpack resorts to arching the back, bending forward, twisting, or leaning to one side.
These changes in posture can lead to improper alignment of the spine. A backpack load that is too heavy also causes muscles to work harder, leading to strain and fatigue, and rendering the neck, shoulders, and back more vulnerable to injury.
College students are not immune to backpack-related injury; they too risk injury to their back when carrying overloaded backpacks and wearing them inappropriately, Wilmarth found in a recent study.
The APTA offers these tips for safe backpack use:
Use both straps. Slinging the backpack over only one shoulder using a single strap causes one side of the body to bear the brunt of the weight. By wearing two shoulder straps, the weight of the backpack is better distributed, which promotes better posture.
Wear the backpack over the strongest mid-back muscles. The backpack should rest evenly in the middle of the back near the child's center of gravity. Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow the child to put on and take off the backpack with ease. Tighten the straps so that the backpack does not extend below the lower back.
In addition to lightening the load, the APTA suggests organizing the contents of the backpack by placing the heaviest items closest to the back.
They also favor ergonomically designed backpacks to enhance safety and comfort. Hip and chest belts are useful, as they help transfer some of the backpack weight from the back and shoulders to the hips and torso.
Wilmarth's studies suggest that backpacks with wheels are a good option for younger students who don't change classes or need to go up and down stairs frequently. However, there are precautions to take with "rolling backpacks" as well.
For example, the extended handle needs to be long enough so that the child is not forced to twist and bend, and that the wheels need to be sufficiently large so that the backpack doesn't shake or topple. For more on backpack safety, visit www.apta.org.
I hear some parents buy their kids two sets of books. I don't get it. Why do they have to carry so much? 10 to 15 % body weight. Did we have this problem when we were kids? I can't remember...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Summer Misc, 8 yrs 10 mos.
I refuse to say school has started, because it sure still feels like summer here. No homework, the kids are still running around late at night, no activities until after labor day and beyond. Flip-flops and shorts are still being worn. But indeed, school has started. My 1st and 3rd grader have the same schedule - they go to the same school and get home at the same time, around 3:50pm. Hurray!
I can't confirm the disorder/disability count for 3rd grade as of yet, but I have confirmation that Leo's former arch-nemesis from 1st grade turned friend in 2nd grade is in Leo's class. He also happens to have ADD. There's one other boy that's quite a legend/handful that has a behavior plan as well. He's my favorite, and now is friends with Leo. I predict this relationship will move forward - they've never had class together. His mother is pretty much a normal person, inclusive, and honest.
So far, 3 kids in a class of 21. Leo didn't get his BFF in class, which was a giant bummer because we won't be able to socialize with him much this year. His sister, Sydney's BFF, is the one with Leukemia, so his social schedule and activities are limited to church. PDD Boy is still a close friend, but not in the same class. They'll see each other at baseball which is great.
Leo's teacher seems TGTBT (too good to be true). She energetic, maternal, smart, firm, and engaging. I even told her that she's TGTBT. After last year's mediocre one (at least in the personality/cheer leading dept), I'm pretty damned excited.
Very cute, Leo is even more excited about Sydney's teacher. His former from 1st grade. She's terrific, and I have little worries there. He thinks he's super cool because he 'knows just about everything' in regards to her class. On the first day, he made sure his sister got to her class, as her sense of direction and memory isn't her strong suit (she's just like me).
Leo's hypoglycemia has made a significant improvement over this summer's detox. Huge, I no longer have to pack an extra snack for him to eat in the afternoon - he can basically make it combined with lunch schedule getting later as he's getting older. I am slowly feeling like I am less like a mom with a diabetic child.
The other good news is that Leo seems basically fine on dairy. I've been really worried about the soy consumption in this house, especially since it's in all the processed GF foods, so I boldly decided to give Leo dairy regularly (translation=3x week), and the rest of the choices go to soy. So almost 50/50, splitting the difference of evilness. We still stick to GF, as it does seem to build up, but do 'cheat' for special occasions like a birthday...
Leo had a sleepover at the same boy's house from last year. It was awesome just like last year! We talked a lot about two boys that he doesn't like much that would be at the sleepover. We told him life isn't perfect, and even though these boys aren't that nice sometimes and aren't your favorites, you just have to go with the flow. I also said people change, especially kids, and that you have to give them a chance, they may surprise you. I reminded him about our neighbor, how they get along now. The greatest was I only had to pack enzymes! The mom gave them for pizza, and he declined cake. Simple! He had a total blast - this year they all played baseball and relays before a movie, popcorn, and other boy stuff. I was so happy for him.
To change the subject (Hey I can do anything, it's my blog!), I seem to always have an issue at school at the beginning of the year, and this year was no different. I found out through a friend that the PTA wants us to fill out detailed health related questions on a waiver for PTA events/activities. I asked the nurse and the principal about the legality with privacy. Of course, this touched a nerve with me because of vaccinations, allergies, and hidden diagnosis. Like I'd say jack about any of it! Can we all say Secret List? I get the waiver thing. Insurance is insurance, but do you think I'll trust these other moms with that info, when there's already an undercurrent of animosity towards "allergy kids" and the politics that go with it?
So there ya go. Haven't heard anything BUT the form was sent home sans waiver. I'll keep you posted.
Note to Self: Remember to blog about The China Study, my summer environment/health book.
I can't confirm the disorder/disability count for 3rd grade as of yet, but I have confirmation that Leo's former arch-nemesis from 1st grade turned friend in 2nd grade is in Leo's class. He also happens to have ADD. There's one other boy that's quite a legend/handful that has a behavior plan as well. He's my favorite, and now is friends with Leo. I predict this relationship will move forward - they've never had class together. His mother is pretty much a normal person, inclusive, and honest.
So far, 3 kids in a class of 21. Leo didn't get his BFF in class, which was a giant bummer because we won't be able to socialize with him much this year. His sister, Sydney's BFF, is the one with Leukemia, so his social schedule and activities are limited to church. PDD Boy is still a close friend, but not in the same class. They'll see each other at baseball which is great.
Leo's teacher seems TGTBT (too good to be true). She energetic, maternal, smart, firm, and engaging. I even told her that she's TGTBT. After last year's mediocre one (at least in the personality/cheer leading dept), I'm pretty damned excited.
Very cute, Leo is even more excited about Sydney's teacher. His former from 1st grade. She's terrific, and I have little worries there. He thinks he's super cool because he 'knows just about everything' in regards to her class. On the first day, he made sure his sister got to her class, as her sense of direction and memory isn't her strong suit (she's just like me).
Leo's hypoglycemia has made a significant improvement over this summer's detox. Huge, I no longer have to pack an extra snack for him to eat in the afternoon - he can basically make it combined with lunch schedule getting later as he's getting older. I am slowly feeling like I am less like a mom with a diabetic child.
The other good news is that Leo seems basically fine on dairy. I've been really worried about the soy consumption in this house, especially since it's in all the processed GF foods, so I boldly decided to give Leo dairy regularly (translation=3x week), and the rest of the choices go to soy. So almost 50/50, splitting the difference of evilness. We still stick to GF, as it does seem to build up, but do 'cheat' for special occasions like a birthday...
Leo had a sleepover at the same boy's house from last year. It was awesome just like last year! We talked a lot about two boys that he doesn't like much that would be at the sleepover. We told him life isn't perfect, and even though these boys aren't that nice sometimes and aren't your favorites, you just have to go with the flow. I also said people change, especially kids, and that you have to give them a chance, they may surprise you. I reminded him about our neighbor, how they get along now. The greatest was I only had to pack enzymes! The mom gave them for pizza, and he declined cake. Simple! He had a total blast - this year they all played baseball and relays before a movie, popcorn, and other boy stuff. I was so happy for him.
To change the subject (Hey I can do anything, it's my blog!), I seem to always have an issue at school at the beginning of the year, and this year was no different. I found out through a friend that the PTA wants us to fill out detailed health related questions on a waiver for PTA events/activities. I asked the nurse and the principal about the legality with privacy. Of course, this touched a nerve with me because of vaccinations, allergies, and hidden diagnosis. Like I'd say jack about any of it! Can we all say Secret List? I get the waiver thing. Insurance is insurance, but do you think I'll trust these other moms with that info, when there's already an undercurrent of animosity towards "allergy kids" and the politics that go with it?
So there ya go. Haven't heard anything BUT the form was sent home sans waiver. I'll keep you posted.
Note to Self: Remember to blog about The China Study, my summer environment/health book.
Asthma and 5 to 11 Year Olds
New guidelines look hard at childhood asthma By Will Dunham
Wed Aug 29, 12:04 PM ET
New guidelines unveiled by U.S. federal health experts on Wednesday for tackling asthma carve out a new age group, children 5 to 11, for unique treatment.
Drugs known as inhaled corticosteroids remain the best long-term treatment to control asthma in all age groups, according to experts convened by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The new guidelines -- the first thorough update in 10 years of U.S. recommendations on treating and diagnosing asthma -- gave special attention to the growing problem of childhood asthma. They also offered new advice on drugs and controlling environmental factors that may trigger symptoms.
Existing guidelines had called for children 5 to 11 to treated the same as adults.
The guidelines now specify three age groups to get different treatment for asthma: birth to 4 years, 5 to 11 and 12 and older.
The middle group was created due to new evidence on drugs for these children and emerging signs that they may respond differently to asthma medications than adults.
The recommendations point to newer drugs to help control the immune over-reaction seen in severe allergic asthma. Xolair, made by Genentech and Novartis, is a biotech drug that blocks the immune system compound immunoglobulin E, which is overproduced during an allergic asthma attack.
Known generically as omalizumab, Xolair is injected and approved only for people over the age of 12 with severe asthma.
STEPWISE APPROACH
Other drugs should be added only as needed and should be discontinued as soon as possible, the guidelines say.
"Although asthma is a common, chronic illness that can pose a serious burden for patients, their families and their communities, we firmly believe that asthma control can be achieved in nearly every patient with asthma," said Dr. William Busse, chairman of the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine.
Busse, who headed the panel of 18 experts, said many studies supported the recommendations.
"For instance, inhaled corticosteroids are still the best long-term control treatment for asthma patients of all ages because we have even stronger evidence that they are generally safe and are the most effective medication at reducing inflammation, a key component of asthma," he told reporters in a telephone briefing.
Asthma is an inflammation of the airways. Symptoms can include wheezing, shortness or breath, coughing and chest tightness. More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma -- 22 million in the United States alone.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says asthma kills about 3,780 annually.
Inhaled corticosteroids include GlaxoSmithKline's Flovent and Advair, AstraZeneca's Pulmicort, Abbott's Azmacort, Teva Pharmaceuticals' Qvar and Schering-Plough's Asmanex.
Wed Aug 29, 12:04 PM ET
New guidelines unveiled by U.S. federal health experts on Wednesday for tackling asthma carve out a new age group, children 5 to 11, for unique treatment.
Drugs known as inhaled corticosteroids remain the best long-term treatment to control asthma in all age groups, according to experts convened by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The new guidelines -- the first thorough update in 10 years of U.S. recommendations on treating and diagnosing asthma -- gave special attention to the growing problem of childhood asthma. They also offered new advice on drugs and controlling environmental factors that may trigger symptoms.
Existing guidelines had called for children 5 to 11 to treated the same as adults.
The guidelines now specify three age groups to get different treatment for asthma: birth to 4 years, 5 to 11 and 12 and older.
The middle group was created due to new evidence on drugs for these children and emerging signs that they may respond differently to asthma medications than adults.
The recommendations point to newer drugs to help control the immune over-reaction seen in severe allergic asthma. Xolair, made by Genentech and Novartis, is a biotech drug that blocks the immune system compound immunoglobulin E, which is overproduced during an allergic asthma attack.
Known generically as omalizumab, Xolair is injected and approved only for people over the age of 12 with severe asthma.
STEPWISE APPROACH
Other drugs should be added only as needed and should be discontinued as soon as possible, the guidelines say.
"Although asthma is a common, chronic illness that can pose a serious burden for patients, their families and their communities, we firmly believe that asthma control can be achieved in nearly every patient with asthma," said Dr. William Busse, chairman of the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine.
Busse, who headed the panel of 18 experts, said many studies supported the recommendations.
"For instance, inhaled corticosteroids are still the best long-term control treatment for asthma patients of all ages because we have even stronger evidence that they are generally safe and are the most effective medication at reducing inflammation, a key component of asthma," he told reporters in a telephone briefing.
Asthma is an inflammation of the airways. Symptoms can include wheezing, shortness or breath, coughing and chest tightness. More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma -- 22 million in the United States alone.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says asthma kills about 3,780 annually.
Inhaled corticosteroids include GlaxoSmithKline's Flovent and Advair, AstraZeneca's Pulmicort, Abbott's Azmacort, Teva Pharmaceuticals' Qvar and Schering-Plough's Asmanex.
Heck. I'm all for preventing deaths by using steroids and other medicine. Man, almost 3800 people die each year. My question always seems to be the same. Today or the future? What shall we invest in?
If it's special education in schools, we all know school districts have a difficult time with long term planning and investing, which over time costs less time and money. It's the same when it comes to wellness in this country.
Will there be a day when the government realizes that all of these ailments - childhood disorders/delays, allergies/asthma, neurological disorders like MS, and cancer are all related? That they all involve toxins and the effects of a centralized food supply for starters? We will soon be buying nuts that are pasteurized (those lucky enough to be able to still eat them).
Why don't we spend our tax money on causative factors rather than concentrating on blocking symptoms? At record profits I may add, to certain pharma cos. The payoff would be exponential, impacting so many aspects of health.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
To Do List for fall
Gearing up to fall...
1) WARNING: About to Overshare...
Manage my newfound facial hair (I'm 42). I'm "loving" my new hormone profile. I am a natural blonde, and this soft furry mustache has sort of snuck up on me. I wonder if people have noticed! I've begun plucking the obvious ones, and I have to figure out the pros and cons to waxing. At least it's blonde though. I have a few long hairs that pop up now and then on my chin, I call them my witch hairs. They freak me out! Advice needed!
2) Figure out how to make an income that will support the kids in the event that disaster strikes. I can't even type the scenarios I'm thinking of! A friend's husband, at 43, died suddenly, and I consider it a wake-up call. I need skills people! I had a career in marketing which was quite lucrative before kids, but I'm basically worthless in that field now. My teacher salary barely pays for food, so I'll have to think of something. I am studying homeopathy on my own, but that would be a long shot and years from now as something to support a family.
3) Continue my obsession with High Schools. For starters, I began perusing the Newsweek High School Ranker. The cool part of this, is that if you click on "state" or one of the other columns, one can see the info that way. I don't particularly agree with the criteria, but it's gotten me to start thinking about criteria that's important to US.
Do we move? If so, probably middle school. Will our current town be appropriate for Leo and Sydney as teenagers? Our town is quite conservative, religious (many Catholics live here and we aren't Catholic). I don't want them to feel left out - it's already hard enough to be that age. Perhaps a place exists where being an individual is easier. We need a bigger house anyway - we are growing out of it, and the kids will soon no longer be able to share a room....
1) WARNING: About to Overshare...
Manage my newfound facial hair (I'm 42). I'm "loving" my new hormone profile. I am a natural blonde, and this soft furry mustache has sort of snuck up on me. I wonder if people have noticed! I've begun plucking the obvious ones, and I have to figure out the pros and cons to waxing. At least it's blonde though. I have a few long hairs that pop up now and then on my chin, I call them my witch hairs. They freak me out! Advice needed!
2) Figure out how to make an income that will support the kids in the event that disaster strikes. I can't even type the scenarios I'm thinking of! A friend's husband, at 43, died suddenly, and I consider it a wake-up call. I need skills people! I had a career in marketing which was quite lucrative before kids, but I'm basically worthless in that field now. My teacher salary barely pays for food, so I'll have to think of something. I am studying homeopathy on my own, but that would be a long shot and years from now as something to support a family.
3) Continue my obsession with High Schools. For starters, I began perusing the Newsweek High School Ranker. The cool part of this, is that if you click on "state" or one of the other columns, one can see the info that way. I don't particularly agree with the criteria, but it's gotten me to start thinking about criteria that's important to US.
Do we move? If so, probably middle school. Will our current town be appropriate for Leo and Sydney as teenagers? Our town is quite conservative, religious (many Catholics live here and we aren't Catholic). I don't want them to feel left out - it's already hard enough to be that age. Perhaps a place exists where being an individual is easier. We need a bigger house anyway - we are growing out of it, and the kids will soon no longer be able to share a room....
Moving To Montana
Hi all. Our family has decided to "opt out" of society and move to Montana. We are purchasing a large piece of property, a hobby farm. Our goal is to eventually become subsistence farmers, living off the land while home schooling our children. I won't have to worry about grocery stores, school cliques, or job politics. We have some money saved up, and after we sell our valuables, we should have a healthy head start. JUST KIDDING! Did I get you or what?
But seriously, I do fantasize about doing something like that, especially when I have to make hard choices, social choices. My internal cost/benefit excel spreadsheet. I wonder if it's all worth it in order to live in society. What is your cost to living in society?
But seriously, I do fantasize about doing something like that, especially when I have to make hard choices, social choices. My internal cost/benefit excel spreadsheet. I wonder if it's all worth it in order to live in society. What is your cost to living in society?
Friday, August 24, 2007
Sunscreen Rules
FDA Proposes New Rules for Sunscreens By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
Thu Aug 23, 7:01 PM ET
THURSDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed Thursday a new rating system for sunscreens that would, for the first time, alert consumers as to how well they block dangerous ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.
Right now, most commercial sunscreens only screen out ultraviolet B (UVB), not UVA, which is associated with longer and more serious damage deep within the skin.
Labels would have up to four stars indicating their effectiveness against UVA rays, the FDA said. Both UVA and UVB increase skin cancer risks and skin aging.
The new changes are undergoing a 90-day period of public comment before being published in a final draft form. According to the agency, those rules would only go into effect 18 months later, pushing the appearance of any new labeling to 2009 at the earliest.
The agency has long been looking into making recommendations on UVA protection, Dr. Douglas C. Throckmorton, the deputy director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said during a mid-afternoon teleconference. Only now has the agency settled on which tests it will accept for rating UVA protection, he said.
"We believe this proposed regulation does, in fact, provide sunscreen labeling that clearly communicates information related to UV protection," Matthew R. Holman, from the FDA's Office of Nonprescription Products, said during the teleconference.
Called "extra UVA protection," the new rating would be in addition to the SPF, or sun protection factor, already on sunscreens. SPF measures the effectiveness of the product in preventing sunburn from UVB rays.
UVB radiation causes sunburn, but UVA can damage skin tissue below the surface. "Both UVA and UVB cause skin cancer and aging such as wrinkles and sunspots," Holman said.
"FDA considers both UVB and UVA radiation protection equally important at this time, because scientific data demonstrates that both have harmful effects on the skin," the agency said.
The proposed ratings system for UVA sunscreens would rate them on a scale of one to four stars. One star for low UVA protection, two stars medium protection, three stars high protection, and four stars the highest protection available in an over-the-counter sunscreen. If a sunscreen does not have at least one star of protection, the agency would require that the product have a "no UVA protection" marking on the label near the SPF value.
Ratings for UVA would be based on two tests. The first measures the sunscreen's ability to reduce the amount of UVA radiation that passes through it. The second measures a product's ability to prevent tanning. This test is similar to the SPF test used to determine the effectiveness of sunscreens to block UVB rays, according to the FDA.
Sunscreens would carry a "Warnings" statement in the "Drug Facts" box. The warning will say that "UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a sunscreen."
In addition, the label would also warn that "UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen." Directions would tell people to reapply sunscreen "at least every 2 hours."
The intent of the warning is to alert consumers that sunscreen is only a part of protecting yourself from sun exposure, Holman said.
According to the FDA, the proposal has guidelines for testing that manufacturers need to do to support their claims. Under the rule, sunscreens could have a maximum SPF of 50+ unless test data shows that a higher number is warranted.
In addition, the definition of SPF would change from "sun protection factor" to "sunburn protection factor." This change will prevent "the impression of solar invincibility and a false sense of security," according to the agency's proposal.
One expert thinks it's about time the FDA set standards for UVA protection.
"This is an important step forward," said Dr. James Spencer, a professor of clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, who also is in private practice in St. Petersburg, Fla. "UVA protection is important for the prevention of skin cancer and wrinkles," he said.
In fact, Spencer would like to see the same star rating system proposed for UVA to replace the SPF number used for UVB.
This label changes were partly spurred by a report from a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, the Environmental Working Group, in June. The EWG faulted the FDA for missing a deadline imposed by Congress to set sunscreen safety standards by last year.
In their report, the group found that of 386 sunscreens with SPF ratings higher than 30, 13 percent protected users from UVA radiation.
HealthDay Reporter
Thu Aug 23, 7:01 PM ET
THURSDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed Thursday a new rating system for sunscreens that would, for the first time, alert consumers as to how well they block dangerous ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.
Right now, most commercial sunscreens only screen out ultraviolet B (UVB), not UVA, which is associated with longer and more serious damage deep within the skin.
Labels would have up to four stars indicating their effectiveness against UVA rays, the FDA said. Both UVA and UVB increase skin cancer risks and skin aging.
The new changes are undergoing a 90-day period of public comment before being published in a final draft form. According to the agency, those rules would only go into effect 18 months later, pushing the appearance of any new labeling to 2009 at the earliest.
The agency has long been looking into making recommendations on UVA protection, Dr. Douglas C. Throckmorton, the deputy director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said during a mid-afternoon teleconference. Only now has the agency settled on which tests it will accept for rating UVA protection, he said.
"We believe this proposed regulation does, in fact, provide sunscreen labeling that clearly communicates information related to UV protection," Matthew R. Holman, from the FDA's Office of Nonprescription Products, said during the teleconference.
Called "extra UVA protection," the new rating would be in addition to the SPF, or sun protection factor, already on sunscreens. SPF measures the effectiveness of the product in preventing sunburn from UVB rays.
UVB radiation causes sunburn, but UVA can damage skin tissue below the surface. "Both UVA and UVB cause skin cancer and aging such as wrinkles and sunspots," Holman said.
"FDA considers both UVB and UVA radiation protection equally important at this time, because scientific data demonstrates that both have harmful effects on the skin," the agency said.
The proposed ratings system for UVA sunscreens would rate them on a scale of one to four stars. One star for low UVA protection, two stars medium protection, three stars high protection, and four stars the highest protection available in an over-the-counter sunscreen. If a sunscreen does not have at least one star of protection, the agency would require that the product have a "no UVA protection" marking on the label near the SPF value.
Ratings for UVA would be based on two tests. The first measures the sunscreen's ability to reduce the amount of UVA radiation that passes through it. The second measures a product's ability to prevent tanning. This test is similar to the SPF test used to determine the effectiveness of sunscreens to block UVB rays, according to the FDA.
Sunscreens would carry a "Warnings" statement in the "Drug Facts" box. The warning will say that "UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a sunscreen."
In addition, the label would also warn that "UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen." Directions would tell people to reapply sunscreen "at least every 2 hours."
The intent of the warning is to alert consumers that sunscreen is only a part of protecting yourself from sun exposure, Holman said.
According to the FDA, the proposal has guidelines for testing that manufacturers need to do to support their claims. Under the rule, sunscreens could have a maximum SPF of 50+ unless test data shows that a higher number is warranted.
In addition, the definition of SPF would change from "sun protection factor" to "sunburn protection factor." This change will prevent "the impression of solar invincibility and a false sense of security," according to the agency's proposal.
One expert thinks it's about time the FDA set standards for UVA protection.
"This is an important step forward," said Dr. James Spencer, a professor of clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, who also is in private practice in St. Petersburg, Fla. "UVA protection is important for the prevention of skin cancer and wrinkles," he said.
In fact, Spencer would like to see the same star rating system proposed for UVA to replace the SPF number used for UVB.
This label changes were partly spurred by a report from a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, the Environmental Working Group, in June. The EWG faulted the FDA for missing a deadline imposed by Congress to set sunscreen safety standards by last year.
In their report, the group found that of 386 sunscreens with SPF ratings higher than 30, 13 percent protected users from UVA radiation.
You know, I just totally give up on this topic. Too much sun is bad. So is not enough sun, a far worse situation when you look at Vitamin D than most people realize. The stuff that works and is truly waterproof contain carcinogens and endocrine disrupters like the parabens. The HFS stuff smells good, but it just doesn't work!
Our 2007 strategy: sun shirts and hats whenever possible, wearing as little sunscreen as possible. After all, our kids must somehow excrete it. And we know our kids are famous for being bad at that (some that is, for those care about symantics).
When Leo was little, he used to refer to sunscreen as Sun Scream. It was too cute to correct.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
As Autism Diagnoses Grow, So Do Number Of Fad Treatment
As Autism Diagnoses Grow, So Do Number Of Fad Treatments, Researchers Say
Science Daily — Ineffective or even dangerous fad treatments for autism, always a problem, seem to be growing more pervasive, according to researchers who studied the problem.
“Developmental disabilities like autism are a magnet for all kinds of unsupported or disproved therapies, and it has gotten worse as more children have been diagnosed with autism,” said James Mulick, professor of pediatrics and psychology at Ohio State University .”
“There's no cure for autism, and many parents are willing to believe anything if they come to think it could help their child.”
Mulick chaired a symposium on “Outrageous Developmental Disabilities Treatments” Aug. 20 in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. The symposium included presentations by several of Mulick's students at Ohio State who participated in a graduate seminar on fad treatments in autism.
Tracy Kettering, a doctoral student in special education at Ohio State , said a Google search for the phrase “autism treatment” yields more than 2.2 million matches.
“You get hundreds of different types of therapies that come up, and many have quotes from parents that claim a particular therapy ‘cured' their child,” Kettering said.
“It's no wonder that parents want to believe. But very few of these treatments have any evidence to support them.”
The number and range of fad treatments has seemed to grow in recent years as more children have been diagnosed with autism, said Mulick, who is also editor of a book on fad treatments called Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities: Fad, Fashion, and Science in Professional Practice.
Mulick said when he began treating autism in the 1970s about 3 children in 10,000 were said to have autism. Now, reports are 1 in 166 children have the condition. The number of cases has mushroomed because of better diagnoses, and a changing definition of autism that includes a broader range of disorders.
Some of the newer, more popular fad treatments for autism involve special diets or nutritional supplements. Megadoses of Vitamins C and B6 are popular, as well as supplements with fatty acids like omega-3s.
A casein and/or gluten-free diet, which involves eliminating dairy and wheat products, has also gained favor with some parents.
While many of these treatments have never been adequately studied, that doesn't mean they aren't promoted.
“One of the characteristics of fad treatments is that they are discussed in the media and on the internet, where many parents can be exposed to them,” said Anne Snow, an Ohio State psychology graduate student.
And while some fads are simply ineffective, others can even be dangerous, Mulick said. Chelation therapy, which involves taking medicines to remove the heavy metal mercury from the body, has reportedly led to the death of at least one autistic boy receiving that treatment. Chelation therapy was also touted years ago as a new treatment against some forms of cancer but was eventually shown to have no helpful effect.
Many parents try multiple approaches, hoping at least one will help. Kettering said one survey she found suggests that the average parent of a child with autism has tried seven different therapies.
“We're not saying that all of these treatments don't work or that they are all dangerous,” Kettering said. “But the research hasn't been done to suggest that most of them are effective or even safe.”
Many of the treatments may have just enough basis in scientific fact to attract attention, even if the treatment itself is unproven.
For instance, most scientists believe that many cases of autism are caused by genetic mutations, and some mutations can be caused by various chemicals that we encounter in our everyday lives, Mulick said.
But still, there is no evidence that any particular chemical causes mutations that lead to autism, as some have claimed.
“There's a shred of truth in the rationale presented for some fad treatments, and that is enough for some people to go with,” he said.
Another reason that fad treatments persist has to do with the natural course of autism, Mulick said.
Autism, like many conditions, has cycles in which symptoms get worse and then get better. Parents tend to search for treatments when symptoms are getting worse, and when their children get better – as they do in the normal course of disease – parents credit the new therapy.
“It's natural to have this bias that the therapy you're trying has had some positive effect,” he said. “People want to believe.”
While other treatments are still being investigated, right now the only therapy that has been shown to have a long-term positive affect on autism is called Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, Mulick said.
EIBI is a highly structured approach to learning, in which children with autism are taught first to imitate their teachers. But this treatment is very time-consuming and labor intensive. It involves one-on-one behavioral treatment with the child for up to 40 hours a week for several years.
“It's expensive and difficult for many parents to use,” Mulick said. “That's got to be one reason other treatments look attractive to them.”
Mulick said other treatments and therapies are being studied. However, it takes years to test treatments for autism because of the nature of the disease and problems with proving effectiveness.
“Autism studies are a long, time-consuming, and expensive process,” Mulick said. “And some of the fad treatments being used today would never be approved for testing – they are just too dangerous.”
In addition to Mulick, Kettering and Snow, other presenters at the symposium included Ohio State graduate students Cristan Farmer, Megan Norris, Andrea Witwer and Jill Hollway.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Ohio State University.
Science Daily — Ineffective or even dangerous fad treatments for autism, always a problem, seem to be growing more pervasive, according to researchers who studied the problem.
“Developmental disabilities like autism are a magnet for all kinds of unsupported or disproved therapies, and it has gotten worse as more children have been diagnosed with autism,” said James Mulick, professor of pediatrics and psychology at Ohio State University .”
“There's no cure for autism, and many parents are willing to believe anything if they come to think it could help their child.”
Mulick chaired a symposium on “Outrageous Developmental Disabilities Treatments” Aug. 20 in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. The symposium included presentations by several of Mulick's students at Ohio State who participated in a graduate seminar on fad treatments in autism.
Tracy Kettering, a doctoral student in special education at Ohio State , said a Google search for the phrase “autism treatment” yields more than 2.2 million matches.
“You get hundreds of different types of therapies that come up, and many have quotes from parents that claim a particular therapy ‘cured' their child,” Kettering said.
“It's no wonder that parents want to believe. But very few of these treatments have any evidence to support them.”
The number and range of fad treatments has seemed to grow in recent years as more children have been diagnosed with autism, said Mulick, who is also editor of a book on fad treatments called Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities: Fad, Fashion, and Science in Professional Practice.
Mulick said when he began treating autism in the 1970s about 3 children in 10,000 were said to have autism. Now, reports are 1 in 166 children have the condition. The number of cases has mushroomed because of better diagnoses, and a changing definition of autism that includes a broader range of disorders.
Some of the newer, more popular fad treatments for autism involve special diets or nutritional supplements. Megadoses of Vitamins C and B6 are popular, as well as supplements with fatty acids like omega-3s.
A casein and/or gluten-free diet, which involves eliminating dairy and wheat products, has also gained favor with some parents.
While many of these treatments have never been adequately studied, that doesn't mean they aren't promoted.
“One of the characteristics of fad treatments is that they are discussed in the media and on the internet, where many parents can be exposed to them,” said Anne Snow, an Ohio State psychology graduate student.
And while some fads are simply ineffective, others can even be dangerous, Mulick said. Chelation therapy, which involves taking medicines to remove the heavy metal mercury from the body, has reportedly led to the death of at least one autistic boy receiving that treatment. Chelation therapy was also touted years ago as a new treatment against some forms of cancer but was eventually shown to have no helpful effect.
Many parents try multiple approaches, hoping at least one will help. Kettering said one survey she found suggests that the average parent of a child with autism has tried seven different therapies.
“We're not saying that all of these treatments don't work or that they are all dangerous,” Kettering said. “But the research hasn't been done to suggest that most of them are effective or even safe.”
Many of the treatments may have just enough basis in scientific fact to attract attention, even if the treatment itself is unproven.
For instance, most scientists believe that many cases of autism are caused by genetic mutations, and some mutations can be caused by various chemicals that we encounter in our everyday lives, Mulick said.
But still, there is no evidence that any particular chemical causes mutations that lead to autism, as some have claimed.
“There's a shred of truth in the rationale presented for some fad treatments, and that is enough for some people to go with,” he said.
Another reason that fad treatments persist has to do with the natural course of autism, Mulick said.
Autism, like many conditions, has cycles in which symptoms get worse and then get better. Parents tend to search for treatments when symptoms are getting worse, and when their children get better – as they do in the normal course of disease – parents credit the new therapy.
“It's natural to have this bias that the therapy you're trying has had some positive effect,” he said. “People want to believe.”
While other treatments are still being investigated, right now the only therapy that has been shown to have a long-term positive affect on autism is called Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, Mulick said.
EIBI is a highly structured approach to learning, in which children with autism are taught first to imitate their teachers. But this treatment is very time-consuming and labor intensive. It involves one-on-one behavioral treatment with the child for up to 40 hours a week for several years.
“It's expensive and difficult for many parents to use,” Mulick said. “That's got to be one reason other treatments look attractive to them.”
Mulick said other treatments and therapies are being studied. However, it takes years to test treatments for autism because of the nature of the disease and problems with proving effectiveness.
“Autism studies are a long, time-consuming, and expensive process,” Mulick said. “And some of the fad treatments being used today would never be approved for testing – they are just too dangerous.”
In addition to Mulick, Kettering and Snow, other presenters at the symposium included Ohio State graduate students Cristan Farmer, Megan Norris, Andrea Witwer and Jill Hollway.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Ohio State University.
This article really pissed me off. I mean really! I mean, drop everything to sit and vent about it. All this "research" demonstrates is simply one thing, human nature. Why do people assume this would be different in the world of autism? A crazy and dangerous way to spend research money. I shudder to think about how much something like this cost, and how many programs deemed worthy by this team(ABA)could have paid for. A STATE school for crying out loud! (I'd like to point out that I'm not an ABA hater. ABA was a cornerstone to my son's recovery).
It's only natural for people to make a buck by taking advantage of a person that's vulnerable. Advertising 101 teaches marketers how to sell basic emotions; hope, inspiration, coolness, and many other false truths. Take a look at ANY advertising to see the same thing. Who doesn't know the saying "buyer beware"? Weight loss, home products, cars, hair loss, kitchen gadgets, detergent, and all kinds of gimmicks have infiltrated our lives, everywhere we turn. As a society, we've quietly accepted them, each person filtering out what they choose to filter out. Determining what's valid from what isn't.
Does this mean that all people serving the autism community are evil and only have profit margins on their minds? I don't think so. Many people end up in the world of Autism due to autism happening in their personal life. Many well-meaning doctors and therapists that are "on to something" cannot contain their excitement, and their passion gets the best of them when promoting their success. Everyone starts out with just a handful of successes. After all, who HASN'T gotten out-of-control when excited about something potentially big, really big.
This "research" shows us only one thing, that the topic of Autism is no different. There is only one internet that serves us all on ALL topics! Ohio State needs to spend their time on other topics, or really getting down to business with understanding the complex world of Autism. The GFCF diet has "gained favor"? Are you kidding me?
True, buyer beware is a reality in the world of Autism. Articles like this only does damage by confusing parents that are trying to help their children. Many parents read something like this, a lazy black and white article, and decide to not try all other treatments other than ABA. Where has Ohio State been? I mean really? Human being are shysters. Whatever!
What is crystal clear is that science has failed our children in numerous ways. Ohio State could do better than an effort such as this, a lame one-sided study that makes portrays parents like stupid sheep throwing their money left and right. This is an old, beaten path - the medical community versus parents and cutting edge alternative treatment providers.
I think most parents would agree it would be easier to defer to the medical community, but that's no longer possible. Most parents have no choice but to be at the helm of their child's health and therapy treatments. But look where that's gotten us? Has science figured out what causes Autism? At least one cause? Where would we be without treatments in their infancy? At one time ABA was, as well as any other scientifically backed treatment for a disorder or a disability.
The saddest part of all of this, is our future educators coming out of the Ohio State program. Hopefully they are learning about viable treatment options. I hope they learn that Autism is very complex with little rhyme or reason to "what works". Simply, there are numerous opportunities for success. They are in a very powerful position, and my hope is that parents are fully supported.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Those Handy Non-Stick Pans
Non-stick chemical exposure tied to small babies
Fri Aug 17, 2:27 PM ET
Exposure of the developing fetus to certain polyfluoroalkyl compounds, which are used in non-stick cookware and for other applications, may reduce birth weight and size, according to a report in the July 31st online issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Still, the authors note that the risk conferred by such exposure appears to be small and they advise caution in interpreting the findings until they can be replicated in other groups.
Research in rodents has suggested that exposure to the chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) harms development, senior author Dr. Lynn R. Goldman, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and colleagues note. Whether this holds true in humans, however, was unclear.
To investigate, the researchers tested cord blood samples from 293 pregnant women for PFOA and PFOS and then examined the levels in relation to pregnancy outcomes.
In adjusted analyses, cord blood levels of both chemicals were inversely related to birth weight and head circumference.
Previous reports have shown that these chemicals can alter blood lipid levels, which could adversely affect fetal development, the authors note. However, in the present study, the association between PFOA and PFOS exposure and birth weight or size was independent of cord blood lipid levels.
Further research is needed to verify the findings and better understand if the relationship is causal, the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Environmental Health Perspectives 2007.
Fri Aug 17, 2:27 PM ET
Exposure of the developing fetus to certain polyfluoroalkyl compounds, which are used in non-stick cookware and for other applications, may reduce birth weight and size, according to a report in the July 31st online issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Still, the authors note that the risk conferred by such exposure appears to be small and they advise caution in interpreting the findings until they can be replicated in other groups.
Research in rodents has suggested that exposure to the chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) harms development, senior author Dr. Lynn R. Goldman, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and colleagues note. Whether this holds true in humans, however, was unclear.
To investigate, the researchers tested cord blood samples from 293 pregnant women for PFOA and PFOS and then examined the levels in relation to pregnancy outcomes.
In adjusted analyses, cord blood levels of both chemicals were inversely related to birth weight and head circumference.
Previous reports have shown that these chemicals can alter blood lipid levels, which could adversely affect fetal development, the authors note. However, in the present study, the association between PFOA and PFOS exposure and birth weight or size was independent of cord blood lipid levels.
Further research is needed to verify the findings and better understand if the relationship is causal, the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Environmental Health Perspectives 2007.
Ten years ago I got a lot of flack from my then fiance when I wanted to register for "regular" pots and pans, not the non-stick kind. I didn't think they were safe, and had read what they were made out of. It's no use to mention it to Hubbie. He'll just nod his head.
Today, I have one child with an ASD, but regular pans.
Today I have two friends that are pregnant. What should I share, if anything? Now that science has deemed this information worthy? When asked, what should I say about the toxin-free sunscreen I've been using all year? What should I say when my friend is considering vaccinating her infant, when her preschooler had a reaction to the MMR? (he lost some speech and had little eye contact for a few weeks, then spontaneously recovered to previous functioning level)
What will make me gain a friend or lose one?
One of many environmental exposures to duck and weave away from. Lead in toys, mercury in vaccines. So much to think about.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Anniversary From Services
We've had a fairly uneventful end of the school year - Leo was sad but not upset like he was last year. His teacher said he's ready for 3rd grade! As always, it takes me by surprise. We continue to monitor...
June 22 was the anniversary of ending therapies three years ago. Pretty incredible to me. As always, I reflect upon the last year.
I sit back in my lawn chair at the neighborhood pool watching my son jump with abandon into the deep end. He surfaces with a spongy ball and a big smile, and with determination throws it forcibly to one of three other boys that are playing catch. One is his closest friend since Kindergarten. The others are friends from his regular local elementary school. Kid sister is nearby in the shallow end playing mermaids with her friends. Dad will be joining us here after work with Mexican take-out for dinner.
I am dry, in regular clothes, by the pool, with an unread magazine in my lap. I could glance at it if I want to, my kids are strong swimmers now, but I enjoy watching. I find it peaceful to observe life as it occurs right now in this moment. I am mindful of this daily gift I have received. I am the mother of a happy child that has choices. Seven years ago my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. And let me tell you, ‘happy’ wasn’t a word we used to describe Leo.
Earlier, Leo was picked up at nature camp by a mom whom he briefly met before we started carpooling. Leo wasn’t concerned with what exact time she’d arrive or even the kind of car she drove. He’s been to this camp before, but he attended without knowing any of the children. By the second day, he already belonged to a little group of three boys. He enthusiastically tells me about these new friends during dinner. He’s also become friendly with the carpool boy, playing basketball games, X-Box, or Webkinz almost every day after camp. I listen in to their conversation on the drive home “Hey, did you see the baby rats? Did you see those animal tracks? I saw you canoeing today.” They talk on and on about school, speculating about what teacher they’ll get in the Fall.
I think about that intense year of aquatic OT when he was little. The one hour of driving each way, the expense, all while taking care of Leo’s little sister. Our goal: The ultimate, a swim-safe child. This seemed impossible since the initial goals were to address sensory defensiveness, vestibular and proprioceptive challenges, fear of dying, hyposensitivity in legs, hypotonia in his arms and upper back. I was raised in Southern California on the beach, so I always had envisioned sharing my love of the ocean with my children. I think about Leo’s anxiety the night before each swim “lesson”, how he’d worry himself sick, rarely sleeping.
Today Leo has choices. He chooses to swim with his friends. We can go to the beach. At nature camp, he learned to wade and canoe, not concerned that he can’t see what’s under the water. Pretty surreal.
I think about how any change in routine would cause anxiety. Being 1 minute late would bring him to tears. I think about Leo’s intense separation anxiety that made it impossible to place him in the care of others. Being around other children would cause anxiety.
We went to visit my family/friends in California for 3 nice long weeks. It just gets easier and more fun as the kids get older. Traveling alone with my kids, I'm on alert per usual. I hold a common fear that many parents have, that our children will somehow get taken advantage of because of their innocence, their naivety. While waiting for a flight at the airport for that family trip, Leo’s social abilities were put to the test. A questionable character in the waiting area began talking to Leo, asking him personal questions. He protected himself. When asked what town he lived in, he said “I forgot”. He avoided eye contact with the man while boarding the plane by gazing at a nearby billboard, pretending to read about the arriving flights. He told me later that right away the guy seemed “creepy”. And he was right.
Am I an Autism parent? Yes. Has my life changed in 3 years? Yes and No. I don't have an impossibly giant schedule to manage and implement. I have similar fears and concerns, but they exist at a lower volume in my mind. I occasionally experience PTSS symptoms, such as when it’s time for a parent/teacher conference, or when we have a very ‘off” spectrumy day. We are still in debt although we are much better off financially than we once were.
Rollercoaster days are few and far between. Those ‘off’ days are hard, as I’m not used to them like I once was. I’m grateful that I’m not living in crisis mode anymore, so these days no longer do me in.
I’m still angry though. Angry that I have more company, meaning more and more people I KNOW and more people I meet have Autism. I’m angry that the issues at hand years ago are still the same today.
Autism is part of who Leo is, and I love him and accept all of him as a whole. I can't separate the autism from non-autism parts. Sometimes it’s fun to attach certain aspects of his personality to autism. But mostly, I just don’t care. I use our experience and Leo’s unique wiring as a learning tool. I regularly remind both my children about what Leo’s deficits USED to be and now LOOK. He can do anything. There are no barriers to his potential, and our reward is his success.
June 22 was the anniversary of ending therapies three years ago. Pretty incredible to me. As always, I reflect upon the last year.
I sit back in my lawn chair at the neighborhood pool watching my son jump with abandon into the deep end. He surfaces with a spongy ball and a big smile, and with determination throws it forcibly to one of three other boys that are playing catch. One is his closest friend since Kindergarten. The others are friends from his regular local elementary school. Kid sister is nearby in the shallow end playing mermaids with her friends. Dad will be joining us here after work with Mexican take-out for dinner.
I am dry, in regular clothes, by the pool, with an unread magazine in my lap. I could glance at it if I want to, my kids are strong swimmers now, but I enjoy watching. I find it peaceful to observe life as it occurs right now in this moment. I am mindful of this daily gift I have received. I am the mother of a happy child that has choices. Seven years ago my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. And let me tell you, ‘happy’ wasn’t a word we used to describe Leo.
Earlier, Leo was picked up at nature camp by a mom whom he briefly met before we started carpooling. Leo wasn’t concerned with what exact time she’d arrive or even the kind of car she drove. He’s been to this camp before, but he attended without knowing any of the children. By the second day, he already belonged to a little group of three boys. He enthusiastically tells me about these new friends during dinner. He’s also become friendly with the carpool boy, playing basketball games, X-Box, or Webkinz almost every day after camp. I listen in to their conversation on the drive home “Hey, did you see the baby rats? Did you see those animal tracks? I saw you canoeing today.” They talk on and on about school, speculating about what teacher they’ll get in the Fall.
I think about that intense year of aquatic OT when he was little. The one hour of driving each way, the expense, all while taking care of Leo’s little sister. Our goal: The ultimate, a swim-safe child. This seemed impossible since the initial goals were to address sensory defensiveness, vestibular and proprioceptive challenges, fear of dying, hyposensitivity in legs, hypotonia in his arms and upper back. I was raised in Southern California on the beach, so I always had envisioned sharing my love of the ocean with my children. I think about Leo’s anxiety the night before each swim “lesson”, how he’d worry himself sick, rarely sleeping.
Today Leo has choices. He chooses to swim with his friends. We can go to the beach. At nature camp, he learned to wade and canoe, not concerned that he can’t see what’s under the water. Pretty surreal.
I think about how any change in routine would cause anxiety. Being 1 minute late would bring him to tears. I think about Leo’s intense separation anxiety that made it impossible to place him in the care of others. Being around other children would cause anxiety.
We went to visit my family/friends in California for 3 nice long weeks. It just gets easier and more fun as the kids get older. Traveling alone with my kids, I'm on alert per usual. I hold a common fear that many parents have, that our children will somehow get taken advantage of because of their innocence, their naivety. While waiting for a flight at the airport for that family trip, Leo’s social abilities were put to the test. A questionable character in the waiting area began talking to Leo, asking him personal questions. He protected himself. When asked what town he lived in, he said “I forgot”. He avoided eye contact with the man while boarding the plane by gazing at a nearby billboard, pretending to read about the arriving flights. He told me later that right away the guy seemed “creepy”. And he was right.
Am I an Autism parent? Yes. Has my life changed in 3 years? Yes and No. I don't have an impossibly giant schedule to manage and implement. I have similar fears and concerns, but they exist at a lower volume in my mind. I occasionally experience PTSS symptoms, such as when it’s time for a parent/teacher conference, or when we have a very ‘off” spectrumy day. We are still in debt although we are much better off financially than we once were.
Rollercoaster days are few and far between. Those ‘off’ days are hard, as I’m not used to them like I once was. I’m grateful that I’m not living in crisis mode anymore, so these days no longer do me in.
I’m still angry though. Angry that I have more company, meaning more and more people I KNOW and more people I meet have Autism. I’m angry that the issues at hand years ago are still the same today.
Autism is part of who Leo is, and I love him and accept all of him as a whole. I can't separate the autism from non-autism parts. Sometimes it’s fun to attach certain aspects of his personality to autism. But mostly, I just don’t care. I use our experience and Leo’s unique wiring as a learning tool. I regularly remind both my children about what Leo’s deficits USED to be and now LOOK. He can do anything. There are no barriers to his potential, and our reward is his success.
Friday, July 13, 2007
WSJ: What Is Normal?
WSJ: Study of Kids' Brains Hopes to Answer: What Is Normal?
http://tinyurl.com/2rgl53
Every parent knows that children have minds of their own, shaped by
growing brains that scientists can barely fathom. Researchers strain to tell
symptoms of neural disorder from the natural variations of young brains,
almost infinite in their possibilities.
This summer, brain experts funded by the National Institutes of Health
are finishing the largest systematic clinical study ever of the neurobiology
of youth. In a $30 million project, researchers in six cities have been
combining brain scans, psychological profiles, medical exams and
intelligence tests gathered from hundreds of healthy children to answer a
fundamental question about brain development that nags parents and pediatric
practitioners alike: What is normal? When completed, this NIH brain archive
promises to become the first clinical benchmark by which normal development
can be judged, matching behavior to brain anatomy from birth through
adolescence. With it, specialists should be able to understand better
problems such as autism, in which neural miscues undermine the mind.
Educators bedeviled by child-rearing fads and untested teaching theories
should be able to match alterations in brain structure to the rise and fall
of learning skills. "Once we know the map, we can tell what nudges the brain
for good or ill," said NIH brain imaging expert Jay Giedd.
By any standard, every child's brain is an experiment.
From a single cell in the womb, it swells at such speed -- 250,000
cells a minute -- that by early childhood it has more neurons and nerves
connecting them than do any older, wiser adults. It is buffeted by
tumultuous bursts of growth that prime it for mastering new skills and ways
of thinking. Yet, so little is certain about how it changes throughout
childhood that scientists don't know what ought to be expected, said Cornell
University expert B.J. Casey, who helped pioneer brain imaging in children.
Not only is every new brain different from any other, but the
variations within each one as it adapts, swells and contracts confound
analysis. "A developing brain looks weird," said pediatric neurologist
Katrina Gwinn at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke, who directs the NIH project. "Something that might be normal in an
adult might look abnormal in a child."
Until recently, little was known about how normal human brains change
as they grow because conventional medical imaging techniques were too
dangerous or invasive to be used with any but the sickest children. The NIH
survey takes advantage of newer techniques benign enough that infants can
safely nap inside while their brain cells are bombarded with magnetic
pulses.
Seeking as broad a measure of childhood as possible, research teams in
Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Houston
selected 385 girls and boys from among 35,000 families to ensure that the
data would reflect the country's racial, ethnic and economic diversity. "So
many studies are done only with white kids from suburban areas," said Dr.
Gwinn. "We worked hard to get different demographics."
Researchers even sought the proper mix of right- and left-handers. The
children, between six and 18 years old, were screened to ensure they were
free of illness, genetic predispositions, prenatal risk factors, toxic
environmental exposures or chronic health problems that might affect their
brains. "These are really healthy brains," said project researcher Deborah
Waber at Children's Hospital Boston. Newborns have since been included in
the study.
The children were scanned periodically using three techniques:
structural magnetic resonance imaging to catch changes in the brain's gray
matter, which contains neurons; diffusion tensor imaging to monitor its
white matter of connecting nerve fibers; and magnetic resonance spectroscopy
to track the ups and downs of brain chemistry. To match changes in brain
anatomy to mental abilities, the youngsters also regularly took tests of IQ,
dexterity, spatial ability, memory and cognitive skills. "So we are actually
able to follow individual children and look at snapshots of the same brain
over time," said Dr. Waber.
In its essence, this biomedical mosaic is a national portrait of the
child mind.
It reveals that gender differences and income disparities matter less
than previously believed and that health matters more, project researchers
reported recently in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society.
Healthy girls and boys do equally well on most cognitive tasks. Boys
perform better at analyzing and manipulating shapes and patterns, while
girls perform better on processing speed and motor dexterity. No differences
were measured in calculation ability, suggesting boys and girls have an
equal aptitude for math. By age 12, many children are as proficient as
adults by most measures of mental performance.
These unusually fit, diverse children outperformed all those in
previous research on tests that measured IQ, memory, reading and math
ability, and development of social skills.
It may be years before the findings have been fully analyzed and
applied. Until then, the NIH brain project, like the children it documents,
is a promise of things to come.
http://tinyurl.com/2rgl53
Every parent knows that children have minds of their own, shaped by
growing brains that scientists can barely fathom. Researchers strain to tell
symptoms of neural disorder from the natural variations of young brains,
almost infinite in their possibilities.
This summer, brain experts funded by the National Institutes of Health
are finishing the largest systematic clinical study ever of the neurobiology
of youth. In a $30 million project, researchers in six cities have been
combining brain scans, psychological profiles, medical exams and
intelligence tests gathered from hundreds of healthy children to answer a
fundamental question about brain development that nags parents and pediatric
practitioners alike: What is normal? When completed, this NIH brain archive
promises to become the first clinical benchmark by which normal development
can be judged, matching behavior to brain anatomy from birth through
adolescence. With it, specialists should be able to understand better
problems such as autism, in which neural miscues undermine the mind.
Educators bedeviled by child-rearing fads and untested teaching theories
should be able to match alterations in brain structure to the rise and fall
of learning skills. "Once we know the map, we can tell what nudges the brain
for good or ill," said NIH brain imaging expert Jay Giedd.
By any standard, every child's brain is an experiment.
From a single cell in the womb, it swells at such speed -- 250,000
cells a minute -- that by early childhood it has more neurons and nerves
connecting them than do any older, wiser adults. It is buffeted by
tumultuous bursts of growth that prime it for mastering new skills and ways
of thinking. Yet, so little is certain about how it changes throughout
childhood that scientists don't know what ought to be expected, said Cornell
University expert B.J. Casey, who helped pioneer brain imaging in children.
Not only is every new brain different from any other, but the
variations within each one as it adapts, swells and contracts confound
analysis. "A developing brain looks weird," said pediatric neurologist
Katrina Gwinn at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke, who directs the NIH project. "Something that might be normal in an
adult might look abnormal in a child."
Until recently, little was known about how normal human brains change
as they grow because conventional medical imaging techniques were too
dangerous or invasive to be used with any but the sickest children. The NIH
survey takes advantage of newer techniques benign enough that infants can
safely nap inside while their brain cells are bombarded with magnetic
pulses.
Seeking as broad a measure of childhood as possible, research teams in
Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Houston
selected 385 girls and boys from among 35,000 families to ensure that the
data would reflect the country's racial, ethnic and economic diversity. "So
many studies are done only with white kids from suburban areas," said Dr.
Gwinn. "We worked hard to get different demographics."
Researchers even sought the proper mix of right- and left-handers. The
children, between six and 18 years old, were screened to ensure they were
free of illness, genetic predispositions, prenatal risk factors, toxic
environmental exposures or chronic health problems that might affect their
brains. "These are really healthy brains," said project researcher Deborah
Waber at Children's Hospital Boston. Newborns have since been included in
the study.
The children were scanned periodically using three techniques:
structural magnetic resonance imaging to catch changes in the brain's gray
matter, which contains neurons; diffusion tensor imaging to monitor its
white matter of connecting nerve fibers; and magnetic resonance spectroscopy
to track the ups and downs of brain chemistry. To match changes in brain
anatomy to mental abilities, the youngsters also regularly took tests of IQ,
dexterity, spatial ability, memory and cognitive skills. "So we are actually
able to follow individual children and look at snapshots of the same brain
over time," said Dr. Waber.
In its essence, this biomedical mosaic is a national portrait of the
child mind.
It reveals that gender differences and income disparities matter less
than previously believed and that health matters more, project researchers
reported recently in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society.
Healthy girls and boys do equally well on most cognitive tasks. Boys
perform better at analyzing and manipulating shapes and patterns, while
girls perform better on processing speed and motor dexterity. No differences
were measured in calculation ability, suggesting boys and girls have an
equal aptitude for math. By age 12, many children are as proficient as
adults by most measures of mental performance.
These unusually fit, diverse children outperformed all those in
previous research on tests that measured IQ, memory, reading and math
ability, and development of social skills.
It may be years before the findings have been fully analyzed and
applied. Until then, the NIH brain project, like the children it documents,
is a promise of things to come.
Now don't get too excited. You know what's going to happen don't you? They'll complete this giant expensive study, interpret it themselves, and not share the data. That way they can paternally share their sweeping generalizations that benefit the government's interests and back past decisions. They can spin on the data they need to keep us parents under control at their leisure. Just like they've done with the vaccine data. You just watch.
Cal-Oregon Unvaccinated Survey
Cal-Oregon Unvaccinated Survey
"We surveyed over 9,000 boys in California and Oregon and found that vaccinated boys had a 155% greater chance of having a neurological disorder like ADHD or autism than unvaccinated boys." -Generation Rescue, June 26, 2007
"We surveyed over 9,000 boys in California and Oregon and found that vaccinated boys had a 155% greater chance of having a neurological disorder like ADHD or autism than unvaccinated boys." -Generation Rescue, June 26, 2007
This survey is indeed compelling. However, for the record, I don't completely buy everything Generation Rescue has to say (not this study, but the organization itself). They are too extreme for my taste, but what would we do without our extremists? Especially Michael Moore? I think most factions within the Autism Community have something to offer. I still hope for the day where factions will honor and respect each other. Since vaccines are in the news a lot again, I don't want anyone to infer that I am a vaccine extremist. I'm just commenting on the news du jour. Hopefully we'll have more interesting things to share at some point. Click here for the study. Also, take a look at the Generation Rescue website. They have a lot of good information.
Ny Times: Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
July 11, 2007
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
By GARDINER HARRIS
WASHINGTON, July 10 — Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.
The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.
Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings. For full article, see NY Times
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
By GARDINER HARRIS
WASHINGTON, July 10 — Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.
The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.
Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings. For full article, see NY Times
So I don't even know how to respond to this. Surprising? No. Despicable and sad? Yes. When will our government learn that their process of protecting the herd just doesn't work? All anyone with a mind has to do is look at the profile of the new normal child, and the rates of cancers. With all the hoopla about genes and what not, we STILL have no cure for most cancers and it's been, what, 20 years or something? And that's for starters. Anyone remember when cigarettes didn't cause cancer? Anyone remember that just recently we studied women and heart disease?
Flash forward 20 years from now: Anyone remember when the public didn't think various toxins and the vaccination protocol caused the developmental delays and disorders, not to mention other major illnesses? Remember when they used to keeping adding and adding to the protocol without any accumulative study? Hey remember when the government used to bash nutritional supplements and other alternative therapies because they weren't scientifically sound, all the while never testing common medicines used on children?
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Consumers need to know more about allergens; FDA helps out
Consumers need to know more about allergens; FDA helps out
An estimated two percent of adults and about five percent of infants and young children in the United States suffer from food allergies. Allergic reactions to food vary in severity, but approximately 30,000 people require emergency room treatment, and 150 die each year as a result of them. The only means of preventing allergic reactions is to avoid the foods that cause them. FDA's allergen labeling rule helps them to do so.
To help people avoid the risks food allergens pose, the Food and Drug Administration requires that the labels of all foods FDA regulates (all foods except meat, poultry, and certain egg products) must clearly identify the source of all ingredients that are-or are derived from-the eight most common food allergens. This requirement became effective January 1, 2006, so there may still be some product labels in stores or people's homes without this information.
While more than 160 foods can cause reactions in people with food allergies, the eight most common allergenic foods account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions, and are the sources from which many other ingredients are derived. Many of these foods could be ingredients within meat and poultry products, and mislabeling them or failing to label them on meat and poultry products results in product recalls.
The eight foods are:1. Milk, 2. Eggs, 3 Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), 4. Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), 5. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), 6. Peanuts, 7. Wheat, 8. Soybeans
Unless they are part of the ingredient's common or usual name (or are already clearly identified in the ingredient list), these eight food allergens may appear on food labels either:
—In parentheses following the name of the ingredient, e.g., lecithin (soy); flour (wheat); and whey (milk); or,
—Immediately after or next to the list of ingredients in a "contains" statement, e.g., Contains wheat, milk, and soy.
Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. Symptoms can include:
* Hives * Flushed skin or rash * Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth * Face, tongue, or lip swelling * Vomiting and/or diarrhea * Abdominal cramps * Coughing or wheezing * Dizziness and/or lightheadedness * Swelling of the throat and vocal cords * Difficulty breathing * Loss of consciousness
For more information on food allergies and allergen labeling, go to FDA's webpage at www.cfsan.fda.gov or call FDA at:1-888-SAFEFOOD.
Huh. I find it interesting that our government continues to focus on bandaids rather than looking at causative factors in our environment. True, I am happy they are labeling and "alerting" the herd.
For fun, I put together my top Questions to FDA:
1) Why are us parents having children with impaired immune systems, which in turn, cannot discriminate between food and real viruses and bacteria that pose a threat?
2) Why are us parents having children with impaired GI systems, which in turn, cannot efficiently assimilate food and flush out toxins?
3) Why do we continue to add soybeans, our number 1 GMO, to viturally all processed foods?
4) Why do we continue to feed our livestock the top allergic ingredients, such as wheat and soy?
5) Why is dairy in virtually all processed foods?
6) Oh, and it seems you forgot to list the behavioral symptoms of allergies such as: Dark circles under eyes, Eczema, psoriasis, Diarrhea, constipation, Gas, bloating, Spaciness, Stimming, Aggressive behavior, Runny nose, Bronchial symptoms and asthma, Stomach tenderness, Reflux, Ear infections, Nausea, Tightening of throat, Headache, and Fatigue
7) Last but not least, why are we not studying healthy children and adults? How do their genes, lifestyle, and GI/Immune systems differ? What can we learn from them? What are they doing? And what are they NOT doing?blockquote>
An estimated two percent of adults and about five percent of infants and young children in the United States suffer from food allergies. Allergic reactions to food vary in severity, but approximately 30,000 people require emergency room treatment, and 150 die each year as a result of them. The only means of preventing allergic reactions is to avoid the foods that cause them. FDA's allergen labeling rule helps them to do so.
To help people avoid the risks food allergens pose, the Food and Drug Administration requires that the labels of all foods FDA regulates (all foods except meat, poultry, and certain egg products) must clearly identify the source of all ingredients that are-or are derived from-the eight most common food allergens. This requirement became effective January 1, 2006, so there may still be some product labels in stores or people's homes without this information.
While more than 160 foods can cause reactions in people with food allergies, the eight most common allergenic foods account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions, and are the sources from which many other ingredients are derived. Many of these foods could be ingredients within meat and poultry products, and mislabeling them or failing to label them on meat and poultry products results in product recalls.
The eight foods are:1. Milk, 2. Eggs, 3 Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), 4. Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), 5. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), 6. Peanuts, 7. Wheat, 8. Soybeans
Unless they are part of the ingredient's common or usual name (or are already clearly identified in the ingredient list), these eight food allergens may appear on food labels either:
—In parentheses following the name of the ingredient, e.g., lecithin (soy); flour (wheat); and whey (milk); or,
—Immediately after or next to the list of ingredients in a "contains" statement, e.g., Contains wheat, milk, and soy.
Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. Symptoms can include:
* Hives * Flushed skin or rash * Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth * Face, tongue, or lip swelling * Vomiting and/or diarrhea * Abdominal cramps * Coughing or wheezing * Dizziness and/or lightheadedness * Swelling of the throat and vocal cords * Difficulty breathing * Loss of consciousness
For more information on food allergies and allergen labeling, go to FDA's webpage at www.cfsan.fda.gov or call FDA at:1-888-SAFEFOOD.
Huh. I find it interesting that our government continues to focus on bandaids rather than looking at causative factors in our environment. True, I am happy they are labeling and "alerting" the herd.
For fun, I put together my top Questions to FDA:
1) Why are us parents having children with impaired immune systems, which in turn, cannot discriminate between food and real viruses and bacteria that pose a threat?
2) Why are us parents having children with impaired GI systems, which in turn, cannot efficiently assimilate food and flush out toxins?
3) Why do we continue to add soybeans, our number 1 GMO, to viturally all processed foods?
4) Why do we continue to feed our livestock the top allergic ingredients, such as wheat and soy?
5) Why is dairy in virtually all processed foods?
6) Oh, and it seems you forgot to list the behavioral symptoms of allergies such as: Dark circles under eyes, Eczema, psoriasis, Diarrhea, constipation, Gas, bloating, Spaciness, Stimming, Aggressive behavior, Runny nose, Bronchial symptoms and asthma, Stomach tenderness, Reflux, Ear infections, Nausea, Tightening of throat, Headache, and Fatigue
7) Last but not least, why are we not studying healthy children and adults? How do their genes, lifestyle, and GI/Immune systems differ? What can we learn from them? What are they doing? And what are they NOT doing?blockquote>
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Autistic Children Recognize Stereotypes Based On Race And Sex
Very interesting article. Recognizing mental states and learning social stereotypes are different cognitive processes. This makes sense, as I recall Leo learning stereotypes very early (it seemed). Bad guys drove windowless white vans, had scruffy hair, mustaches, and wore sunglasses....But it took him a long time to get over some confusion between some basic emotions.
Eureka Alert
Autistic children recognize stereotypes based on race and sex
Children with autism, who are unable to grasp the mental states of others, can nonetheless identify with conventional stereotypes based on a person’s race and sex, researchers report in the June 19th issue of Current Biology, published by Cell Press.
“Even with their limited capacities for social interaction and their apparent inability to orient to social stimuli, these autistic kids pick up and endorse social stereotypes as readily as normally developing kids,” said Lawrence Hirschfeld of the New School for Social Research in New York. “One take-away point is that stereotypes are very easy to learn and very robust. They don’t require higher order attention, or apparently even attention to social stimuli, to develop. Stereotypes can be learned even in the face of damage to the ‘social brain’ and under extraordinarily constrained conditions.”
The profound inability of children with autism to engage in everyday social interaction, as well as impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, had been attributed to a severe delay in “theory of mind” (ToM) development—the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one’s own. If the use of stereotypes and mental states were part and parcel of the same underlying cognitive process, then autistic children would have similar difficulties with both.
In fact, the researchers found that autistic children who have a verbal age between 6 and 7 years—and who fail ToM tasks—know and use gender and race stereotypes just like normal children. Hirschfeld said he suspects the stereotypes originate within subtle and seemingly incidental messages that saturate the culture—for example, through advertising or biased attention by the media. The kids might also learn about stereotypes from parental behaviors, such as locking car doors when in certain neighborhoods, even if parents carefully monitor what they say about race to their children.
Stereotypes are not inherently negative, he said. “We wouldn’t be able to think without social categories,” he said. “Stereotypical roles are important for navigating everyday interactions. Finding a plumber would be difficult if we thought of people only as unique individuals. Getting through the check-out line would be unwieldy if we didn’t have simple scripts about the roles that both shoppers and cashiers play.”
The results suggest that different kinds of social reasoning occur through independent mechanisms in all people. The autistic children’s surprising ability to recognize broad categories of people might also lead to new methods for helping them improve their ability to function in society, he said.
Caregivers today often attempt to teach children with autism ToM skills, particularly techniques that make them more sensitive to other people’s mental states. Capitalizing on the kids’ strengths in understanding social categories might offer an alternative and easier learning method for interpreting the behavior of others, one that doesn’t involve “swimming upstream,” Hirschfeld said.
###
The researchers include Lawrence Hirschfeld of the New School for Social Research in New York, NY; Elizabeth Bartmess of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI; Sarah White and Uta Frith of UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in London, UK.
This work was supported by MRC programme grant 65013 to UF and a research grant to LH and EB by the Culture and Cognition Program, University of Michigan USA.
Hirschfeld et al.: "Can autistic children predict behavior by social stereotypes"" Publishing in Current Biology, 19 June 2007, R451-452. http://www.current-biology.com
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Colgate Recall
Wow. Quite a coincidence commenting on Colgate in my last post just minutes ago! Everyone be careful out there.....
Counterfeit Colgate Toothpaste Is Recalled in Four States
Fake Brand May Contain
A Poisonous Chemical
By ANJALI CORDEIRO and JOSEE ROSE
June 14, 2007 10:26 a.m.
NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive Co. said counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged with a Colgate label is being recalled because it may contain a poisonous chemical.
The consumer-products company said there are indications that the fake products don't contain fluoride and may contain Diethylene Glycol, which Colgate has never used. Diethylene Glycol, or DEG, is a poisonous chemical used antifreeze and as a solvent. The five-ounce tubes of toothpaste are being sold in discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
"Colgate does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa," said a statement from Colgate-Palmolive Company. "In addition, the counterfeit packages examined so far have several misspellings including: 'isclinically,' 'SOUTH AFRLCA' and 'South African Dental Assoxiation.' " "Counterfeit toothpaste is not manufactured or distributed by Colgate and has no connection with the company whatsoever," the company said.
In recent weeks the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers to avoid using any toothpaste with a "made in China" label because the agency found 3% to 4% of the same toxic chemical in Chinese toothpaste. The FDA began testing Chinese dental products after reports that contaminated Chinese toothpaste was found in several countries including Panama. The FDA has issued an import alert to prevent Chinese toothpaste containing DEG from being sold in the United States and has said it will continue to stop brands of Chinese toothpaste for testing.
Colgate said is working closely with the FDA to identify those responsible for the counterfeit product. The agency recently issued an import alert to prevent Chinese toothpaste containing the same chemical Diethylene Glycol.
The company said consumers who may have purchased this product can call 1-800-468-6502.
A Smart Idea by the FSA in the UK
UK's FSA backs folic acid in flour, curbs on food
Thu Jun 14, 5:32 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Food Standards Agency board on Thursday gave the go-ahead for plans to add folic acid to foods in a bid to cut birth defects and said levels should be controlled in some products to prevent over-consumption.
Thu Jun 14, 5:32 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Food Standards Agency board on Thursday gave the go-ahead for plans to add folic acid to foods in a bid to cut birth defects and said levels should be controlled in some products to prevent over-consumption.
Wow. Thinking ahead by a government? Prevention? I wonder if our government knows the meaning of that word. Why can't our FDA do the same thing? Flouride comes to mind. Now all our food and water is filled with this metal that can be helpful at moderate levels. Who is monitoring the big picture? No one. And now Tom's of Maine the maker of one flouride-free toothpaste was bought by one of the biggies, Colgate.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Being Different - How Not Vaccinating Is Affecting Us
Over Memorial Day weekend Mary Kate, Sydney's best friend, was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. She has no immunity because she can't make healthy blood cells, so she must "live in a plastic bubble" over the next 2 years or so, because any virus can potentially kill her. She must be home-schooled, meaning Sydney and Mary Kate won't be going to 1st grade together. Her exposure must be carefully monitored, and her circle of friends must be small and as risk-free as possible.
I know as an Autism mom what it's like when the life you think you are leading changes. A shot out to the Holland writings. But I can't imagine what it must be like for Mary Kate's mom since this is quite different, her baby's life is at risk.
It's still quite fresh, but not as raw so feel strong enough to write about how this has affected us. I know it's not all about us, it's about a very sick little girl, but this is my blog so I can write about how this has changed our lives.
At first, I thought really the only thing I can do is be a good friend, make my children available as much as possible for support. And of course offer information on alternative treatments to the mom. As the week went on we learned that because we do not vaccinate, Sydney (and Leo) are a risk to Mary Kate. Abruptly pushed to the periphery of their best friend's lives.
The biggest current threat to Mary Kate was an exposure to Chicken Pox. This was the biggest barrier to Sydney and Mary Kate reuniting. An older girl (10 maybe) had it at our school. This girl was vaccinated plus a booster but still got it. 40% of our nation gets this shot, and in our area I'm certain most people get it along with the rest of the vaccine protocol. This vaccine has increased the incidence of Shingles and increased the incidence of adults getting chicken pox even when they had it when they were children. This is because us adults aren't getting occasionally exposed to the virus which "reminds" the antibodies to be on alert. Little boosts in our adult immunity. Since fewer children are getting it in highly vaccinated areas like ours, no one is safe either by having it or getting vaccinated. A giant mess. I also have a friend tell me both of her children got the chicken pox (no biggie) through exposure at school to a recently vaccinated child - on two different occasions. This is because it's a live virus, and the incubation period is 3 weeks from the date of the shot.
In crisis mode, I put on my old Autism Hat. I searched online for hours into the night, learning about this disease. I made an emotional decision to get Sydney the chicken pox vaccine. Nothing else, just that since it was such a high risk thing for Mary Kate. I realized I didn't have the time to special order something or collect any alternative information. Months would be lost. I couldn't even get my ped on the phone to give me some options, if any.
On the good side it was thimerosol free. However it contained: fetal bovine serum, hydrolyzed gelatin, MSG, MRC-5 cells (aborted human embryo's lung cells cultures), neomycin (an antibiotic), and sucrose. Leo held her hand and Sydney held on to her stuffed bunny. So interesting, Sydney had no experience with shots so at 6, it was a different experience. She wasn't afraid and was fine. I think she liked all the attention, as the nurses were moved by the reason we slipped her in to get it done.
Both girls miserable, I knew I had to make that decision - a mental wellness choice or a physical one, in order for them to be reunited. The ONLY thing we could really do to help this little girl get well - visits from her best friend. Her mom tells me every day Mary Kate asks for Sydney, and was crushed when Sydney couldn't be at her birthday party (thankfully, she could be home on her birthday from the hospital and have a party before she started to get really weak and change). Sydney got her shot that day and has to wait 3 weeks incubation period before she can see her.
The sad thing is that Mary Kate's mom may still make a decision to keep them apart. Sydney is considered a high risk exposure, and Leo is as well with playing with her big brother. Her doctors tell her to cut us out of her life.
This news prays upon all my weak spots - because I have "foundation" issues due to being raised with no real family and adopted later, I easily succumb to feeling "abandoned" as they say in psychology. I feel like I'm different and judged for our lifestyle. Suddenly we really stand out. The moms ask me why we don't vaccinate, something that just doesn't come up. They know how "granola" we are, but we never broadcasted that we didn't vaccinate because I thought it sounded like I would be judging them. After all, they haven't studied environmental toxins, developmental disabilities, and the food supply like I have. All this information I've collected in my mind.
And the irony is no one knows WHY we live the way we do, because of Autism. Another frustration added to the list of our double identity. I considered telling the mom, but I just can't. She's not someone that keeps secrets well, and she's understandibly very emotional and unstable, for now. We'll have to see.
My daughter Sydney and Mary Kate have been inseparable since they were 3. They met in preschool. Ballet classes. Recitals. Birthday parties. And a wonderful uneventful Kindergarten shared experience. Mary Kate has always been a given. We never thought for a moment that she wouldn't be around. It was a relief to know that Sydney had a good friend that has a great mom and big brother, which also happens to be Leo's best friend. A double pleasure. Now it's a double challenge. I'm strong today, and hope we'll all adjust to their absence, to hearing about them from others. All we can do is hope, and keep in contact through writing and drawing.
Another wake up call for us. Life is short and very vulnerable. Anything can turn it upside down, even if it doesn't happen directly to you. Any info about natural alternative treatments would be greatly appreciated!
I know as an Autism mom what it's like when the life you think you are leading changes. A shot out to the Holland writings. But I can't imagine what it must be like for Mary Kate's mom since this is quite different, her baby's life is at risk.
It's still quite fresh, but not as raw so feel strong enough to write about how this has affected us. I know it's not all about us, it's about a very sick little girl, but this is my blog so I can write about how this has changed our lives.
At first, I thought really the only thing I can do is be a good friend, make my children available as much as possible for support. And of course offer information on alternative treatments to the mom. As the week went on we learned that because we do not vaccinate, Sydney (and Leo) are a risk to Mary Kate. Abruptly pushed to the periphery of their best friend's lives.
The biggest current threat to Mary Kate was an exposure to Chicken Pox. This was the biggest barrier to Sydney and Mary Kate reuniting. An older girl (10 maybe) had it at our school. This girl was vaccinated plus a booster but still got it. 40% of our nation gets this shot, and in our area I'm certain most people get it along with the rest of the vaccine protocol. This vaccine has increased the incidence of Shingles and increased the incidence of adults getting chicken pox even when they had it when they were children. This is because us adults aren't getting occasionally exposed to the virus which "reminds" the antibodies to be on alert. Little boosts in our adult immunity. Since fewer children are getting it in highly vaccinated areas like ours, no one is safe either by having it or getting vaccinated. A giant mess. I also have a friend tell me both of her children got the chicken pox (no biggie) through exposure at school to a recently vaccinated child - on two different occasions. This is because it's a live virus, and the incubation period is 3 weeks from the date of the shot.
In crisis mode, I put on my old Autism Hat. I searched online for hours into the night, learning about this disease. I made an emotional decision to get Sydney the chicken pox vaccine. Nothing else, just that since it was such a high risk thing for Mary Kate. I realized I didn't have the time to special order something or collect any alternative information. Months would be lost. I couldn't even get my ped on the phone to give me some options, if any.
On the good side it was thimerosol free. However it contained: fetal bovine serum, hydrolyzed gelatin, MSG, MRC-5 cells (aborted human embryo's lung cells cultures), neomycin (an antibiotic), and sucrose. Leo held her hand and Sydney held on to her stuffed bunny. So interesting, Sydney had no experience with shots so at 6, it was a different experience. She wasn't afraid and was fine. I think she liked all the attention, as the nurses were moved by the reason we slipped her in to get it done.
Both girls miserable, I knew I had to make that decision - a mental wellness choice or a physical one, in order for them to be reunited. The ONLY thing we could really do to help this little girl get well - visits from her best friend. Her mom tells me every day Mary Kate asks for Sydney, and was crushed when Sydney couldn't be at her birthday party (thankfully, she could be home on her birthday from the hospital and have a party before she started to get really weak and change). Sydney got her shot that day and has to wait 3 weeks incubation period before she can see her.
The sad thing is that Mary Kate's mom may still make a decision to keep them apart. Sydney is considered a high risk exposure, and Leo is as well with playing with her big brother. Her doctors tell her to cut us out of her life.
This news prays upon all my weak spots - because I have "foundation" issues due to being raised with no real family and adopted later, I easily succumb to feeling "abandoned" as they say in psychology. I feel like I'm different and judged for our lifestyle. Suddenly we really stand out. The moms ask me why we don't vaccinate, something that just doesn't come up. They know how "granola" we are, but we never broadcasted that we didn't vaccinate because I thought it sounded like I would be judging them. After all, they haven't studied environmental toxins, developmental disabilities, and the food supply like I have. All this information I've collected in my mind.
And the irony is no one knows WHY we live the way we do, because of Autism. Another frustration added to the list of our double identity. I considered telling the mom, but I just can't. She's not someone that keeps secrets well, and she's understandibly very emotional and unstable, for now. We'll have to see.
My daughter Sydney and Mary Kate have been inseparable since they were 3. They met in preschool. Ballet classes. Recitals. Birthday parties. And a wonderful uneventful Kindergarten shared experience. Mary Kate has always been a given. We never thought for a moment that she wouldn't be around. It was a relief to know that Sydney had a good friend that has a great mom and big brother, which also happens to be Leo's best friend. A double pleasure. Now it's a double challenge. I'm strong today, and hope we'll all adjust to their absence, to hearing about them from others. All we can do is hope, and keep in contact through writing and drawing.
Another wake up call for us. Life is short and very vulnerable. Anything can turn it upside down, even if it doesn't happen directly to you. Any info about natural alternative treatments would be greatly appreciated!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Baseball
Back in March, Leo decided he wanted to play baseball. In my town, it's quite unusual to have a boy that's never played at his age. Of course they try T Ball and if they don't like it they move on. When Leo was T Ball age we were light years away from doing it.
Since he no longer wanted to do Tae Kwon Do, I really wanted him to do some type of sport. I bravely said "Yes", knowing we'd be yet again in uncharted territory, facing the ultimate challenge, a ball, a SMALL HARD ball coming very fast towards Leo's face. I was very proud of him for wanting to try, knowing that most kids would have some experience. I was mostly proud that he wanted to try something new.
For about a year or so Leo has been playing catch regularly - football, and baseball, with Dad. He's also been playing some ball sports at school. Amazing to me that with his sensitivities he sought these things out. His obsession with sports and statistics helps I'm sure. He practiced on his own, replaying real plays in his head, almost every day after school as a decompression/transition activity.
The first few games were torture. Pure torture for old Mom here. Although this league is very laid-back and very supportive, I truly felt for him. Here was Leo, this giant kid (single A since he's never played and the oldest kid)that couldn't hit the damn ball. Not a surprise, the timing and the pitching machine really threw him. They gave him extra chances in still no luck. He was the ONLY kid on his team (and the other) that just couldn't hit the ball. He sat at the end of the bench, by himself, completely bummed but not giving up. I think what saved him was that he could throw and catch well enough in his position on first base.I sat there, deer in the headlights, wondering what I should say. Should I let him quit? At what point? On the drive home he said "I'm upset but I'll survive Mom". I reminded him about how it took him a long time to overcome his fear of swimming, but that he did overcome it and now LOVES to swim. The next game the coach brought a T-Ball thingy just for him to practice with. Leo was a little put-off by it since no one else had to use it, but I reminded him that it doesn't matter, and no one cares. The point is learning how to do it.
The next game he finally Leo "touched" the ball with the bat. Everything changed. I was crying behind my sunglasses. Big smile from Leo. He did it! He couldn't hit it the rest of the game but it didn't matter.
After that game we stopped at the grocery store across the street for a treat to celebrate - Tofutti, natch. Sydney, Leo, and I were getting in line when I saw a very familiar face in the aisle nearby. It was Amy! Leo's former ABA Clinical Supervisor - the person that designed and implemented Leo's ABA programs. It was like seeing family. She WAS like family for years. And I do miss our long conversations and our former closeness. I was overjoyed to see her and I immediately told her that we just came from baseball practice. I squinted and shook my head and she immediately got my message - those issues no longer keep him from playing a ball sport.
Leo looked at Amy and said in an inquisitive voice, "Who are you?" noticing that I am super-friendly with this person and Sydney knows her. We exchange looks and smiles, and quickly says "I'm Amy". He says he doesn't know her. Amy says "Don't worry about it." We then tell him she's a friend of his former shadow. He remembered HER alright. Tailed him for years.
I can't describe that feeling - having a "normal" day I suppose? Baseball. Grocery shopping. Leo not remembering his past as much.
The next game Leo catches a ball as 1st baseman, a close one. As the ball was landing in his glove, he shut his eyes tight. The reaction I'm more accustomed to seeing. I smile with seeing that familiar face. Leo opens his eyes and smiles at the site of the ball and confirmation from the coach's face.
The coach says, "You can open your eyes now Leo."
Leo wanted to march in the Memorial Day Parade. He had so much fun! Just a few short years ago that would've been suicide, just attending a parade. It was so cute seeing Leo and his team in their uniforms walking.
Just one more game. He's going to miss it.
Since he no longer wanted to do Tae Kwon Do, I really wanted him to do some type of sport. I bravely said "Yes", knowing we'd be yet again in uncharted territory, facing the ultimate challenge, a ball, a SMALL HARD ball coming very fast towards Leo's face. I was very proud of him for wanting to try, knowing that most kids would have some experience. I was mostly proud that he wanted to try something new.
For about a year or so Leo has been playing catch regularly - football, and baseball, with Dad. He's also been playing some ball sports at school. Amazing to me that with his sensitivities he sought these things out. His obsession with sports and statistics helps I'm sure. He practiced on his own, replaying real plays in his head, almost every day after school as a decompression/transition activity.
The first few games were torture. Pure torture for old Mom here. Although this league is very laid-back and very supportive, I truly felt for him. Here was Leo, this giant kid (single A since he's never played and the oldest kid)that couldn't hit the damn ball. Not a surprise, the timing and the pitching machine really threw him. They gave him extra chances in still no luck. He was the ONLY kid on his team (and the other) that just couldn't hit the ball. He sat at the end of the bench, by himself, completely bummed but not giving up. I think what saved him was that he could throw and catch well enough in his position on first base.I sat there, deer in the headlights, wondering what I should say. Should I let him quit? At what point? On the drive home he said "I'm upset but I'll survive Mom". I reminded him about how it took him a long time to overcome his fear of swimming, but that he did overcome it and now LOVES to swim. The next game the coach brought a T-Ball thingy just for him to practice with. Leo was a little put-off by it since no one else had to use it, but I reminded him that it doesn't matter, and no one cares. The point is learning how to do it.
The next game he finally Leo "touched" the ball with the bat. Everything changed. I was crying behind my sunglasses. Big smile from Leo. He did it! He couldn't hit it the rest of the game but it didn't matter.
After that game we stopped at the grocery store across the street for a treat to celebrate - Tofutti, natch. Sydney, Leo, and I were getting in line when I saw a very familiar face in the aisle nearby. It was Amy! Leo's former ABA Clinical Supervisor - the person that designed and implemented Leo's ABA programs. It was like seeing family. She WAS like family for years. And I do miss our long conversations and our former closeness. I was overjoyed to see her and I immediately told her that we just came from baseball practice. I squinted and shook my head and she immediately got my message - those issues no longer keep him from playing a ball sport.
Leo looked at Amy and said in an inquisitive voice, "Who are you?" noticing that I am super-friendly with this person and Sydney knows her. We exchange looks and smiles, and quickly says "I'm Amy". He says he doesn't know her. Amy says "Don't worry about it." We then tell him she's a friend of his former shadow. He remembered HER alright. Tailed him for years.
I can't describe that feeling - having a "normal" day I suppose? Baseball. Grocery shopping. Leo not remembering his past as much.
The next game Leo catches a ball as 1st baseman, a close one. As the ball was landing in his glove, he shut his eyes tight. The reaction I'm more accustomed to seeing. I smile with seeing that familiar face. Leo opens his eyes and smiles at the site of the ball and confirmation from the coach's face.
The coach says, "You can open your eyes now Leo."
Leo wanted to march in the Memorial Day Parade. He had so much fun! Just a few short years ago that would've been suicide, just attending a parade. It was so cute seeing Leo and his team in their uniforms walking.
Just one more game. He's going to miss it.
Lenny Schafer's Commentary on Vaccines in Court
I just read this in today's Schafer Report. I think it's perfect so I thought I'd post it. More soon...I've been buried. Ashley
Brief Commentary: The editorial conclusion, "Research to discover what
causes autism, including possible environmental triggers, must be a top
priority" is disingenuous for the author to assert. The purpose of this
editorial, and of all the experts who labor to deny the growth of autism, is
to sow complacency -- to turn the public's attention away from autism.
This is a backhand defense of mercury containing vaccines as the cause
of autism. If there is no "epidemic", then there is nothing there to cause
it. It's an instant alibi for mercury tainted vaccines. The reality is that
the CDC has arduously avoided conducting epidemiological research to track
the real incidence and prevalence of autism, despite all "better diagnosing"
over the last dozen years.
Why, with all the growing suffering of autism across the country has
the CDC avoided counting our children? Perhaps, they already know the
answers and are willing to sacrifice thousands of children in the name of
promoting herd immunity -- for the greater good against infectious diseases.
This may sound good in theory, unless you have a child with autism.
- Lenny Schafer
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