[skysidhe]

I am attempting to answer Bruce's question. I apologize for interrupting again. ( UT and Clod )

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Sorry, but you're not a neurologist. My son's current official diagnosis is actually "encephalopathy with autistic symptom presentation." The underlying hypothesis of the treatments we are pursuing is that most cases of autism are actually combinations of mitochondrial encephalopathy, atypical Glycine encephalopathy, and toxic encephalopathy. I

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If there are millions of kids with Autism, and Autism in asymptomatic, how the fuck do we know they have Autism? That makes no sense at all.

forget about my asymptomatic fumble. I used it meaning lacking a disease like encephalopathy. I used it badly but that doesn't make me wrong.


My summary of what I read last night.

Her son has an encephalopathy. She is focused on that area of symptomology.She and whomever 'are pursuing an hypothesis of
toxic encephalopathy'. She is pursuing a hypothesis.
It is a theory which is true in her situation but she is using too broad a brush to include all of autism which I disagree with.



Then She said autism was under the encephalopathy
umbrella. oh stop. - No toxic encephalopathy IS but autism is not.
(my point)




You asked, how to people tell if someone has autism?
This is the official criteria for that disability.





DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR 299.00 AUTISTIC DISORDER
A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at
least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3)




Autism, which affects thought, perception and attention, is not just one disorder with a well defined set of symptoms; autism is a broad spectrum of disorders that ranges from mild to severe. In addition, the behavior usually occurs across many different situations and is consistently inappropriate for their age.

In the diagnostic manual used to classify disabilities, the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), “autistic disorder” is listed as a category under the heading of “Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” A diagnosis of autistic disorder is made when an individual displays 6 or more of 12 symptoms listed across three major areas: social interaction, communication, and behavior. When children display similar behaviors but do not meet the criteria for autistic disorder, they may receive a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS (PDD not otherwise specified).

Problems in social relatedness and communication.

(Difficulty in mixing with other children; prefers to be alone; aloof manner; difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words ).

Abnormal responses to one or a
combination of senses; such as sight, hearing, touch, balance, smell, taste, reaction to pain.


Sustained odd play.
Uneven gross/ fine motor skills.
Not responsive to verbal cues
acts as deaf.
Little or no eye contact.
Insistence on sameness; resist changes in routine.
Noticeable physical over activity or extreme under activity.
Tantrums; displays extreme distress for no apparent reason

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR 299.00 AUTISTIC DISORDER
A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at
least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3)

(1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

a) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction

b) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to
developmental level

c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people, (e.g., by a lack of showing,
bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)

d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the
description, it gives the following as examples: not actively
participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary
activities, or involving others in activities only as tools or
"mechanical" aids )

(2) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:

a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language
(not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)

b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others

c) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic
language

d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social
imitative play appropriate to developmental level

(3) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,
interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the
following:

a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in
intensity or focus

b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional
routines or rituals

c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole body movements)

d) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

B. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:

(1) social interaction

(2) language as used in social communication

(3) symbolic or imaginative play

C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

The critera for aspergers/PDD-Nos is a shorter list but simular.

Statement by Dr. Geri Dawson
Chief Science Officer, Autism Speaks
mitochondrial dysfunction

What percentage of children with autism suffer from this?
There have been very few cases of mitochondrial disorders reported in autism. However, since individuals with mitochondrial dysfunction may not show symptoms, it is difficult to determine how prevalent it really is.

What are the signs that a child has it?
It may present as low muscle tone and recurrent deteriorations. But in many (if not most) cases it is probably asymptomatic.

How would a vaccine influence a child with MD to cause autism?
An immune stimulation (including any infection) may increase the oxidative stress in cells (which could cause a child with a so far undiagnosed, asymptomatic mitochondrial dysfunction to now show evidence of the dysfunction). But it is also important to remember, an infection is a much greater immune stimulus than a vaccine inoculation.