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Autism & Asperger's Syndrome (Expert Forum)
Autism
Answered by
William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA - Behavior Analysis, Learning Deficits, Severe Problem Behav, autism
The New England Center for Children
Questions in the Autism & Asperger's Syndrome forum are answered by researchers at the New England Center for Children. Topics covered include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Antisocial Personality Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Autism, blindness, bullying, clinical depression, deafness, dyslexia, mental retardation, and social alienation.
Doctor's Answer
by William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA, Jan 08, 2008 05:03PM
, Jan 08, 2008 05:03PM
To: malex
The term cure is controversial even when a person previously diagnosed with autism loses that diagnosis later in life. Many prefer the term recovery. The only empirically-validated, effective intervention is teaching the child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder the skills they need to function independently using the tools of applied behavior analysis. Early intensive behavioral intervention has been shown to produce marked changes in the skill deficits and problem behavior associated with autism. Some children have been noted to lose their diagnosis following a period of individualized instruction.
The second question is a bit hard to understand but I'll assume you are referring to secretin injection. Secretin is a hormone that exists naturally in the body and is involved in gastrointestinal functioning. It was reported in a medical journal that a single intravenous injection of secretin had resulted in substantial improvements in language and behavioral difficulties for three children diagnosed with autism. However, this was not a controlled study and the means of determining whether the injection had an effect was questionable. Strong scientific evidence has been growing that secretin has no clinically meaningful impact.
Several recent studies have confirmed secretin’s failure to improve skill performance or behavior problems and have addressed some of the criticisms of earlier investigations. One criticism of several controlled studies has been that the children injected with secretin have not had gastrointestinal problems. A study, conducted by scientists from Harvard University’s Medical School and the University of California, looked at children diagnosed with autism who were also reported to have gastrointestinal difficulties (Lightdale et al., 2001). They found that secretin produced no increases in language or other social skills and no decreases in problem behavior.
Another criticism has been that some children require multiple injections of secretin to show beneficial effects. A study by Roberts and colleagues (2001) investigated the effects of repeated injections of secretin relative to injections of a placebo with 64 children diagnosed with autism. They found no evidence that secretin was an effective treatment. They noted that both groups improved in receptive and expressive communication but that these gains “were likely attributable to familiarity with the testing situation, maturation, and/or ongoing behavioral interventions.” The study also found that the secretin injection was associated with: a rash for one child; a fever, rapid heartbeat, and vomiting for another child; an increase in irritability in 3 children; and, a flushing of the skin for 21% of the children who were injected with secretin.
Lightdale, J.R., Hayer, C., Duer, A., Lind-White, C., Jenkins, S., Siegel, B., Elliot, G.R., & Heyman, M.B. (2001). Effects of intravenous secretin on language and behavior of children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms: A single-blinded, open-label pilot study. Pediatrics, 108(5). URL:http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/e90.
Roberts, W., Weaver, L., Brian, J., Bryson, S., Emelianova, S., Griffiths, A., MacKinnon, B., Yim, C., Wolpin, J., & Koren, G. (2001). Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics, 107(5). URL:http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/107/5/e71
The second question is a bit hard to understand but I'll assume you are referring to secretin injection. Secretin is a hormone that exists naturally in the body and is involved in gastrointestinal functioning. It was reported in a medical journal that a single intravenous injection of secretin had resulted in substantial improvements in language and behavioral difficulties for three children diagnosed with autism. However, this was not a controlled study and the means of determining whether the injection had an effect was questionable. Strong scientific evidence has been growing that secretin has no clinically meaningful impact.
Several recent studies have confirmed secretin’s failure to improve skill performance or behavior problems and have addressed some of the criticisms of earlier investigations. One criticism of several controlled studies has been that the children injected with secretin have not had gastrointestinal problems. A study, conducted by scientists from Harvard University’s Medical School and the University of California, looked at children diagnosed with autism who were also reported to have gastrointestinal difficulties (Lightdale et al., 2001). They found that secretin produced no increases in language or other social skills and no decreases in problem behavior.
Another criticism has been that some children require multiple injections of secretin to show beneficial effects. A study by Roberts and colleagues (2001) investigated the effects of repeated injections of secretin relative to injections of a placebo with 64 children diagnosed with autism. They found no evidence that secretin was an effective treatment. They noted that both groups improved in receptive and expressive communication but that these gains “were likely attributable to familiarity with the testing situation, maturation, and/or ongoing behavioral interventions.” The study also found that the secretin injection was associated with: a rash for one child; a fever, rapid heartbeat, and vomiting for another child; an increase in irritability in 3 children; and, a flushing of the skin for 21% of the children who were injected with secretin.
Lightdale, J.R., Hayer, C., Duer, A., Lind-White, C., Jenkins, S., Siegel, B., Elliot, G.R., & Heyman, M.B. (2001). Effects of intravenous secretin on language and behavior of children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms: A single-blinded, open-label pilot study. Pediatrics, 108(5). URL:http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/e90.
Roberts, W., Weaver, L., Brian, J., Bryson, S., Emelianova, S., Griffiths, A., MacKinnon, B., Yim, C., Wolpin, J., & Koren, G. (2001). Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics, 107(5). URL:http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/107/5/e71
Member Comments (2)
by Angela77, Jan 30, 2008 06:23PM
To: malex
There are other controversial treatments in autism without substantial scientific evidence: GF/CF diets, chelation, etc. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control have both not supported these controversial treatments. As an educator, I believe it is important to pursue treatments validated by the medical and educational communities. Applied Behavior Analysis is supported by long-term studies. The TEACCH model also has evidence of effectiveness.
