MARCO Grand Rounds for September 16, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Will attempt to finish discussion on immunizations and the possible relation with autism. Someone last week asked "Who invented autism?" I can't answer that but I do know that prior to about 1985 the word was almost never used as a diagnosis. Is this a new disease? Is this a syndrome of several diseases...has it got anything to do with the MMR vaccine or with mercury preservatives? Tune in should be fun--IF the sun allows us a good weather propagation forecast. By the way, what happens when the smog lifts in Los Angeles? Answer: UCLA.

Here is a response on autism from Chip, N5RTF:

The first paper on autism was published by Leo Kanner M.D. in 1943. Recent increases in prevalence may be multifactoral.
In the first case, diagnostic criteria are steadily easing, to allow increasing numbers of families to qualify for associated benefits.

Secondly, as more clinicians and parents become aware of the diagnosis, more real cases are identified.

Thirdly (and purely speculative on my part) is the exponential increase in sensory input in recent years. A person living in 1700 might see 200 images in a lifetime. We can be exposed to that number in a minute, maybe every minute. Assume that most human nervous systems can successfully filter that flow to a manageable level, but some are overwhelmed. Also, adults can deliberately insulate themselves when they feel overloaded (eg. radio rather than TV, books rather than radio, meditation rather than books). Children cannot do this except through withdrawal. In extreme cases, withdrawal could become reflexive.

Drawing an analogy from Ham Radio, I conceptualize autism and similar conditions as /disorders of bandwidth./ The developing brain narrows down its filters to an information flow which can be comfortably processed. Eventually this becomes the default setting.

As an aside, I have always wanted to see how a child with autism handles CW.