Autism has increased sixty-fold since the late 1970s. But autism rates really took off during the past 10 years. The scientific community is not really sure what causes autism. Is it genetic? Environmental? Do vaccines which contain mercury contribute? No one seems to know for sure.
So what is the implication of this? Well with no real understanding of what causes autism, scientists and doctors are at a loss for how to prevent it…and how to cure it. Now there is evidence that wireless devices…cell phones, WI-FI devices, cellular towers…all may be having an adverse effect.
Research conducted in Australia studied children with autism over a five year period. The study looked at the effect EMR or electromagnetic radiation has on kids. The study, published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine found a correlation to heavy metal concentrations, exposure to EMR and autism.
More kids are being exposed to EMR
The study noted the increase in the rate of growth of autism diagnoses parallel the growth in the use of cell phones and the increase in the amount of EMR that children are exposed to. And so many children have been exposed to increasing amounts of electromechanical radiation (EMR) in the past decade. After all, who doesn't have a wireless network for your computers in your house along with several cell phones? And even if you don’t use a cell phone, there are cell towers everywhere which allow those with a phone to connect wirelessly.
The researchers believe that the dramatic increase in the rate of autism must have an environmental component. And their research points to a possible cause. Researchers believe that the increase in exposure to EMR from all of these wireless devices in combination with environmental and genetic factors is creating the perfect storm.
Heavy Metals Concentrations were Studied
The researchers studied the concentration of heavy metals in the children. Tests were done to assess this level of heavy metals through the three distinct excretion pathways of urine, skin and feces. The researchers believe that the expose to cell phones and other wireless devices cause cells to trap heavy metals which accelerate the onset of autistic symptoms. Do radio waves from cell phones and other wireless devices make children's expose to heavy metals and vaccines more dangerous than they would typically be? Well these researchers believe that this may be the case.
As a parent what can you do?
We really can't know for sure the extent that exposure to EMR from cell phones or other wireless devices contribute to the onset of autism. But parents may want to think twice before exposing their newborns or toddlers to cell phones. Don't put your cell phone up to your baby's mouth so that grandma can hear your toddler babbling. Perhaps you want to avoid using your cell phone around small children.
It may be tempting to hold your baby while chatting with a friend. But use your wire-line phone in the house rather than your cell phone. It may be a little inconvenient, but perhaps an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
While some may see this as extreme, until we know what truly causes autism, these researchers advice caution.
For more information on how you can help and protect your child read Can Autism Be Prevented? Research Suggests Parents Can Play a Pivotal Role
Have an opinion? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. Let's start a conversation!
I enjoy and appreciate the information, anything to help my son and my own understanding of what life is like for Nicholas. It also helps me educate my son's teacher and EA which this process is ongoing and at times very frustrating.
My name is Matt Turner from Australia. I have a 6 y.o. with autism (fairly mild). I found your work insightful and helpful - my wife is a doctor and spent many hours wading through medical texts to no avail. Our son Finley Turner is a very bright, friendly, healthy, unconditionally loved boy who can lose it sometimes. The guide helped us understand what to do and it helps him as much as us. Thanks for the work and I have recommended you to other parents in similar situations.
I found your articles to be extremely helpful...I applaud you for sharing your story and helping others who are going through similar situations. Thank you for sharing your story.
I was pleasantly surprised by the consistency, and thoroughness of the topics. I think this is a valuable tool. I think this was a valuable tool for me because as a parent we all need a kick in the butt and stay on task, constantly fighting, updating and communicating with caregivers, teachers and finding tools for our children. Keep it up!
I definitely found your information helpful. My grandson was just diagnosed this summer. He is very smart and sweet. We will continue to be an advocate for him thanks to your information. I am including a picture of him. 
"Hi my son of 3 and a half years was diagnosed today, I had concerns so prior to his appointment I researched it and joined your newsletter. The information was so helpful and very supportive it was almost like having a counselor as I opened each email I felt like some one really understood my situation so thanks you so much for that, it's a very hard thing to accept and you do feel alone but with the letters I was given inspiration and hope that not everything was going to be doom and gloom it was and still is a lifeline.
"I have found the newsletters very valuable. I have forwarded them to teachers who work with Matthias when they apply."
I have been reading your Newsletter for a while now. Find attached a picture of my family. Joel is the little boy in glasses. Thanks for putting a smile on me. My knowledge and support is increasing. I feel more positive towards helping my son than ever.
I am Ben's grandmother and see him every single day. He is a joy. What your info does is help us to understand the melt downs that quite frankly we have always put down to the meds that he takes. We have proved your theory of a strict regime for Ben. Each letter adds to our knowledge. Keep it up dear friend. We learn from you every day and will I am sure continue to learn. God Bless you.
25. August 2011 at 5:20 pm
I want to say baby shots have a lot to do with it and first thing I noticed with my son was i spotted with him when i was five months pregnant. And i lived in a brand new trailer and I think all the chemicals from the trailer affected him. Including all the baby shots made him break out with whatever was in the shot. And when he got older he got shingles twice and lyme disease twice and broke out and hives everything he ate and breathed.
He didn’t talk until he was four and had to go to speech therapy. He didn’t learn his alphabet until second grade at five had a one year and speech and an eight year old memory. His IQ was very high. He walked at nine months and never crawled. He was uncoordinated and he still to this day has no common since and no fear. He will do anything that’s not safe and not think twice he still has comprehension problems but he’s very smart at math and figuring out things. Like how things work by taking them apart. He used to line all his little racing cars in a huge long line sideways and take all the wheels off. He’s now 23 and he never graduated. He was in special education all his life. He’s smart but struggles any of this sound familiar? He doesn’t get sick but when he does catch something from a stomach thing he’s sick for a long time.
23. August 2011 at 5:08 am
Hi everyone
Interesting reading. How a study can make us all think and maybe believe that aspergers are a new thing and caused from EMR’s, ultrasounds etc. I am a 62 year old male, just a month ago having been diagnosed with aspergers. I did not have any electronic devices near me at child hood, But I believe that my mother have aspergers, she is 85, and my cousin definitely have it, and there is mentioned somewhere that Albert Einstein had it. Maybe there is an aspergers gene that is being passed around and multiplied? Food for thought?
22. August 2011 at 9:21 pm
I have a grandson that has just been diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 1/2. I had suspected he had the disorder since before he was one. He had several of the telltale signs but my son and wife wouldn’t admit that he might have a problem. He was always a “fussy” baby and I rarely saw him without a passifier in his mouth. When he tried to make talking sounds they were merely grunts since he couldn’t form words with this in his mouth. He is now receiving speech therapy but still only makes hissing or grunting noises. To get back on subject, I also believe that EMR’s and ultrasound procedures could possibly have an effect on the embryo. I wonder if there is a higher instance of autism from mothers that had early or multiple ultrasounds. I don’t know when the first ultrasounds were done but it seems that more parents are having them done for no other reason than to determine the sex of their child. Could these procedures alter developing brain cells?
22. August 2011 at 8:56 am
This is an interesting thought that has been put forth. My son is diagnosed with Autism. He is now 24 years old. I knew before he was born that there was something different with him. It was a mother’s intuition that alerted me to this information. I fully believe that Autism is an environmental issue. I have believed this for years, and I have been at workshops where this idea has been discussed as a huge possibility. A medical doctor, here in Canada, wrote an article in one of the Health Magazines given out at Health Food stores across Canada about 15 years ago, equating Autism with the Canaries the miners used to take underground with them. The canaries would die at the first instance of poisonous gas giving the men time to get out of the area or back to the surface to cleaner air. With the increasing amount of children being born with and diagnosed with Autism, is this a signal about the quality of our environment? Have a fabulous day, Hethar
22. August 2011 at 6:47 am
How about ultrasounds, amniocentesis, or any other procedure that interupts the sanctity of the embryo? When I discovered Aspergers was a neurological difference that was my first thought. Lots of magic goes on in the embryo and we disrupt it. How can that not have an effect?
22. August 2011 at 1:24 am
Craig, stop!!!! Leave this topic alone before it creates a divide among us. While it is tempting to speculate on what to blame for our children’s plight, none of us can lay claim to the true answers. I have great respect for your work and would not want anyone to have reason to debate with you on this. Direct others to another link if they want to argue any further.
22. August 2011 at 12:11 pm
I did not post this article because I wanted parents to feel that they did something wrong. I do NOT know whether cell phones or other type of EMR have any causal relationship with autism. But for parents to be better educated, I list this article. If, after reading this articke, a parent with a newborn then chooses not to speak on a cell while holding the infant, then that is up to them. I would be remiss if I did not pass this on.
21. August 2011 at 10:49 pm
I like this article, we need to call attention to this
modern hazard…one note on EMR, doesn’t it stand for electromagntic radiation
instead of what had been written?
22. August 2011 at 12:15 pm
Electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) is how it is referred to in the original article.
21. August 2011 at 7:54 pm
I live in Orange County, CA and have a 9 year old son with Asperger’s. Orange County, and the area in and around my city have a very high rate of Autism and Asperger’s compared to the rest of the US. I have a hard time believing that we have more cell towers or phones than the rest of the world. In fact, living in a flat area near the coast, I would assume we have fewer cell towers than other areas. We have 1 TV, and our son was only allowed to start using computers last year. I strongly believe this area has more reported cases due to the local living standard and insurance.
On the other hand I have had friends who swear that heavy metal reduction has made a huge difference with their Aspies though.
21. August 2011 at 2:53 pm
I have a son who has strong features of Asperger Syndrome. He is 27. It was only by chance I came to realise that he had Asperger yet all the signs were there from the time he was born. Sleep pattern was bad, he lined up toys, shoes and piled up boxes. Very pedantic, always had to have the last word in everything. Had lots of friends, that was never a problem. Extremely bright at school but I hated parents evenings as teachers always had something to complain about his behaviour in class. Straight “A” student all the way through. His room was always tidy. Instructions had to be given in parts. I remember once coming home and saying “Gosh, its raining like cats and dogs out there” … he looked through the window and said “I don’t see any cats and dogs???” ahh and of course “trainers are not shoes” and “magazines are not books” of course….Talking about someone’s “marriage is on the rocks” only caused a problem in his understanding …. Because I had never heard of Aspergers nothing clicked until …. I got a job working for a Specialist Doctor in behavioural problems. Day in and day out I type medical reports describing behaviour problems which I’m so familiar with.
Besides that, my son has an interest which is the only interest he has ever had…music!!!!! It almost takes over his life. He is successful in what he does and he is independent in his profession. Relationships with girlfriends don’t last because his interest comes first.
I was able to cope with him up until he was about 18 years of age. From the age of 18 onwards, if I didn’t know he was born with Asperger I would swear this was something that he had “”caught”" when he turned 18″. Communication between the two of us is non-existent because an argument ensues right after the 10th/12th word. He does not like to be interrupted. If I don’t interrupt he goes on and on… sometimes talks for a good 5 -7 minutes non-stop then he wants an answer, by then I have already forgotten what was the topic of the conversation so I have no answer …. then of course another argument starts because “you don’t pay any attention to what I say bla bla….”
Its horrendous and I don’t know if at the age of 27 there is any therapy that will help him … on the other hand I go for group therapy in order to find some help on how to deal with him…. I’m 65 and don’t have a clue how to deal with this….. (I have a complete library of books on Aspergers at home but cant find help for myself) It is so bad that many times I tell him not to come and visit me as it wears me out. He is my only son and I feel bad doing this. Unfortunately I cant find a lot of help for adults of Aspergers. I’m lucky in a way that I work for someone who can help me with certain questions (I work for a Pediatric Specialist) but I don’t think there is anything to help me cope. In the last 6 years I have already had 2 nervous breakdowns. Any advice????
21. August 2011 at 4:08 pm
The symptoms you describe are common for someone with Asperger’s syndrome —extreme focus on his topic of interest, poor communication skills, inability to carry on a conversation, poor social skills which limit his ability to have friends and relationships. Your son could definitely benefit from communications therapy where a therapist explains to your son how communication and conversations work. The concept of small talk. Sarcasm. Nuance. Pacing. Allowing the other person to speak also…sometimes referred to as reciprocal conversation.
As for you, I am glad that you have some help. I suggest that all parents joint an autism or Asperger’s support group. These are excellent in allowing you to meet other people who have traveled down the same path that you are on. They can give you tips and suggestions on how to interact with your son. These groups are an excellent source of referrals. For information on finding support resources in your area, see the article Asperger’s/autism Support Resources.
22. August 2011 at 4:02 am
The question I have is – does the use of cells phones cause Autism or do the EMR’s cause learning difficulties or learning delays? We must not forget the Triad of Impairment by which Autism is diagnosed!!! I feel that Autism is being used in a very literal term for someone who has difficulty around people. Maybe there a many factors for the diagnosis of Autism – better awareness, doctors better trained etc. I’m sure many of us have a family member who is a bit aloof and can come across as rude – maybe they are on the Spectrum but have never been diagnosed. Don’t use the word Autism liberally. I am a mother of a child with Autism and Severe Learning & Communication Difficulties and hate it when people brandish my son’s diagnosis at random.
22. August 2011 at 12:39 pm
Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it. My biggest problem is to make my son accept to go and see a Doctor about it so he can then be referred to a speech therapist. He is in complete denial (actually he says I’m the one who has problems). As I said he is doing well professionally and has his own business but time will come when he will start having problems due to the nature of his work. I wish I could do something before it reaches that point.
22. August 2011 at 1:06 pm
It is often a challenge for parents to have their children (whether teens or adults) believe that an autism specialist can help them and teach them skills which will enhance their lives. Perhaps if he sees himself in others, he will realize that there are solutions to his difficulties. I suggest you have him read this newsletter An Aspergers Adult Who Was Diagnosed at Age 24 and His Struggles to Learn Social Skills. Perhaps it will help.
25. August 2011 at 11:20 am
Thanks for this reply. Although approaching my son on anything t0 do with AS is a big problem I am definitely sending him this the link you sent me. Whether he will read it or not, I dont know. I can only try but I feel right now I did all I could for him. Why is it so hard for him to accept this, I dont know. In my view I feel its just the lack of knowledge he has about AS that makes him so hard to accept that he has it. I dont have a problem accepting that I have a son with AS.
21. August 2011 at 11:01 am
i read your article and find it really good and informatic. i m also agreed with this theory that EMR do have effect and are the cause for autism.
21. August 2011 at 10:11 am
all your articles have given me so many ideas, easy to talk to parents and inform them, they feel one feels too.
21. August 2011 at 9:43 am
Regarding Ann (20 Aug) above.
The issue of EMR affecting humans was discussed on Cape Talk, a Cape Town radio station on 13 August. Several callers described their sensitivity to EMR. One person was described as having suffered for years from EMR. He was unable to sleep at home but had to drive his car to a remote beach or a friend’s farm in order to get away from EMR. When he arrived back home he always had to switch off all the electricity.
There followed a live interview with a professor in Sweden who has conducted extensive research on the EMR effects on humans.There was no doubt in his mind that this phenomenon is a real threat to our health. In fact it is taken very seriously in Sweden to the extent that the government will “sanitize” your home to remove or minimize the effect (this includes painting walls with a special paint and replacing all the electrical wires – with what I am not sure, and there are available cottages for rent in remote areas free from EMR.
In short, there is significant circumstantial and anecdotal evidence for the phenomenon. The problem with the scientific community is that in order for an idea to be accepted by mainstream science the phenomenon must be provable and repeatable in numerous double blind trials in a scientifically controlled manner. This is not always possible with the human condition and we need alternate methods. We are grateful for the open minded approach being followed by Craig Kendall and others.
21. August 2011 at 5:55 am
I have read all of these comments with interest. I have been a teacher for over thirty years and have no doubt that there is an increase in the incidence of ASD /Asperger’s and it is not to do with an better ability to diagnose. Children simply did not appear in great numbers with the signs/ symptoms of this condition.
I also have first hand experience of having a son with Asperger’s and he has serious difficulties in coping with everyday life- with huge anxieties and as anyone with an Aspie will know there are numerous melt downs when things are thrown and violence towards others in the family or themselves is common. It does become more difficult to parent these children as they get older and it must be a good thing to increase understanding.
In my view it is not necessarily the case that boys are more prone to it than girls- I think that girls have the ability through the way the brain is made to transfer information across the cortex and to conceal the condition by copying with others more readily. There are numerous examples of females who behave ‘more like a man’ who are obsessive but may present all of this in a more socially acceptable way.
It would be useful to know whether the Aspie brain is formed during pregnancy and determined by DNA and influenced in the womb by nutrition or environmental factors or is damaged by he impact of the ‘environmental’ aspect after birth. Mercury in vaccines for example- is there any used in the MMR? Would the apparent genetic link just demonstrate that there is an inherited susceptibility to the effects on the brain of heavy metals etc or that the DNA is passed resulting in Aspergers?
I also think that the way we teach now with a multi activity sessions / encouraging discussion and active learning does not suit the child with any level of ‘autism’ as there is too much sensory overload in the everyday hub bub of a classroom that was certainly never ‘allowed’ when schools were run by heads who would like each room to work in silence without all the distractions of walls being plastered with displays. I am not saying that we should go back to this but feel there are some children, maybe more than we realize who need a more ‘still, consistent, focused and predictable’ environment with bland walls to enable them to cope as so many are not.
Thoughts?
23. August 2011 at 4:04 am
I have read through each and every comment here, as well as your responses Craig. It is interesting as a person who at the age of 41 has just recently been diagnosed with AS, to see the comments made by people as AS “sufferers” and people who know people who have AS. While I am mostly able to function well in society, social interactions are a HUGE stumbling block for me. Interpersonal relationships with colleagues, family members and the tiny group of friends i have, are usually exceptionally hard work for me, exhausting and emotionally scarring.
While I am NOT a medical professional, nor am I well versed YET in the entire world of AS, I have the following beliefs/understandings:
1. I do believe that AS is at least partially genetically passed on. Is this environmental? Personally I think no. I think this is more about our predisposition to having certain traits when activated/added together equal AS.
2. I do believe that as a society, we have become obsessed with “germs” and kill anything that is not directly beneficial to our bodies. This is killing the body’s natural ability to have anti-bodies. I remember my son (who is now 13 and probably also has AS) as a baby having a baby gro that was specifically set aside for his sand play. He was not even able to walk, but loved to play in the garden in the sand and would burrow himself into heaps of leaves in the autumn, he would go and play in a big bucket we had for the dogs to drink water out of, he would eat mulberries off the tree and he would be covered in mulberry juice from head to toe. Both my kids as toddlers would love it when it rained and there was a muddy puddle outside our unit, they would get into “mud play clothes” and would spend hours playing in the mud puddle. Children are not allowed to do this anymore, in fact, heaven forbid we even touch the soap dispenser BEFORE we wash our hands!!! (We now have auto dispensing soap units – really is this not taking germ obliteration too far??)
3. There is a marked increase in knowledge/awareness of Autism and AS these days so much so that I am convinced this has a direct and clear impact on the number of people being diagnosed with AS/Autism today. To what degree exactly it is impacted, I could not say as I am by no means in a position to make that call, but I would be extremely interested in the results of such research!
4. The number of things in our lives that now include some sort of pesticides is alarming. They now say that even organic mulches are supposedly bad for us.
5. As someone mentioned before, the chemicals that would be found in our cookware etc
I believe that if there was something environmental that could have some sort of influence on AS some of if not all of the above should be considered for the list. I think it is possible to take some of this research too far, however maybe it may lessen the number of people being diagnosed with a condition that can be debilitating and make for an extremely lonely existence. If causes are found for these conditions, then maybe more effective ways can be discovered/created to make our lives that bit easier.
Thank you Craig for this forum in which we can discuss AS without being judged. Maybe one day, I can afford to order your book all the way from the US (I am in Australia) as I do believe it will be of great assistance in my life of a newly diagnosed Aspie.
21. August 2011 at 5:22 am
It seems like every time I read about an illness that has become on the rise like cancer and now Autism, someone always brings up cell phone usage and radiation as a reason for this calamity. My son is over 20 years old and we never had a cell phone tell he was 15 years old. I think that this may have no significances to this situation.
My own theory is that Autism has always been a part of society but was never seen at the rates it is know because the scientific world has not had as many specimens to examine. Our world has more than tripled in its size because most family’s has three or more children. So after a period of time our world has a greater chance in multiple increase exposure of seeing different rates of autism as there are so many different degrees such as Asperger disorder, etc. ADHD is always what they called it up until 10 years ago and before that it was slow or retardation and before that it was a possessed child. It is more likely to be genetic then environmental in my book.
20. August 2011 at 11:15 pm
I am from Maldives, A country of 2000 small islands, Very popular destination for tourists,I would like to know weather any groups or a personwhould be intrested in opening a some clasess for a our autistic children.
20. August 2011 at 10:19 pm
My son , now 9 has just been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as having learning disabilities although signs were there since he was 3. We never had a cell phone till just 2 years ago and I never held any phone to him, he is scared of phones and finds it strange that a person can be in there….. I also do not feel we need to “cure” our children. I do not like to hear that. There is no cure. They are all special and we have learned a lot from our child and love him how he is. Even when a day is stressful he is a joy! Nor sure what causes it. but we can not always blame it on something….. IT just is.
21. August 2011 at 12:18 am
I fully agree that all of our children are special. Unfortunately, many of them will have challenging lives because others do not understand them. Also, their lack of social skills often isolates them from others and limits their ability to have full and meaningful relationships. Whether or not cell phones have any impact on autism, I have no idea. I pass on this research because I feel parents would like to see it.
I do believe that with early intervention our children can be happy in who they are. For more information on early intervention strategies, read this article: Can Autism Be Prevented? Research Suggests Parents Can Play a Pivotal Role
21. August 2011 at 2:50 am
I agree that it is important to collect as much data as possible on the possible causes for the increase of children on the autism spectrum. Knowledge is power and with it comes a responsibility to utilize that information. While knowing and believing these facts may not account for all children on the spectrum, it does give you yet one more area in which to study. However we choose to look at it or whatever we may believe, there is one certain fact: there is a definite increase in the diagnoses of children on the spectrum. Perhaps, it is merely better diagnostic procedures; but whatever it is, every avenue needs to be explored and considered.
I have been told that girls with Asperger’s present differently than boys. Because of the differences in the way girls handle situations compared to the way in which boys handle situations, it is easier to overlook the diagnosis in girls compared with boys. This may be the reason it is perceived that more boys than girls are on the autistic spectrum.
I agree that children with Asperger’s have some wonderful personality traits. While their senses of humor may be a little different, they are nonetheless, charming, witty, honest individuals. I don’t think it is a matter of “fixing” them or even “curing” them—just understanding them. Also, if we can teach them more appropriate ways to communicate with others, there will be fewer misunderstandings and fewer incidents where the aspie finds himself in a situation of ridicule. Their intelligence leads me to believe that it is possible, with effort, to “catch themselves” before they say something hurtful or before they ramble on for an hour about a subject the person to whom they are speaking is clearly not interested. We, as their parents, teachers, friends should be able to (and I believe we ARE able to) help them fit in socially without having them lose their special qualities that make them “them”.
20. August 2011 at 10:13 pm
Very informative. I would love to see a Induced Autism Article. LIA Foundation is very informative. Over 90% people with autism have Lyme Disease!
20. August 2011 at 9:54 pm
This interests me greatly. I have Aspergers and I am unable to work in part due to my extreme sensitivities to computers, cell phones, energy saving light bulbs (as well as many things not related to this article).
Has anyone heard of this before: I was in a car accident in 2007 and had whiplash. A doctor ordered an MRI of my neck. I told them of my noise sensitivities and they gave me ear plugs and headphones. I told them no music. Well I lasted only 45 seconds before I had to push the button and have them stop the MRI. It sounded like a jackhammer inside my head and my brain felt like it was dying! I couldn’t walk as I was disoriented and very weak. I was shaking for 2 days and the 2nd day I cried uncontrollably.
The doctor by way of nurse said I was having a panic attack but I knew something was physically wrong with me. I called my ND and he told me right away that the noise and magnetism of the MRI had upset my nervous system and told me to take my liquid B vitamins and go for some long walks.
In a couple of days I was better but I tried to think of how to describe what I felt during that 45 seconds. To me it was like “the perfect torture”. I truly think I could have died. It actually upset me so much that I had a lot of anger to think anyone would put someone through something like that. I have also wondered if the alterations in the earth’s magnetic field is affecting people, like me. I wonder if this is why I have severe sleep problems because I can’t fall asleep. Doctors can’t figure this out as I don’t have a typical sleep disorder. This MRI thing may sound crazy but this truly happened to me.
30. March 2012 at 11:25 pm
Hi Ann,
It sounds as though you could be electrosensitive. You may find some useful links about the condition here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/87274148/Could-you-be-Electrosensitive
Also there are some other references exploring the link bteween autism and EMF exposures here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/69090809/Electrosmog-and-Autism-a-possible-link
20. August 2011 at 9:51 pm
My son is 27 and was diagnosed with Asperger’s while an undergrad at college. There were no cellphones in our house until he was in high school and we don’t live near any cellphone towers. I believe there is a genetic component to his case as there seems to be several relatives on both side of our families that exhibit Asperger like tendencies.
I am not a scientist but I would bet dollars to donuts that the way we eat and the vessels we use to cook in are at the root of the autism uptick. The use of non-stick Teflon skillets and cookware coupled with the overuse of pesticides in the fresh produce we consume has totally changed the way we eat and must have some role in this especially during pregnancy. The additives and chemicals that are put into our food could also be culprits. My advice to pregnant women would be to eat organic and prepare your food in cast iron or stainless steel cookware.
20. August 2011 at 8:12 pm
My son was born in 1992, I didn’t have anything but a home telephone and rabbit ears on the roof… He has Aspergers and has now just entered his senior year in high school. He was a normal, active child until his two year old required shots at the Pediatrician. He was active, had three older sisters, danced around and then became quiet and withdrawn following inoculations. I know in his case, it had nothing to do with electromagnetic anything. I hope they find a reason though.
Take heart parents, there are some things you can do to help the OCD… change bath times, dinner times, even by 10 minutes. I am glad I did and put up with the “issues.” He no longer exhibits these OCD traits. It took years, but well worth it! Mr. Kendall has great ideas, keep him on your list. I have appreciated his notes. Take care
21. August 2011 at 10:30 pm
What do u mean by OCD……?
20. August 2011 at 8:06 pm
I do get what you are saying however I am still skeptical. Not only has increased use of cell phone thus EMR but also there has been increase use of GMOs in our daily diet. And not eating them is nearly impossible. GMOs possible could be changing the chemical make up of our genetic make up thus passing it on to our children. At the same time I also feel that we have become more aware of children who we thought to be ADHD, or ADD or even bipolar to have AS or even high functioning Autism. We are just now really studying the human brain and becoming aware of how complex it really is.
21. August 2011 at 1:16 am
More children are simply being diagnosed. I believe this too is an explanation for the dramatic increase. My husband wasn’t diagnosed until he was in his late 30s and my brother was labeled all kinds of things before, again in his 30′s, someone finally gave him a diagnosis that fit. If the adults who should have been diagnosed as children and children who were misdiagnosed as something else through lack of understanding, were fed into the data then the increase would be more like a gentle slope than a spike. There is still a substantial level of increase that needs to be explained though.
20. August 2011 at 7:54 pm
If this is the case, why does Autism affect more males than females.
20. August 2011 at 7:57 pm
It is generally believed that roughly three boys are diagnosed with autism for every one girl. This is a general statistic and this article seems to find the same relationship. i do not believe that the article speculates that boys are more susceptible to EMR than are girls.
21. August 2011 at 7:19 am
My daughter was diagnosed with Asperger’s late – at age 11 – even though she demonstrated certain behaviors from age 2 on. The dr. said that girls are often either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed because their quietness (or being withdrawn, etc.) is considered “ok” in a classroom setting, etc. My daughter did not have social skills and was often considered the quiet, good child in her classes because she didn’t cause trouble. Kids that are acting up often take up the teachers attention.
20. August 2011 at 6:56 pm
it is really very helpful for teachers like me in the field of Counseling & Psychotherapy
20. August 2011 at 6:19 pm
What is the reference info for the study quoted?
20. August 2011 at 7:07 pm
The reference I have is to a PDF of the published study. This link currently works. I cannot say it will work forever:
http://www.avaate.org/IMG/pdf/EMR-Autism-ACNEM-final.pdf
20. August 2011 at 7:34 pm
I recommend reading “The Body Electric, Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life” by Robert O. Becker, M.D. and Gary Selden. I do believe our lives are probably being affected by too much EMF. In what ways? We need more research to be done.
21. August 2011 at 10:27 am
I have learnt a lot in your article that helped me guide my pupil that has asperger syndrome. She is 9yrs old. That’s by the way, I read an article that suggests that having babies at old age definitely affects the baby. So my question is, does old age affect produce babies with autism?
21. August 2011 at 10:42 am
Honestly am shocked to hear that the use of cell phones contributes to Autism. Well I don’t know what to say here.
20. August 2011 at 6:08 pm
I read this and I get what you’re saying. My daughter has Asperger’s and she was different & difficult from the very day she was born. In hindsight, there was no point of “onset” of autism. Once she was diagnosed, everything back to day one all made sense. Her inability to snuggle or sooth herself was apparent to everyone from birth.
How can we relate this to EMR? Was it because I used a cell phone while I was pregnant with her? It’s really doubtful. If you track the rapid growth of cell phones and cell phone users, as these scientists have, I believe that you could logically find a direct correlation to anything in this world that also had a rapid growth during the same time period.
What about the rapid growth in helicopter usage for tourists in Hong Kong? Did cell phones cause that? Thats just silly, right? What about the rapid growth of immigration to the US in the last 10 years? Did cell phones cause that? I’m just sayin’.
More likely than anything, this is directly related to a population that has better health coverage than ever before. More families seek help and can be diagnosed. More diagnosis’ where families would have just dealt with their difficult children (obviously high spectrum) and raised them to adults. Think about how many people that you come in contact that are socially impaired and surely have never been diagnosed.
20. August 2011 at 7:12 pm
I fully understand your point. Is the increase in cell phone usage simply correlated or is it a causal relationship? In other words, does EMR actually contribute to a child getting autism? I certainly do not know.
This particular study, if I understand it correctly, is saying that they found a correlation to exposure to EMR and increase in heavy metals in children. I believe that THIS is the correlation that they are pointing out. They are suggesting that the increase in heavy metals contributes, along with other environmental issues to autism.
I am NOT a doctor or a clinical researcher. I only bring you this study because it was published in a peer reviewed journal that tends to have credibility in the scientific community.
21. August 2011 at 1:06 am
While I can agree with this reply to the extent that my son showed his symptoms from the day he was born, and is second generation spectrum on both sides of the family, I am sure that there is most definitely an environmental reason for the increase in spectrum DXs across the board. Just because my kid would have shown up on the spectrum no matter what, doesn’t mean that precautions like the ones mentioned won’t protect another child. I do think that information like this needs to be handled carefully though, because most people tend to get hung up on causes and knowing why it happened won’t usually help deal with the effects. No parent wants to hurt his child even indirectly but if exposure to EMR, for example, is what caused developmental delays, there is no going back in time to fix it and playing the blame game won’t help anyone move forward.
21. August 2011 at 12:52 pm
Very well said.
21. August 2011 at 3:49 pm
Thank you Gina for your comment I totally relate to that way of thinking. My brother, approaching 50, I believe is an undiagnosed aspie.He denies it when I approach him about it. That might explain why I have an aspie son that seems to act and characterizes a lot like my brother
20. August 2011 at 5:38 pm
I really like the article for it is informative specially to parents and educators.
20. August 2011 at 7:13 pm
I am trying to bring current and potentially relevant research findings to my readers. Thanks for your comment.
21. August 2011 at 6:28 am
Is there more autism in the past 10 years, or is it because we have given a name to a condition that has been around forever? I’m really not sure, but I have learned that with awareness comes ways of dealing with many difficult issues we face as human beings.
21. August 2011 at 12:16 pm
You ask a valid question. There are those who believe that the increase in the number of children “diagnosed” has risen but perhaps, there were children who were “undiagnosed” in the past but should have been. Certainly, this is true of Asperger’s syndrome and high functioning autism. I hear daily from adults who were never diagnosed as children and are just finding out today at ages 40, 50, 60 or in their 70s that they have autism.
The good news here is that with early detection, children can get therapy that can help them live more fulfilling and richer lives.
22. August 2011 at 8:08 am
I agree. My husband had differences I was trying to sort out why before I even decided to go through with the marriage. His Mom and one brother had obvious symptoms. It is said to pass through the male genes so I have pondered whether his Dad was as well, though he seemed to be more relational. This family would possibly throw a wedge in the Dad gene factor since Mom had it too; or only. This is three generational and high functioning enough that it didn’t cause any to fail in life, though the kids have struggled in relating. ONe is still single and very to himself.
I have two on the spectrum. They do seem to be struggling more, but they are just kids. One never qualified for special ed. The other barely did and was barely helped and pulled out in 2nd grade. I can think of more than a few people my age who seemed to possibly have it that I didn’t realize this could be an explanation for what we saw until learning this.
If the items are upsetting the kids then they are bad for everyone and we need to move back somehow for our health in society. All we have is phones connected to the PC or cell. They enjoy DSI and some are using simlir items for instruction due to attention level. I would think the computer would be potentially just as harmful. Their Uncle died of a rare brain tumor a year before my oldest, a neuro-typical, was born. He was at computers a lot. I read recently that rare brain tumors are also more common among ASDers/aspies. He was so high functioning that he didn’t seem to have it, but now I also wonder if even family members are more susceptible to dangers. Mom-in- law died of Pancreatic Cancer at 66, another brother of Esophageal Cancer in his late 50′s. This was a family of ten including the eight children; only one girl-eldest neuro-typical, and boys varying. Some doing better than others.
22. August 2011 at 1:17 pm
Craig. Hi! I closed my clinical practice with children and families after five years solo, previous 15 years psychiatric group.
My second volunteerism at the age of 20 was with a group of Dx autistic children, behind mirror, baselinig behaviors during their
Time at CHMC , Cincinnati, Ohio. I have subsequently through the years have worked with these children and adolescents
and families to varying degrees.
Causal relationships! Look at what processed foods have done: do you know how many dialysis unit buildings have been
built due to kidney failure related to? I would not if a client had not disclosed! Cell phones have affected my ears, I bought
a Bluetooth, and now have a wireless blackberry, nothing in ear! Can we say there is a bit od addiction and dependency and
denial going on in our world? Even with education, this is going to be a hard one to break. How many people have researched
what is in the flu shot/ swine flu shot/ combo? I believe we have a lemming process, desensitization, and many other layers
process in process. I won’t do too many run ons, but enough for a response? Sincerely, Sally P
21. August 2011 at 3:38 pm
I agree however the cellphone with emr technology is new. I would like to see further research.
21. August 2011 at 9:31 am
thank you so much for all the information you provid us everyday about Asperger syndrome, I hope some day you talk about AS children’s diet and where we can get all the snacks, food and drinks that our children with AS love but can’t eat them. in addition, i want to know if omega 3 is helpful for AS child and if so which brand is the best.
thank you
keep up the great work
21. August 2011 at 6:24 pm
Hi, I am a woman with Aspergers Syndrome who wrote my story for one of your books. I would love to read a book written about how to deal with the health issues that play a role in Aspergers Syndrome and the questions to ask one’s doctor. Doctors tell a person on the spectrum that they cannot be cured and give parents words that do not really bring hope. Parents and people on the spectrum should not have to struggle so hard. Services for people on the spectrum are a good recommendation, but what about the factors that effect the neurology in the first place? My life was made easier with Supplements my doctor never told me about, most of them are nutritional. The medical profession is not being honest about the causes of autism, the varied causes,and they don’t do the research to deal with the problems connected with Autism. The fact that doctor’s say autism cannot be cured or that their is nothing one can do for their kids with autism shows that doctor’s are too lazy to do any research and that is a true injustice to anyone on the spectrum. Please write a lengthy, well researched book on the health issues involved in those on the autism spectrum.
22. August 2011 at 1:02 pm
Thanks for the excellent suggestion. I am working right now with a nutritionist who I respect to see if there are some supplements that may help those on the spectrum.
22. August 2011 at 4:11 am
I have known something was wrong with my nephew since he was about 3 years old. Now he is 13yrs old and I feel so badly t hat I didn’t assert my suspisions sooner, and or more aggresively. I was persistant but not with much success, his mom is just now comming to terms with this. She too has a realy difficult time with reading and achedemics, but does not display any other signs of this or aspergers as I thought perhaps she too was stricken with this. My concern is that the schools consistantly do not recognise this as an issue and he is stuck in just slow learning classes and some normal 8th grade required education, This causes so many anxioties and I fear that they will eventualy cause him to stop going to school. Because of the challenge being too great, the peer presures can be brutal and some instructors do not play fair. We have been up against all types of school staff, good and bad. Its that bad ones that we are so worried about becaues some are displaying narcasistic traits and take our Alonzs’ inability to learn at an average rate cause frustration with them and they are guageing Alonzos achademic achievments with thier teaching abilities and skills. Then they harrass this poor kid and make his school expieriences a horrible place for him to be. We have had meeting and group discusions with some of the school staff.. And we realy need to findout how we cna get him tested for aspergers.. The childs aunt and advocate..
22. August 2011 at 1:23 pm
And yes, genetics were there before increase! No “refridgerator moms”