Summary: Autism is a distinct brain damage disorder that produces a characteristic range of behavioral abnormalities. Discussed below are some of the initiating and causative factors, diagnostic patterns, management issues, and hopes of future therapies. Our experiences in autism management. Links to sites with detailed information on autism included.

Last updated 10th March 2015

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Dr. Rashid A Buttar of USA suggests that there is some genetic predisposition to a reduced ability to excrete mercury in some children. When such children are exposed to mercury from their mother (dental fillings, sea food, water pipes, etc.) or from Thiomerosal containing vaccinations and injections, they accumulate dangerous levels of the metal in their body. The drug is incorporated in protein molecules, including in brain, causing symptoms of autism. Hence, blood, urine and hair assay levels may even appear to be normal. When a proper chelating agent is given, the child improves even as his blood mercury level shoots up from the mercury leached out from proteins. This mercury gradually gets secreted in urine, and thereafter the blood mercury levels fall, while the child continues to improve.

Dr. Buttar's own child was (that's right), WAS autistic. He has cured his child by using his own patented mercury leaching agent. The child now leads a normal life. Dr. Buttar can be contacted at 20721 Torrence Chapel Rd., Suite 101, Cornelius, NC 28031, USA, Tel.: 001-704-895-9355

Autism occurs by itself or in association with other disorders which affect the function of the brain such as viral infections, metabolic disturbances, and epilepsy. It is important to distinguish autism from retardation or mental disorders (like Fragile-X, Tuberus sclerosis, CP, traumatic brain injury, severe peripartum hypoxia, severe post-partum jaundice, etc) since diagnostic confusion may result in referral to inappropriate and ineffective treatment techniques. The severe form of the syndrome may include extreme self-injurious, repetitive, highly unusual and aggressive behavior. Special educational programs using behavioral methods have proven to be the most helpful treatment.

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Behavior of an autistic person

Autistic children display unusual behavior. A typical autistic child's behavior is likely to include some of the following:

Clinical Features of Autism

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Etiology of Autism

There is no theory of the cause of autism which everyone has found convincing. There may be multiple causes. Thus we will review some of the proposed causes. Most researchers are absolutely convinced that the cause is biological rather than psychological. Bernard Rimland in his book Infantile Autism (1965) cited the following evidence for a biological genesis and against the idea that parents cause their children to be autistic:

1. ??? MERCURY poisoning in a genetically predisposed child ??? See news flash at the beginning of this page
2. Some clearly autistic children are born to parents who do not fit the autistic parent personality pattern.
3. Parents who do fit the description of the supposedly pathogenic parent almost invariably have normal, non-autistic children.
4. With very few exceptions, the siblings of autistic children are normal.
5. Autistic children are behaviorally unusual "from the moment of birth."
6. There is a consistent ratio of three or four boys to one girl.
7. Virtually all cases of twins reported in the literature have been identical, with both twins afflicted.
8. Autism can occur or be closely simulated in children with known organic brain damage.
9. The symptomatology is highly unique and specific.
10. There is an absence of gradations of infantile autism which would create "blends" from normal to severely afflicted.

THIS IS ONLY A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS BEING TRIED OUT TO HELP AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS. The compiler at the original site was John Wobus, Syracuse University Computing Services

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

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Carnegy Melon Institute of USA is doing some very pathbreaking work in the field of brain damage. They have a specia MRI Scanner that can trace and map the movement of protons in intracranial pathways whever the subject thinks about doing something, using Diffusion Spectrum Imaging. It showed that the autistic brain is characterised by a reduction of nerve fibres connecting one part of brain to another. That may explain why interventions like NMDA receptor regulators, HBOT and properly done (rarely done like that) Stem Cell therapy, show some promise as all three have the property of stimulating nerve re-growth.

There is still controversy over neurological differences in the brains of autistic people and the rest of the population. However, it does appear from evidence obtained through autopsies, MRI and PET scans that there are subtle cellular changes in the autistic brain. The increased incidence of seizures (20-30% develop seizures in adolescence) also points to neurological differences.

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A surfer referred the following sites to us as worthy of a visit, regarding Autism. What is your opinion?

• http://www.feat.org/autism/problematic.htm 
• http://www.mnstate.edu/beare/example.htm 
• http://www.aet.cup.edu/~edp656/stefl/sib.htm#prevalence 
• http://text.nlm.nih.gov/nih/cdc/www/75txt.html 
• http://www.geocities.com/effectivetreatment/ 
• http://members.spree.com/autism/selfinjurious.htm 
• http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academics/psychology/rivardo/learning/aversivecontrolofbehavior.htm