June 4, 2009
Autism: Eight Questions Dr. Nicole has for Parents
I won’t even pretend to be an expert on autism, but since this great group of autism blogging moms found me here at the kitchen table, I have a few questions of my own….
Below is a brief interview I did with one parent of a child diagnosed with autism, and if you would like to copy and paste the questions in to the comments section and share your own answers either anonymously or publicly it would greatly help me while I research the latest biochemistry on autism, vaccines, diets, vitamins, low homocysteine, and so forth. Also other doctors and health care professional subscribed to my website will benefit.
Please share any other info you think would be helpful beyond my very basic questions, please by all means do so…I sincerely believe that the parents are the experts on this topic and even though April is “Autism Awareness Month,” author Tara McClintick and I decided that autism continues 365 days a year….so we are going to keep talking about this important and ever growing “epidemic” at the kitchen table.
#1 Did you have a difficult time getting pregnant?
Yes. We were childless for 9 years and I had two or three unsuccessful cervical bypass procedures. I also had one ectopic pregnancy prior to the birth of my daughter. I did manage to get pregnant on my own without drugs or other procedures. I was 29 when she was born.
#2 Was the pregnancy complicated or simple?
Very simple. Very little morning sickness, nothing major.
#3 Any problemss at birth?
Not at all. However, I was induced and was in labor for almost 17 hours.
#4 Normal APGARS?
Yes.
#5 Did your child exhibit any signs or symptoms before diagnosis physical or otherwise?
Yes. She was unable to nurse (could not latch on). She had poor eye contact, few words by age 2, echolalia when she did speak, repetitive behavior (such as stacking books), wandering, not pointing, not always responding to her name, sensory sensitivity, tantruming
#6 Was the onset around the time of the MMR vaccine?
I don’t recall when this vaccine was administered, but we definitely knew there was something wrong by about 18 months.
#7 Was your child vaccinated on a full schedule or partial schedule?
Full, at least I think so. She was vaccinnated as the schedule required in 1997-98.
#8 Any other factors going on with the family before or at the time of onset?
No.
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table to share your story.
Related reading:
Autism: 10 Strategies for Implementing Diet Changes
Filed under Blog by Dr. Nicole Sundene