November 5, 2009
The headlines continue to link autism with vaccinations despite the fact that many of these headline articles are trying to dispel such a correlation while eradicating the causation arguments. The latest article to cause a big stir is Amy Wallace's cover story for Wired, a pro-vaccination declaration that expresses outrage at parents who don't immunize their children. Accused of regurgitating the talking points of Paul Offit, a Philadelphia-based pediatrician and the author of "Autism's False Prophets" which is a vehement defense of vaccinations, Wallace's harsh words spring from a long list of passionate articles that have tried to persuade confused parents to hop on one of the two bandwagons, either for or against vaccinations. In light of the alarming statistics on autism, however, persuasion has become a touchy tactic that is now fully politicized.The Numbers
• An average of 1 in 150 children in the United States has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• With the current data, it is believed that ASDs are four to seven times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.
• Approximately 13% of children have a developmental disability, ranging from mild speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and autism. (Stats: October 5, 2009 Center for Disease Control)
The Articles
'I Am Autism': An Advocacy Video Sparks Protest
by Claudia Wallis, November 6, 2009, Time Magazine sip it
Childhood vaccines, autism and the dangers of group think
by James Rainey, November 4, 2009, Los Angeles Time sip it
An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All
by Amy Wallace, October 21, 2009, Wired sip it
How Safe Are Vaccines
by Alice Park, May 29, 2008, Time sip it
Autism and vaccines: A failure to communicate
by Scott Hensley, May 29, 2009, Health Journalism sip it
Vaccines Exonerated on Autism
February 12, 2009, The New York Times sip it
The autism-vaccination controversy has become not only a medical and scientific debate but also a lightening rod for the contentions of professionals who feel pitted against amateurs. Screaming in one corner are the trained doctors, scientists and journalists who have probed the issues, weighed the facts, interviewed the sources and studied every shred of evidence. They know better. Flailing in the other corner are parents and bloggers who are armed with Wikipedia, Google and their children. One of the most cogent defenses of the pro-vaccination movement and for Amy Wallace's "Fear" is a defense of mainstream journalism:
"Wallace has run smack into an abiding, perhaps growing, phenomenon of the Internet Age: Citizens armed with information are sure they know better. Readers who brush up against expertise believe they have become experts. The common man rebels against the notion that anyone -- not professionals, not the government and certainly not the media -- speaks with special authority." (James Rainey, "Childhood vaccines, autism and the dangers of group think" Los Angeles Times, November 4, 2009)
Without reframing the argument and turning it into a shouting match of "I went to Harvard and you didn't", everyone is challenged to remain mindful and to pool observations, both in the home and in the laboratory. By keeping an open exchange of opinions and information we just might figure this out. Hubris, on the other hand, will only shift the focus away from the children who are suffering. The tendency to dismiss a dissenting voice as words from a hapless unprofessional can only backfire, serving to make an already distrustful segment of society increasingly suspicious.
In the midst of all the arguing one has to wonder whether both groups – the experts and the blogging parents — are aware that science, like history, gets revised. Scientific facts, like historical facts, change in time with more knowledge and a better understanding. Scientific facts are, in fact, theories that have yet to be disproved. With that in mind, the quest for knowledge, the freedom of speech and the right to ponder aloud are everyone's rights. They're not the rights of self-appointed gatekeepers. They're the rights that can benefit everyone's children.
The bottom line is that no one fully understands autism. We are all grappling with a complex disorder that is compounded by daunting statistics. Likewise, parents who choose not to vaccinate their children may not draw their conclusions solely because of autism. Vaccinations themselves, without any regard to autism, raise questions and concerns. Yet it is autism, with its profound characteristics and its ability to reshape families, that has captured our attention and our determination.
To help shed light on its mysteries, its causes and therapeutic treatments, I spoke with Joy Williams, a speech pathologist licensed in California, New York and currently in Maryland. She has worked with autistic children for over ten years. Whether or not journalists such as Amy Wallace or James Rainey would qualify her as an expert is irrelevant. What is important is that we move past the topic of who has ownership rights over this pressing issue. Ultimately, we are all on the same side and we are all wishing for the same results: our children’s health and well-being.
LW: Tell us what you do as a speech pathologist?
JW: I work with children starting at age three and I've worked with young adults up to the age of 21. I help individuals who have various problems related to communication such as language delays, stuttering, and voice disorders. I start by diagnosing and differentiating communication disorders in individuals and then I provide treatment to improve communication skills. Specifically, I work with autistic children who are non-verbal or who have limited language skills including those with behavioral issues.
LW: When concerned parents first meet you, what do you ask them about their child?
JW: I take an extensive history of the child — medical, daily living skills, communication, social skills, etc. I not only obtain the child's complete history, but also the parents' history including pre-natal and post-natal care.
LW: Do you ask them about vaccinations?
JW: Yes, that is part of the medical history. Working in a school setting in the state of Maryland, I'm required to document the child's vaccination history.
LW: Autism and vaccinations keep making the headlines together -- all in one sentence. Why do you think that's the case?
JW: I think more and more parents are convinced that vaccinations cause their child's autism especially since they are the ones who see their child go from a normal state (pre-vaccine) through a dramatic change (post vaccine). I often attend an annual conference at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, a leading research center on autism, and it focuses on showing professionals and parents updated research on current and new theories on the causes of autism and the various treatments. What I recently learned there, which surprised me, is that professionals are seeing signs of autism in children who are 13-18 months of age. Signs of autism are being seen at younger ages.
LW: What do you think causes autism?
JW: I do not know. As a speech pathologist, it is scary to see more and more children being diagnosed each year. In my opinion, autism could be caused from vaccinations, genetics, neurological factors or a combination of all of them.
LW: Why do you think boys are far more likely to be diagnosed?
JW: That has always been the question. There are theories that a gene is responsible, but more research needs to be done.
LW: You said you think vaccinations may cause autism but there is no scientific proof to support that. So would you rule vaccinations out as a cause of autism?
JW: Absolutely not! I do feel that there may be underlying factors that may contribute to autism such as a child having a possible viral infection that shows no signs. Then the child gets vaccinated and then shows signs of autism. There has to be some correlation to this.
LW: What are some of the therapies you use to help children with autism?
JW: There is a huge link between communication and behavior. One of my main goals is to improve communication and behavior skills by utilizing applied behavior analysis methods such as discrete trials, reinforcement systems, the Picture-Exchange Communication System, and augmentative technology. All of these therapies are used in a combined mode to improve language, decrease frustration, and improve social skills that will help the child communicate more effectively.
LW: There is hope?
JW: There is always hope. There is hope for a cure. And at the very least there is hope that we'll understand what causes autism so children don't have to suffer with this condition. If parents, doctors, scientists, and even therapists can work together, then we can make a change in autism — fewer cases, more understanding, and better implementation to improve the lives of our children.
Joy Williams, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech and language pathologist with more than 10 years experience. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Binghamton University and her Masters of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from Howard University in Washington, DC. Since graduating, Ms. Williams has worked in a variety of settings such as health clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private and public schools. Ms. Williams specializes in improving the communication skills of individuals with special needs and disabilities. She is particularly interested in the link between behavior, language development, and social communication in children with autism. Her expertise includes providing consultations and conducting training workshops on the use of language for functional communication, life skills, and social skills for everyday living. She currently works for The Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. NewsSip
