Film about autism and MMR

[Jimjams]

On Dec 15 on channel 5 there is a film about autism and the MMR. it's called Hear the Silence. Apparently -even if you;re not enamoured with the MMR storyline- its a pretty accurate portrayal of life with autism in the family (oh heck!) I've seen the word "harrowing" used. Apparently you need lots of hankies. My friend's (from email) son is in it. 4 years ago they said he wouldn't ever talk and now he's been in a film- absolutely amazing. i can't wait to see it. MrsF - remind me please :-)

The woman from truly madly deeply is in it as well- she plays my friend's son's mum.

Davros- do you label everything in ABA? I'm wondering now whether to stick PECS cards everywhere. He knows nouns- but I noticed open was written on the door. The mother doing ABA seemed to have plenty of time to swan about (not realistic I know!)

god it really upset me. ds had mmr - and now i wish we hadn't taken the risk. does anyone know where (i'm in london) i can get an immunity test done - i can't bear to have a booster

message withdrawn

I was riveted to the programme and also thought the debate was better than I'd expected.

Nicky was heartbreaking - is he autistic or an accomplished actor? I'm pleased to see you felt the autism shown was realistic, Jimjams. All the time I was wondering what experienced MN-ers would be thinking. Although I knew about the gut problems I hadn't realised about all the other immune problems that the children can have, on top.

Such a shame the govt didn't feel able to join the debate. It makes one wonder if they have something to hide, if they aren't prepared to defend their case... And who was the pro-MMR man in the debate who suddenly had a massive unprovoked big rant? When is the new paper AW mentioned going to be published? The person who moved me most was the mother of the 15yo lad, William. She seemed to sum it all up, for me.

I haven't read all this, as I'm v pressed for time today, but I was interested to read your comment about peanuts, Jimjams. My autistic nephew is practically obsessed by peanuts ? they're one of the few foods he will eat, and eat to excess.

the times said it was very good but very one sided.

www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,171-933539,00.html

That programme was the greatest load of codswallop i have ever seen

Pricks up ears

here is another skeptical view of the film. Guardian Article .

glad I didn't see it, I think (ok, know) I would have agreed with carriemac

message withdrawn

Very good Guardian article!! Very true!

Enjoyed that Guardian article bk. The Indie crit was equally scathing but can't do a link.

I thought it was well acted and the depiction of Andrew Wakefield seemed realistic: I have heard him interviewed on radio 4 a couple of times ( he is now based in the US - hounded out of the UK) and he is very definite and adamant that there has been a deliberate cover up by the British medical authority in collusion with the Government that there are links between the MMR and the incidence of autism and bowel disease.He is absolutely adamant and has said there needs to be an immediate inquiry along the lines of the David Kelly inquiry.
When you think about it - and I am no expert at all here, just relying on a bit of common sense and a few brain cells! - there are a number of cases where drugs thought to be entirely safe were eventually withdrawn; thalidomide, seroxat for under 18s.And now HRT is cancer - related.So why is there such opposition to continuing the research?
My dd has had single vaccines and I thank God we chose that path.The way parents' views and understanding has been dismissed and concealed by the authorities is a national scandal.
Unfortunately I missed the debate following the prog - can anyone fill me in?

I wish I'd seen the Wakefield/Snow interview.
I thought Wakefield was back from the US because he couldn't get any work.

Donnie, I don't think anyone has said to stop research on our vaccination-programme?

Also, I thought there had been less research done on the single vaccines actually....

thanks for that twiglett. does anyone know any other private clinics in london? am i being stupid?

FM the vaccines used singly are exactly the same as the ones in the MMR- only given one at a time. To scare parents in to believing that they are somehow less well tested than the MMR is just another example of the dept of Health muddying the waters.

Suedonim- the mother of william is a Rosemary kessick. She started up the charity- Allergy induced autism (AiA) they have a website.

Glad you thought the programme was codswallop carriemac. A great deal of it reflected my life and how it is on a dily basis. I hope for your sake it remains codswallop.

Davros- another thought struck me- there was no battle with the LEA to get ABA funding. They must have had a spare 30 grand lying around

exactly ks and he never has. That's the whole point. Visceral (who fund his work now) refuse to accept grants from anti-vaccination groups. they believe in vaccination for the majority of children, they just believe in safe vaccination.

Did you see the Sunday Times article this week? it was very good.

jimjams - yes - my only criticism was that the film made it sound like ABA is within everyone's reach!

The bits that reminded me most of DS1 were when she was trying to get the various medical professionals to examine him and he was just impossible to examine. That was my DS1, absolutely. It used to make me so mad, I'd go to the doctors and explain why I was so worried about him, they'd dismiss it as "normal toddler behaviour" - and then be nonplussed because they just couldn't examine him!

oh yeah- the ear exam! I was shouted at by a locum GP for being unable to hold him down (when he was 2) in order for him to check his ears. Twat.

Last dr's visit she gave up on the throat, and his back teeth haven't been seen in many a year!