@lostandtired  @MistieDelorey http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2005/12/07/The-Age...

 @lostandtired  @MistieDelorey http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/vaccinated-vs-un...

 @lostandtired  @MistieDelorey http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_cont...

 @lostandtired  @MistieDelorey http://birthofanewearth.blogspot.ca/2012/04/no-au...

I believe that Autism is caused by specific tipping points in neurology,  and that tipping point varies.  I do believe that AUtism can be remediated..but I guess I do not like the word cured because there is so much misuse of the word.  Cured to one family means behaviors have improved,  whereas cure to another family means noone can tell their child has ASD.  I have two children with ASD.... and I remediated their developmental milestones to the point where they are back on their actual developmental track.  I think that regardless of WHY a child has Autism, injury, genetics, etc...taking care of the cause if possible and addressing what the child missed in development ( those 1000's of hours that NT kids play and learn about their world) is crucial.

Both my kids could be considered Cured,  but I dont really use the word...as I personally like saying the obstacles that Autism presented them with, they were able to overcome.  I like this better because I feel like as parents, we help our all our  kids ( Nt OR asd) as they are growing up to remove obstacles in their life for ultimately a high quality of life for them.  This way, Autism is just an obstacle and not a label.  mY oldest who was Dx is almost 16 and his brother is 11....

@MistieDelorey @lostandtired there are plenty of people that are diagnosed with autism and have never been vaccinated, although I don't know the actual statistics.

[...] cases, therapy is really helpful but for some I think it's … … See original here: Do you believe #Autism can or should be cured? » Lost and Tired ← Portrait Gallery: Kevin Callahan, Director, UNT Autism Center | UNT [...]

 @ZoeyRoberts1 Why can't we have acceptance and still look for ways to help autistic people or those with sensory integration disorder reduce some of their troubling symptoms, feel better by avoiding food allergens that affect them, or get the proper treatment for their immune systems so they aren't sick with illnesses (like my son). I don't think with so many children being diagnosed autistic every year  we just need to nod and smile. It's becoming an epidemic and we can't do nothing. We need to definately help them, offering more interventions, support, housing support, but we need to see if there is a reason behind this massive amount of our children developing autism.

 @anansison If you cured the autism think you would still have the conduct disorder, unless it was all due to sensory issues or OCD related autism.  My son has autism and has ODD among other things. The ODD is caused by his PANDAS, so those symptoms really only appear when he's having an autoimmune attack, because his immune system is attacking the basal ganglia of the brain. I think these diagnosis our kids get really depend on what part of the brain is affected. The more parts that are affected, the more mental diagnosis there will be.

This is a really tough question.  If the "autism" was actually found to be due to an illness like PANDAS or celiac disease or something else or an immune deficiency, then there is a chance of "curing it", though if it's autoimmune there is always a high likelihood of the symptoms returning after a few years or later in life. It's hard to correct the immune system completely once it goes faulty.  If the cause is genetic or chromosomal mutations, vaccine injuries or a metabolic condition, then it may not be "curable". Especially if there is permanent damage to the brain. Autism is basically defined as a set of symptoms, multiple delays in key areas like communications, repetitive movements and sensory issues. Improving these symptoms through getting healthier, medical treatments or therapies can help one move towards the less severe end of the scale. We have achieved this with my son, improving him from moderate to mild through the GFCFSF diet, eliminating food and environmental allergies, some biomedical treatments and especially by treating his PANDAS. He is still autistic, though. But I don't really believe in curing him, I just believe in helping him get healthier and being the best he can be. His autism seems mostly autoimmune in nature, which means it can be improved by modulating his immune system. 

I did recently hear that scientists induced Rhett Syndrome in a mouse and gave him a bone marrow transplant, thus giving him a new immune system. He was completely cured of all symptoms. I'll have to find the study and post the link here. That makes me question again whether autism really can be cured.

This reminds me of the book "The Speed of Dark" by Elizabeth Moon.  It's about a proposed cure for autism and whether or not the main character wants to participate in the cure.  There are concerns about by "removing" his autism then he would be a completely different person.

I'm not sure if you would want to cure autism or alleviate some of the difficulties since it's a fundamental part of the person.  If there is a cure it would be best applied to those who have not learned how to cope with their sensory or communication issues.  But then you should also consider the other aspects of a cure; what would happen for someone who has multiple diagnoses?  Would those things be cured as well, or would curing one part exacerbate the others?  What kind of psychological therapy would a person need?  Imagine someone with a dual diagnosis of Autism and Conduct Disorder; if you cure the autism, will that also cure the Conduct Disorder?  Will that person be so used to behaving in a certain way that s/he would continue with the conduct problems, even if they were related to the autism?  What about someone who is diagnosed with IDD and autism?

Because I know my son has been damaged by vaccines, I don't believe you can cure him from any permanent damage that has occurred but that you can put a stop to the damage vaccines are still causing in his body and that you can regain lost abilities due to proper detoxification and elimination of future heavy metals, toxins and animal/human DNA introductions into our infants and children as well as providing an appropriate healthy diet to replace what is lacking. So although I believe autism can be helped and prevented I do not believe that the child can regain the use of dead cells that are no longer there like they can with damaged cells that still exist. Unless maybe through their own stem cell reintroduction through injection but that area is not ready for wide spread use yet nor is affordability attainable for most also this procedure has only been conducted, in large numbers to date, by China and Germany on a successfully regular basis. Not totally sure about China's methods as far as who's and what type of stem cells they use but Germany is ahead of every country in their stem cell research by decades, compared to the U.S. and Canada, and they have found that the only truly successful way implementing this process (without causing cancer like embryotic stem cells have been proven to do and to reduce the risk of reacting adversely to someone elses stem cells and to avoid contracting something from someone else) was to use adult stem cells from the patient receiving the the stem cells and it has worked with great success in many cases. It not only repairs the damaged cells but also replaces/reconstructs the dead/missing cells becoming the appropriate cells in their place. Once they inject your own stem cells, that they extract from you in one place and take them to the other place, they start out like a blank slate in search of what to replace and fix taking on the form of what is needed/missing. Anyways I digress, I hope that makes sense. Long story short I don't believe there is a "cure" for brain damage (yet) but I do believe that some/most damage can be improved upon depending on the person and the extent of the permanent damage. We are very resilient when it comes to cell repair the problem lies with the cells dying and having nothing left to repair without new stem cell too take their place. Also because my son has been damaged by vaccines your darn right I would give anything to help make him better this would not of happened if not for his vaccines and therefore should be a typical little boy not fully dependent on the system for the rest of his life and when I pass on he will end up in an institution drugged and tied to a bed for the rest of his life of course I would change that for him if I could. what heartless person wouldn't if they could? My son is now severely autistic, severely epileptic and has major food allergies all due to multiple reactions to multiple vaccines and I haven't seen my son have one comfortable hour straight since he turned autistic over night shortly after his 1 year shots, he started having seizures and he now carries an epi-pen jr. for all dairy and eggs, he also can not tolerate gluten but does not need the epi-pen for this. My son has had 4 years of therapy is 5 years old ,can't talk, has no communication doesn't even grasp the concept of pointing or waiving, has supper human strength, a high tolerance to pain, no concept of danger, is a runner, screams a lot and is aggressive do to sensory reasons, frustration and discomfort everyday of his life I have been told to give him up by specialists since he was diagnosed and have been warned I will need to by the time he is fully grown as they figure I won't be able to keep him and others safe by then. This vaccine injury has completely changed our lives and I will never believe this is for the better even though I need to make the most of it for my sons sake, when all I will ever want to do is take his pain away from him. He is my world and I will die fighting to keep his needs met and to keep him out of institutions for the rest of his life so when I am asked if I have moral issues with helping my son feel better and potentially keep him out of institutions  then of course not cure away. I do however take great moral issue in allowing/causing this situation to happen in the first place through vaccine adverse reactions imposed upon us.

I think anyone who says their child was 'cured' was misdiagnosed in the first place.  After spending nearly 11 years with a son who is autistic, I have realized that despite countless hours of therapy and treatment, he is who he is and not only am I okay with it, I've always been okay with him just the way he is.  It is society in general has a problem with children who are different thinkers.  Trying to get someone to be 'more normal' has been a huge hurdle... and has he learned to control himself more?  Yes.  Is that a function of age or thearpy?  I think more a function of age.  Would i 'cure' him if I could?  That's a really tough question.. all I really want is for people to accept him for who he is and stop being so quick to judge.  So maybe we could just cure most of society from being afraid of anyone who isn't like them.

I feel that there is no "cure" to Autism as I am high functioning Autistic with 2 adult nephews with Autism as well. Its the way our brains our wired yes with some early interventions, with traditional therapies, ie aba,animal,music,art etc you can help the Autistic along but Autism is a part of us the good and the bad, I am tired of these fad "cure"s of the week taking away from what's really need love,acceptance and support for us Autistics, as well social,job,and housing supports for the adults. Autistic children grow up to be Autistic adults. Have you considered that maybe we are Autistic for a reason? you should be on the child's level not on some parents selfish level's. Take Dr Temple Grandin she has a quote against a "cure" as Autism is a part of her: "If I could snap my fingers and be non Autistic I would not, because I wouldn't be me. Autism is a part of who I am". A lot of so called "cures" and research is tainted by antivax and "curebie" groups who are using negativity about Autism for there own selfish agenda's and not asking the real Autistics whether we like it or not, they are,greedy,corrupt and political now, which inc the antivax anti Autism groups like ie canary party,age of autism,generation (non) rescue (jenny m's outfit), autism mothers, and thinking mom's revolution etc who have all jumped on the we hate Autism and Autistics unless your "cured" bandwagon promoting fear and hatred and division in the community over this issue.. Its time for acceptance folks not a so called "cure". By the way these groups are wolves in sheeps clothing doing more harm than good in the Autism community by promoting this fearmongering stuff, so if you can please avoid these groups and get some think positive ppl in your lives like me, or Carly Fleischman or Dr Temple Grandin ty

I just wanted to add to that I was born with EEC Syndrome, and I would not want to be cured. I think I would not be who I am today had I been any different.  Was it easy growing up? No, but the more people I proved wrong, the more determination I had for the next "issue".  As an adult, I love who I am. Because of who I am I have touched many lives, and would not change an THING!

Nothing is wrong, as long as you follow your belief, your heart and soul. If you do not try, then the outcome for you could be self destruction. I know that I tried to turn every rock, why, how, when, etc... Its just time for my family to make life as comfortable, inviting and resourceful to our son and others like him. Make your child a person that she or he can proud of, be independent, productive as a citizen with values in tact. Man is created perfect, we learn as we go along. Tabby Parsons

I believe God gives us children as a complete blessing and with that said there are also those challenges..Ours is autism. Having 3 boys on different levels of the spectrum as well as being an Occupational Therapist it has my thoughts of " early intervention" skewed. I think with some of the more severe cases, therapy is really helpful but for some I think it's opportunistic. We as parents are desperate to spend a fortune on all this advertised and recommended " so called treatment" just to make them more "normal" or to better fit into " a mainstream classroom" . I am in the middle of my time of acceptance with my 2yo who is the worst right now, and trying to deal with his issues before they arise...definitely having to be a student of your child. With my other kids learning to accept that God places us all in this family strategically and purposely for His plan and hopefully they will learn so seek out there purpose in helping each other with their weaknesses...sorry for the ramble but I dont want say therapy is for nothing but it's not a cure all and for me and possibly others it just frustrates and complicates an already burdened situation when the recipe is acceptance:)!

What about curing some of the things like sensory sensitivity or inability to speak? Would that change who the person is, or just allow them freedom from something making their lives more challenging?

I used to say that my kids are abridged version of who they were supposed to be. In some cases I still think that. If you have ever lost a child to regression, that easier to understand. Gavin was one person before the switch was flipped and very different person after... Abridged..

Thoughts?

There isn't a "cure".  My guys are all unique.  I couldn't see them any other way.  I grew up not knowing why I felt different.  I was always asked why I didn't talk to others or I was labeled as shy.  If I knew you well enough I would talk.  Lots of difficulty making friends.  I was diagnosed having severe social anxiety.  After my three guys were all diagnosed on the spectrum, I was given the diagnosed as an Aspie.  After 33 years of not knowing why I felt the way I did I felt liberated.  Like I finally understood and accepted it.  I think that makes me most angry when some say there is a cure because I was looked at as different for so long.  Thank you so much Katrina Moody for writing this post.  I couldn't have said it better myself.

The only cure is acceptance. When a cure is made, it will be a prenatal test similar to DS,

Thanks for the shoutout Rob Gorski - I think it's an important topic for sure. I'm a little like you - back in the days before I'd grown with three boys on the spectrum there was an essential part of me that thought 'if only there were a cure' ... I think you gain perspective as your kids get older, you know? 

Having a spouse who is also on the spectrum gives me more of a perspective - Jim Moody has helped me see more about both the amazing side and the sometimes sad side of autism in adults. When there is a spectrum disorder, it's easy to latch onto those on the mild end of the spectrum, to latch onto those who have made significant improvements in functioning ... and say to yourself there must be a cure ... there must be a way to hope for my children to have better functioning too. 

Over time, you begin to see the amazing bit of autism ... that these children and adults have to work harder to be a part of this society, but they are each amazing in their own right!