Comments on: Autism: More Treatable Than Thought?

Expert: It Is, Along With ADHD, Asthma, Allergies

[vance231]

It is very presumptious of this guy to think he is the first to think of a connection between these syndromes. He has not controlled clinical trials of his 'treatment'. The treatment consists of a number of nonspecific interventions with only tenous connections between the behavioral syndrome and the 'cure'.

This kind of agenda has been pushed for years by people willing to take money for treatments or books and foist diet and other non-proven causes on unsuspecting parents. They charge alot, then produce little or nothing, yet in a disorder that is mysterious --like Autism-- find devotees.

The theory is tenous at best. Then to suggest that chelation --a potentially fatal treatment-- is beneficial is ridiculous. Let this guy publish well designed, well controlled scientific studies before he goes around braggin about cure.

[sgbateman]

It is obvious to those that continue to use the word "Cure" were not paying attention to what Dr. Bock was talking about. He never used the word cure, recovery is not cure. And recovery for each child is a different thing. Also chelation is used by mainstream doctors, who use the same drugs, at a much more aggressive manner than DAN doctors. Please educate yourself about chelation, it is obvious that you do not have all the facts. Are you familiar with the side effects of the prescription drugs being handed out by these mainstream doctors? Can you tell me what the are the long-term benefits that they pose to our children? There are none, but what DAN doctors do can heal the damaged systems, and restore function, not cause further harm to our children. Thank you Dr. Bock and CBS for bringing to light some of the most successful treatments that have helped thousands of children across this country. When will mainstream medicine continue to ignore that these children are getting better?

[margevmd]

Thank you, CBS and Dr. Bock, for bringing more info to the public about possible treatments of autism. With an 800% increase in autism in the U.S. since 1985 and a similar alarming increase in ADHD, something is severely wrong in our country and we need to get at the bottom of it in order to help our children and their families who suffer from these epidemic illnesses. We need to look at this not only from a treatment aspect but at a level of cause. For those who are interested, please consult the Autism Research Institute's website for an enlightening article at http://www.autismwebsite.com/arri/v062/page1.pdf and take note of the info aired in a 20/20 news report in 1992. It makes a compelling argument for autism being created by environmental toxins such as improper waste disposal from manufacturing processes and from dioxin exposure (the latter found in the defoliant Agent Orange and in weed killer for lawns). The article further points out that the evidence pointing to genetic damage resulting from these exposures--at least in some cases (Such a determination would seem to profoundly impact both treatment and prevention!) And what about the effect of toxins injested daily from foods that are loaded with additives and preservatives? It's time for a national commission, composed of doctors, alternative medical people, researchers, nutritionists, biochemists and environmentalists--anyone who can shed light on a scourge that needs to end as soon as we can figure it out!

[cedarbearnat]

Many years ago, my husband, a nutritional herbalist, developed an Herbal Minerals formula from whole herbs, and a formula we call Focus-H that have helped many children, including my own with Tourette's Syndrome, to become more functional and healthier. My oldest was diagnosed as a child with an autism-like condition. Through a nutritional approach he has done amazingly well, he served 6 years in the navy, and now has a beautiful family of his own. Don't discount these people just because they aren't AMA maintream. They are on to something! Results speak for themselves.

[sbreeze2]

Bravo Vance 231! What is happening to our country? Pretty soon they'll want to stop teaching evolution in the schools...oops, I guess that's already happening. I would like to know what this guy is getting paid. We know that insurance companies definitely will not reimburse his patients for their "de-tox" expenses so he's getting full fee on top of lecture fees, royalties, etc. He will be a rich man if he isn't already.

[vance231]

It is very presumptious of this guy to think he is the first to think of a connection between these syndromes. He has not controlled clinical trials of his 'treatment'. The treatment consists of a number of nonspecific interventions with only tenous connections between the behavioral syndrome and the 'cure'.

This kind of agenda has been pushed for years by people willing to take money for treatments or books and foist diet and other non-proven causes on unsuspecting parents. They charge alot, then produce little or nothing, yet in a disorder that is mysterious --like Autism-- find devotees.

The theory is tenous at best. Then to suggest that chelation --a potentially fatal treatment-- is beneficial is ridiculous. Let this guy publish well designed, well controlled scientific studies before he goes around braggin about cure.

[redjuice73]

WOW-- I read the excerpt from the book and was crying.

At 3, I started my son on the feingold diet (no artificial colors, flavors, sweetners, certain preservatives and naturally occuring salicilates). His cronic, acidic diareah went away immediately and over the next year, he was weaned off all his asthma medicine. Before feingold, he was sick 10 of 14 weeks during the winter plus an asthma attck that put him in the hospital for 6 days. This year, we had one ear infection.

As I read, I just kept thinking, "What would have happened if I had not found and started feingold?" I also know that my son's skin could be clearer and that I am missing something. I am hoping that this book gives me some clues.

Thank You for doing this story. As a parent, my son's health is my number one concern and I know that I need to be a researcher as much as anyone else, nothing works for everyone, but soem stuff works for some.

[katahdingirl]

Well, I am happy that Autism is in the headlines.
I am concerned for those parents , that , are doing everything to help their child and wasting thousands of dollars on all the natural remedies and putting alot of hope for a "cure" or "recovery". I believed that If I followed the gluten , milk, perservatives, yeast, food coloring, secretion injections, vitamin therapies, 30 hours of ABA instructions, speech , O.T.for over 3 12 years that this would have some kind of amazing results. Instead, I was left thousands of dollars in debt , grieving (again), and realizing that not all children with Autism will benefit from this . So, please , please be careful when airing these therapy options , that , you are causing desperate and guilty parents to try ALL options because if not , then they will be forever and always asking "what if I tried this" or "maybe if we tried that" My son is now 11 years old and not able to go to public school. Parents please pace yourselves this is a marathon not a "sprint" and you need to take care of yourselves , these "professionals" are making big money from our child's diability and we are being drain emotionally and financially!
Thank-you,
Jodi
Northern Maine

[valeria10-2009]

I am very happy that CBS had Dr. Kenneth Bock on their show. It is totally amazing to me that people in this world would rather ingest toxins in their bodies and have their children do the same thing and think that no harm will be done. When God made this earth he did not add toxins and poisons to it. WE did that to ourselves and now we are all paying the price for it. Rather than criticizing Dr. Bock, we should take stock in what he is saying and try changing our terrible eating habits to a more healthier one. Stop using chemically-based products in our home everyday and see the results. Do the research yourselves before you criticize Dr. Bock's research findings. Why not try eating healthier and detoxifying your home for 30 days? You will be absolutely amazed how much better you will feel. Thank you Dr. Kenneth Bock for your insight. I, for one, appreciate it very much and please keep up the great work.

[gmommy1]

If any doctor had listened we could have had this out a long time ago. That he writes books to make money off of our kids infuriates me -- put it on the web for free!!!! My daughter says I diagnosed my grandson at 2 the doctors at 4. I have been treating him as if he had an immune/toxin problem since- he is now 12. Lecithin, makes them talk, be potty trained, sleep, straighten out digestive problems, helps clean the liver and produce glutathione in the liver. simple, cheap. and does amazing things. Milk thistle to help clean the liver, amino acids, alpha lipoic acid for detox sublingual B vitamins and sublingual methylB12 (sublingual avoids the digestive system) None of the things I have used are expensive and no johnny-come-lately-lets-make-a-quick-buck doctor will tell you straight out .. they know how desperate parents are for the lives of their children. If it's "a cure" then publish it for free!!