Trump on autism

[BeHappySloth]

Sorry if there is another thread - I did look.

I mean, wtf??!!

But the Republicans also put up a senile old man!

Exactly what research have they done to come to this conclusion??

I am not going to take any type of health advice from someone who cannot remember what the R in MMR stands for !

And what was all the 'toughing it out' shite about ?

I don't think anyone, ever, would be happy their child died unless they are a psychopath! So no. Not sure how the studies will be conducted, as it's out of my hands. Let's wait until we get more information before getting wild and saying people will be killing children.

The scientists at the Dept of Human Health and Science will be conducting the studies I guess. Not sure that RFK Jr will be doing them himself.

I think that's fair as I responded to another poster. You don't want a cure so even if one came out, you shouldn't be made to get your child to take it. Spare a moment to think about the autistic children who have recently drowned in the US. Some children are more impacted than others. Some parents would like a cure. I think it's fair a cure is found and people can take it if they wish

That was precisely their strategy, actually. (See, for a historical parallel, a guy called Adolf.)

Repeating this message because the children on the severe end of the spectrum aren't having their voices heard enough. Your child doesn't need adaptations a d she doesn't need a cure. What if your child had non verbal autism with self harm? Unable to engage with the world , restricted diet and pica? Smearing and unable to live independently? Would you want a cure then? This is why it's unreasonable for the same condition to have this much variation. People like you will, probably understandably, see it as a slight that your child might be considered to have an illness. But for some, it is an illness and those children and parents deserve anything that would bring them even the tiniest amount of relief

When was paracetamol available in the UK? My mum was autistic and she was born in 1943.

Right, but why would you think no more is being done? A quick google will show there's loads of ongoing research all over the world.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9498424/#:~:text=Autism%20Database%20(AutDB),candidates%20biologically%20relevant%20to%20ASD).

And this is a quick read on the fact that Trump and RFK have defunded autism research (along with cancer research).
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-administration-cut-autism-related-research-by-26-so-far-2025-2025-05-16/

1956

Our son is 9, and cognitively 2.5 years old. He still isn’t toilet trained, has very limited vocabulary and even less understanding.

He sleeps for around 3-4hrs a night, and has huge emotional difficulties that can regularly lead to meltdowns that involve biting, kicking and hitting out at us.

He’s also hilarious, and very caring, and has the biggest smile that he reserves for his most special people. He tries really hard to play with other kids, even if he can’t speak to them, and finds absolute joy in everyday things like spoons.

He is complex, his needs are high, but he is who he is and we love him for it all. Warts and all.

He has exactly the kind of needs people on this thread would say cost a fortune in funding, and would require a cure because of the level of demand on caregivers and probably society.

I still cannot understand anyone who would change their children, or condone someone trying to make sure people like him don’t exist in whatever form they exist in.

I read reports on Trumps speech though I didn't watch it. Did he say paracetamol/Tylenol is the only cause of autism? Lots of responses on the thread seem to imply that. I had thought he said might be a cause rather then the only cause.

Sure you did.

I would 💯 % change my child if he has any illness that would reduce his likelihood of living a safe and fulfilling life. I would reduce his drowning risk, reduce the risk of illnesses from pica just to mention a few. I would change and remove any condition to make my child safe and well. I would also want to ensure any future children have the ability to live as full a life as they want and deserve. I don't know if anyone is saying any children/people shouldn't exist/be eliminated, or at least I hope no one is talking about mass elimination of any sub group

I would really love for my son to not have the OCD and the distressing rumination. In time he might become more comfortable with the situational mutism.
If he didn't have this, he would still be him, but he would be having a much happier time of being a teenager.

Pot kettle.

I’m assuming any children you do have don’t have complex needs?

I’d imagine looking at them and wishing they were an entirely different child is quite rare, that’s all.

They do have complex needs and that's why I'd change them...in that I would remove those needs so they can be safe and happy. I think some parents would and some wouldn't but also some parents wouldn't say it as it would be thought of as taboo. I don't see if that way. I would remove any and all hindrances to my child's happiness, whatever it may be called :)

“The complainants in the case engaged five experts, including Baccarelli, to testify in their case. But in December 2023 their testimonies were dismissed by a federal judge, Denise Cote, who found their views to be “unreliable”.

Of Baccarelli’s testimony, Cote said: “The discussion in his reports is incomplete, unbalanced and at times misleading. In general, Dr Baccarelli downplays those studies that undercut his causation thesis and emphasises those that align with his thesis.”

Scientist behind Trump’s Tylenol claims was paid $150K to give evidence against drug maker

https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa7fff5a-d267-440f-a544-a3cd75c33416?shareToken=53171527772e2c378f669a732a7149be

I actually agree. What I’m trying to say though is that part of the rise in autism isn’t because we’ve suddenly got vastly increased numbers of children developing severe symptoms but because children like dd who can actually function perfectly well with a few minor adjustments are being diagnosed.
So saying we need a cure because autism is rampant is too broad. Autism might be ‘rampant’ but not everyone who receives an autism diagnosis is actually in need of a cure. It’s way more complex and subtle than that.

I thought my dd could function well until she hit adolescence. 5 years later she’s still not functioning well.

Appeared to function so well during primary no one suspected anything. Then burnout hit at 14……

Do you actually think non scientist Trump and anti vax Kennedy Jr are 'finally looking into it'. Don't fall for their bullshit with the 'nasty things' they 'put into the beautiful children ' bollocks that they spout. Real scientists and medical experts have been researching for many years; no proof to link to vaccines or other medication. There is a known link to genetics though.

Trump has probably heard of some snake oil that someone wants to push as an alternative medicine. He's an idiot but many people sadly fall for his ramblings.

I’m not trying to negate anyone’s experience- it sounds incredibly tough.
But there are people who did/do manage. And not just manage but live full and happy and meaningful lives. With a few quirks. Like my mum.
Again, I was replying originally to someone who said there had to be a reason that autism is now rampant and a cure is needed. I simply started by pointing out that one reason autism rates have shot up os because it encompasses people who enever would have been diagnosed a decade or more ago, like dd, and not everyone would need or want a cure. It isn’t rampant because suddenly thousands more children are nonverbal or engage in smearing. It’s not to say that doesn’t happen because it does, but it’s a vastly more complex picture than simply shouting ‘cure autism’ allows
for.

I've got two ND children and don't recall taking paracetamol during pregnancy.

Correlation also doesn't equal causation as has been mentioned. Autism is highly genetic. So autistic children often have autistic mums. Connective tissue disorders are more common in autistic people. Pain thresholds can also be affected. So perhaps paracetamol use might be higher in parents of autistic kids. That doesn't mean it is causing autism.