The overlap of neuro-behavioral disorders is undeniable. My daughter is diagnosed as SPD with gross motor delay, but she is borderlined for Asperger's syndrome sharing many Aspie traits. More and more research is pointing to brain sync issues as a problem in children with autism and adhd. Here is a great article that discusses that link...
People have always asked if my son was "on the spectrum." We initially thought he had Nonverbal Learning Disorder which mimics Aspergers. Now we know, thanks to his latest neuropsych that it's ADHD. So much of it, in fact, that he's socially and developmental delayed. This study helps to explain so much about him specifically. I'm glad studies are finding the neurochemical causes so the disability is easier to treat, but help is also needed on the preventative front.
Leslieof MA7:47AM August 11, 2011
My autistic child does have CNVs but we were told they were not known to be associated with any syndromes--but their knowledge of CNVs is always increasing thanks to studies like this. We may yet uncover the genetic component of our son's autism--not that it would make much difference for his future.
And my son had not received any vaccines prior to developing his first symptoms at 18 months. It may have been something in the environment, in addition to CNVs (or something in the environment that caused the CNVs?), but it's not vaccines.
Billof OR1:36AM August 11, 2011
What a waste of money! There is nothing here. Of course there is some overlap. All this money could be so much better spent on relevant autism research into environmental triggers or treatment.
Peterof CT11:32PM August 10, 2011
We must not forget that there has yet to be a study on fully vaxed vs fully unvaxed children in the US. There are thousands of unvaccinated children they could use for the study. If almost 2 percent of youg unvaccinated boys also have autism--like the percentage of vaccinated ones--we would have our answer. Why hasn't this been done? Ms. Dachel makes the case for the new study pointing out that environment trumps genetics in autism and also quotes from a the new Australian study regarding the significance of mercury poisoning. Why haven't the children that are now sick with autism been studied? We must listen to the tens of thousands of parents who saw their normally developing children regress following vaccinations. The questions on environment and vaccines and autism have not been answered.
Maurine Meleckof SC9:56PM August 10, 2011
My son was diagnosed with add when he was younger and ultimately autism. He actually seems to have both issues. Very interesting article.
Lynetteof FL9:51PM August 10, 2011
US News gives us yet another report that says really nothing about we now have an epidemic of autistic children everywhere. We need to ask why one percent of children now have autism and one in six has a behavioral or learning problem like ADD, ADHD.
The last sentence says it all: "But much remains unknown, including what else happens, either genetically or environmentally, that leads one child to develop ADHD and another to develop ASD."
Environmentally? There wasn't anything here about the environment, even though experts now recognize that the environment is the most critical factor in why a child develops autism.
There's amazing news on exposures to mercury and the susceptibility to develop autism. A recent study from Swinburne University in Melbourne surveyed 522 Australian survivors of Pink disease - a form of mercury poisoning common in the early 20th century - found one in 25 of their 398 grandchildren aged six to 12 had an autism spectrum disorder. This prevalence is six times higher than the one-in-160 diagnosed in the general population.
This should be getting attention everywhere. Something in the environment, probably many different toxins are related to autism.
Here are the warnings about mercury exposure that were given by the lead author of the study, Dr. David Austin.
"The results are expected to be released in 2012. In the meantime, Austin suggests those with a suspected family history of pink disease to minimize their exposure to mercury. This is particularly important for young children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 'This can be done by observing the recommendations of Food Standards Australia regarding seafood consumption, opting for non-amalgam dental fillings and requesting preservative-free vaccines from your doctor,' Austin said."
It's time was started to focus on what's really happening to our children.
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Jennifer of GA 8:47AM August 14, 2011
Leslie of MA 7:47AM August 11, 2011
Bill of OR 1:36AM August 11, 2011
Peter of CT 11:32PM August 10, 2011
Maurine Meleck of SC 9:56PM August 10, 2011
Lynette of FL 9:51PM August 10, 2011
Anne McElroy Dachel of WI 9:06PM August 10, 2011