Anyone know anything about asperger's or autism?

Question

My little brother has been diagnosed with a minor case of asperger's,a form of autism.Some researchers say its from vaccinations.Does anyone have any experience or knowledge on this?

Answer 1

If you do further research you'll see that there is no scientific link between aspergers and vaccinations. The scientist who first suggested this had his work discreditted.

If there was a link then a larger proportion of chidlren would have learning difficulties! I work in a preschool with 2.5 to 4.11 year olds and all have had vaccinations and only 3 have autistic spectrum (two of these from birth).

Usually people blame the vaccinations because they occur the same time as children development undergoes a change...usually it is diagnosed around 3 years old because that is when you will notice the symptoms such as social exclusion, lack of communication and learning difficulties more as children often start preschool at this time and the professionals will pick up the development delays. It coincides with the time that most have vaccinations such as MMR and is coincidence.

Answer 2

i have AS, and I got it from my dad, who had 2 sisters with it.

My dad was the baby of 14 kids, and a twin,and i was diagnosed in kindergarten.And now i had to be  rediagnosed. Sometimes ppl think I am a freak,because i dont like to be around ppl,, or kids. I prefer animals to ppl,music to the human voice and solitude to crowds.

Answer 3

It is NOT from vaccines. That was passed around for a long time, but they have since decided that is not true.  

People had autism a long time before we had vaccines.

Answer 4

I have Asperger's and I made a video about what its like in my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-...

Answer 5

Although it has not been PROVEN that it is not from vaccines, it looks doubtful that vaccines cause it.

Even after teh Thimerosol (mervury) was removed from teh vaccines-autism continued to increase.

It is beleived that you need to be genetically predisposed, and than have some sort of trigger-which could be anything at this point-theories include environemental toxins, allergies, food preservatives, and many other things

Answer 6

My ten-year-old son has Asperger's and I don't believe it came from vaccines.

Answer 7

It is NOT from the vaccines. It's genetic. People need to get over the "vaccines made my kid autistic" c**p before we have major epidemics of disease again.  One theory is that sone people are genetically predispositioned to getting autism.  Some are autistic from birth. Some aren't, but the birth itself causes it.  I thinks this is the case in my situation - a lack of oxygen kicked my brain from NT mode to autistic mode, so to speak, at birth.  Others seem to flip the switchlater, but they were sitll hardwired to develop autism.  I read about one example of identical twins, one was born without problems and went on to develop normally, she was not autistic.  The other twin had a difficult birth, and she is autistic. The jury's still out on the actual -cause- of autism spectrum disorders, but there are plenty of theories that are more plausible than "It was the VACCINES!"

People with AS have varying degrees of ability. Finding out he's got AS while he's young is a good thing.  Many of us never found out until we're adults.  He can get the help he needs while he's still in school.

AS is not a bad thing, it is just a biologically-based neurological difference. He thinks different than you do.  He might have trouble in social situations because he has difficulty reading body language.

I'm very happy to have heard of AS as it explains -everything- about me and my life.  Your brother will probably feel the same when he's older - or now, even, I don't know how old he is. I see it as just a difference in the way my mind works.  Make him feel positive about it and he'll be much happier :)

Answer 8

I have asperger's syndrome.  I have much trouble getting through life.  I was just recentally diagnosed with this, and it has tremendously gotten worse.  If you have any specific questions I am more then willing to answer them, considering I'm addicted to the computer.

good luck

Answer 9

I never have seen any written proof of vaccines being the cause but i can tell you from what I have observed in school that the students that are diagnosed seem to have well educated or intelligent parents, sometimes were conceived later in life.Most students with asbergers have a normal to high intelligence but have difficulty with social skills, become anxious ...or obsess over things that stress or interest them.  They may need assistance in these areas and in obtaining gainful employment,  But once they are understood by professionals, peers and potential employers they can lead happy and fulfilling lives.

Answer 10

i have 2 cousins who have autism.

there is a spectrum and autism is on one end, aspburgers on the other....varying in severity and the differences in abilities.

from what i know autism and aspburgers syndrome are just a genetic disorder that comes out most of the time early in a childs life. (my cousin was 5). my cousin was on medication for a long time but that didnt seem to help him, what did was a change in his diet. he has a low wheat diet...and it has really improved him.

im not sure if u know, but u will when you notice it but all people who have autism or aspburgers have an "obcession", my cousins is drawing, and that really helps him calm down!!! i had a classmate who had aspburgers syndrome, and his was working to fix computers.

it will be difficult at first but once you find something that works for your brother (because everyone is different) it will be very worth it and you will see a dramatic change

:) hope that helped

Answer 11

I have Asperger's, and it is higher functioning than profound autism. I have a couple good friends, and quite a few friendly acquaintances. People with A.S. can still have friends. However, elementary school was hard because I was made fun of. Kids with A.S. are sometimes teased or bullied growing up.   Growing up, I would get obsessed with stuff like Native Americans and Egyptians, and after that I got obsessed with the lord of the rings and have quite a few products that have to do with the lord of the rings. Kids with A.S. tend to get obsessed with a subject. I was quite blunt when I was a little kid. Kids with A.S. are quite blunt sometimes.

Answer 12

You should read the story of the Eli Lilly Bandit.

http://www.dailykos.net/archives/000709....

By placing this provision in the bill authorizing the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the government has seemingly admitted culpability. By saying, "Oh well you can't sue Company A for doing B," isn't that basically saying Company A is guilty of B? Otherwise why would they need the intervention of Congress, unless they had done something wrong.

I believe like many illnesses, there may be several causes. Bacterial meningitis can be caused my sharing a cigarette, but not all cases are related to this. Some involve sharing drink containers. So we can see not all illnesses have one exact cause, but many have several direct causes. I believe to some extent that AS may have many causes and one of them may very well be vaccines.

What do I have to prove this? What boils down to the government's admission of guilt on behalf of big pharma. Nothing more, nothing less. And you can read about it at the link I have posted.

Answer 13

They do not know what actually causes autism/aspergers. It could be the shots, but then again it might not be. Just because not every child who gets the shots gets autism, doesn't mean it doesn't cause it. I'm allergic to aspirin, but my sister has no problem with it. My daughter is allergic to penicillian, but I can take that. It could be the shots.

Answer 14

I know a little bit about them. There's a lot to know, and I'm no expert. It tends to run in families. I've got two autistic cousins.

On the autism spectrum, Asperger's is almost normal. Before people knew about Asperger's we used to call those folks "quirky".

Early interventions help a lot. The fact that these kids honestly may not care what other people think of their academic performance may affect their grades, but that doesn't mean that they don't know their stuff. The biggest challenge may well be learning to get along with peers. In that case, you're a much bigger part of the solution than is any kind of fair. You could have a big impact on his life.

In my school district, a kid with autism -may- have a care coordinator, a teacher or counselor, maybe, who manages a plan to address his educational needs. We also have Autism Consulting Teachers, who help these teachers and counselors find the best strategies for dealing with Autism and Asperger's. One of them may have some strategies you can use for dealing with or helping your brother at home.

Answer 15

It is form of autism, as you say, so it was in his genes - either he always had it or something may have triggered it. I have a close friend with this syndrome and he did not know he had it until he was 40 years old. He is normal, drives a car, got married, had kids and passed it onto one of his sons - that is how he found out. He has few weird habits but lives life to the full. Do not worry about your brother. Good bit is they found it so he can be put on medication and you know that if he developes some odd habits (some people have to have their desks organised in precise manner, or they eat the same thing every day etc.) it is just his illness.

Answer 16

I don't think vaccinations cause Aspergers.  For every person who says it does someone else will say it doesn't.  It is in your genes.  My son was dx'd with AS when he was 8.  He has a half-brother (same father)  who is 8 and has been dx'd with AS too. (They live two states apart & never met...I contacted the mother to let her know about AS just in case she was having the same issues...her son was dx'd before mine was!)  My ex-hubby exhibited "ASPIELIKE" traits while we were married.  (Although I didn't know what AS was at the time)

There is something that triggers AS.  I have no doubt about that.  My son was the typical child up until school age. He did have his bouts with ear infections and had tubes (4 times).  This did cause a little bit of a lisp in his speech (he wasn't hearing properly...but no speech/language delays).

He was always smart.  He could read all by himself before age 3.  Autism never crossed our minds.

Once he started kindergarten I was told that he was just a little overactive.  That's fine...he's 5.  They like to go.

First grade I was told that he may have ADD.  He just couldn't focus in class unless it was one-on-one.  So we had him tested and he was dx'd with ADD.  Things turned around for him and he was a great student.

Second grade we had to adjust his meds a little.  Other than that he was the perfect A/B honor roll student.  He had friends and was a very happy child.

Third grade....something just wasn't right with him.  The teacher insisted the ADD meds aren't working.  So we changed meds for 3 months.  Nothing improved.  It was suggested that he had Asperger's Syndrome.  He was tested & dx'd with it.  WOW!!!  I was told by the doc that they don't know what triggers it.  Okay....I watched my fun loving guy turn into this child who wouldn't make eye contact (yes...he did before), he's always been a picky eater (bland foods, only certain ones) hardly eat, happy child turn into a moody one....everything just bothered him.  He was almost another person.

I had him an appointment set up with a developmental ped. & we changed his meds.  Things started getting better within a month.  Social skills training through the school helped out a lot.  5 months after the dx he is amazing.  He is the happiest I've ever seen him.

What I've learned from AS is that once you find out what triggers the "meltdowns" (bad behavior, temper tantrums...whatever people call it) they can be prevented.  I had the hardest time figuring out what all caused my sons.  His is sensory....it really doesn't take a lot for his to get overloaded.

Strong smells, tastes (hence the bland foods), textures (clothes) & NOISES!  He is scared of noises.  They drive him nuts!!!  

People are always looking for an explaination of how/why their child (brother, sister, cousin, etc) has autism/ASD/AS...there isn't any explaination.  Acceptance & understanding is all there is.  Asperger's has changed my life and everyone involved.  It's made me a better person.

I could've spent my life not appreciating what a gift my child is.  He is "quirky" & "tempermental" at times but he always gives me a new way of looking at things.  I feel that if he was "typical" I would've just breezed through life with him not fully understanding his potential.

After the initial dx people would ask...where did he get Autism from?  Vaccinations?  Family?  What happened?  I don't know....I have my own assumptions that it came from his father.  All the "scientific evidence" points to him.  (My son is a science nut...everything can be proven in science)  Could vaccinations have triggered it?  Who knows?

To me it doesn't matter.  The end result is still the same.