Interview on Autism
Tom Kitchen, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and co-director of the Lake Erie Autism Diagnostic, Educational, and Research Services (LEADERS) program, was interviewed by WICU TV 12 on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.Tom’s interview focused on children with autism and the Achievement Center’s (LEADERS) program, which is a collaborative program between Erie’s Achievement Center and Mercyhurst College.
Tom also talked extensively about the recent news regarding the medical journal, ‘The Lancet,’ that retracted a 1998 study by British doctor Andrew Wakefield and twelve others. The retraction was regarding Dr. Wakefield’s research that autism could be caused by the administration of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination through a weakening of the immune system and subsequent damage to the intestinal tract. It sparked an enormous controversy that continues to this day about whether or not autism is caused by the MMR vaccine, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
WICU Interview with Tom Kitchen:
1. What is autism?
Autism is a brain-based disorder that is characterized by three core deficits: Significant impairment in communication skills; Significant impairment in social skills; and stereotypic, repetitive, or otherwise restricted patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. It is also a spectrum disorder, meaning that the ways in which these deficits are expressed vary from one individual to another, and from severe to mild.
2. What was the basic premise of the study, and why was it retracted?
The basic premise, in short, was that (based on information from 12 children involved in the study) autism could be caused by the administration of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination through a weakening of the immune system and subsequent damage to the intestinal tract. It sparked an enormous controversy that continues to this day about whether or not autism is caused by theMMR vaccine, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
It has been under great scrutiny since it was published, and even 10 of Wakefield’s co-authors retracted the articles findings as early as 2004. The main reasons for the retraction include his falsification of information regarding the selection of the children in the study and the approval of the local ethics committee.
More importantly, Wakefield and his study had been under investigation for many more reasons, including 1)The fact that he was paid to conduct the study by lawyers representing parents of children who believed their children were harmed by the MMR vaccine; 2)That he recruited subjects by paying children at his own child’s birthday party about five English Pounds to allow him to take blood samples; 3) Performing colonoscopies and spinal taps on children without proper approval and contrary to the children’s clinical presentations; and 4) That he either ignored or manipulated data that did not support his premises.
3. What were the implications of this research for the autism community, worldwide and locally?
The most profound implication was widespread public suspicion of the process of early childhood vaccinations. In theUK, there was a steep decline in vaccinations shortly following the publication of the study, and a resulting increase in measles, including a handful of fatal cases. In the US, Measles had been declared eradicated by the Centers for Disease Control in 2000, but the declined vaccination rates were responsible for the disease’s re-emergence in 2008.
Millions of public dollars have now been spent on continued investigations into a causal allegation that has now been officially declared nothing short of a “wild goose chase” for a cure…..millions that could have been spent pursuing other possible causal factors.
From the human standpoint, I have heard first-hand over the years from countless parents who feel that their decision to have their children vaccinated caused autism. The study and its implications left a wake of guilt, wasted time and energy pursuing false leads, and the possible danger of a re-emergence of serious childhood diseases. Our modern society doesn’t know the pain of constantly looking over one’s shoulder for the next fatal childhood disease outbreak, like previous generations did. We have vaccinations to thank for that.
4. Now that the study has been retracted, where do we go from here? What do we know about the causes of the disorder?
We know that genetics play a huge role. We know that it is likely that several, if not many, genes are involved. Most who study the causes of autism today subscribe to the two-hit theory, which suggests that autism is the result of both a genetic predisposition and some type of environmental “x-factor,” or insult. We need to pursue new leads and spend our time and energy finding out what that “x-factor” really is.
5. What does current research suggest as best practice for treatment for children with autism?
The most current evidence-based practice boards have determined that psycho-educational interventions, particularly those associated with Applied Behavior Analysis and intensive teaching, are going to have the greatest effect on the learning and behaviors of children affected with the disorder.
6. How many children with autism does the Achievement Center serve?
Each year, the Achievement Center serves between 250 and 300 children with autism through its various programs. Our programs are based in four counties in Northwestern PA and one county in New York. Additionally, we serve children, school districts, and human services agencies across the state and nation as consultants.