Autism is frightening. I can understand how a parent could make a very poor choice as they pretend that they're doing something more productive than making the sign of the cross and murmuring "avert" under their breath.
My sister has 12 year old twins who are autistic. It is extraordinarily frustrating. I feel such profound compassion for her. Her girls are there, and yet just beyond reach: a daily, minute by minute heart break.
When it was time to vaccinate my children, given the family history, I did some research before agreeing to it. Ultimately, I decided that going forward with the vaccines was the right thing to do, and I'm glad that I did. But I can't pretend I wasn't a little bit nervous.
When my sister watched my kids when they were babies, she would occasionally comment about seeing them do things that her girls never did. This was in infancy, before her girls received the MMR vaccine, and many others. She would tell me that she didn't know babies did that, that she didn't know her babies weren't doing it. This is my anecdotal evidence that vaccines didn't deal her the hand she has to play.
But, God, they've got to figure out what is causing it. People will keep eschewing the vaccines until they can say definitively what is the cause of autism. Of course, people like easy answers. "It's the vaccines" is so much easier than "It's a complex genetic soup served in just a certain way."
I'm troubled by some of the comments here referring to Asperger Syndrome. I think I must be mis-reading them. Asperger is not something someone can just shake off and boot strap yourself out of, any more than someone with serious depression can simply choose to cheer up. But this is probably me being too sensitive as I read.
Thanks as always for your thoughtful remarks. You've hit on exactly why the vaccine/autism connection is so hard to resist, even considering the lack of evidence and the great danger to all of us when people refuse to vaccinate.
By the way, the references to Asperger's refer not to the actual syndrome — which is for real — but to the large number of internet nerds who self-diagnose with Asperger's as a way of justifying their unpleasant behavior. It's a problem.
Ah, yes! I know those people! I had one in my office just the other day. Our Student Counseling Center used to offer a workshop for students who had spent so much time focusing on their studies that they forgot to learn basic politeness and hygiene. They don't do it anymore, much to the frustration of those of us who end up having to have a little talk with said loners.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-24 05:26 pm (UTC)My sister has 12 year old twins who are autistic. It is extraordinarily frustrating. I feel such profound compassion for her. Her girls are there, and yet just beyond reach: a daily, minute by minute heart break.
When it was time to vaccinate my children, given the family history, I did some research before agreeing to it. Ultimately, I decided that going forward with the vaccines was the right thing to do, and I'm glad that I did. But I can't pretend I wasn't a little bit nervous.
When my sister watched my kids when they were babies, she would occasionally comment about seeing them do things that her girls never did. This was in infancy, before her girls received the MMR vaccine, and many others. She would tell me that she didn't know babies did that, that she didn't know her babies weren't doing it. This is my anecdotal evidence that vaccines didn't deal her the hand she has to play.
But, God, they've got to figure out what is causing it. People will keep eschewing the vaccines until they can say definitively what is the cause of autism. Of course, people like easy answers. "It's the vaccines" is so much easier than "It's a complex genetic soup served in just a certain way."
I'm troubled by some of the comments here referring to Asperger Syndrome. I think I must be mis-reading them. Asperger is not something someone can just shake off and boot strap yourself out of, any more than someone with serious depression can simply choose to cheer up. But this is probably me being too sensitive as I read.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-24 07:36 pm (UTC)By the way, the references to Asperger's refer not to the actual syndrome — which is for real — but to the large number of internet nerds who self-diagnose with Asperger's as a way of justifying their unpleasant behavior. It's a problem.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-24 08:58 pm (UTC)