Even though it's small, a new autism study from the University of Washington published in Pediatrics is being hailed as a "landmark." It finds that early diagnosis--as young as 18 mos--and intensive socialization therapy can "vastly improve" key ASD-related symptoms and behaviors. So yeah, Early Start Denver Model!
On the other, more depressing, hand, the Chicago Tribune no doubt ruined quite a few Thanksgiving dinners last week with its blistering, critical report on alternative autism treatments such as chelation, pressure chambers, blood infusions, and on and on. They basically paint a picture of an autism quackery industry that preys on the desperate hopes of parents by conducting dangerous, "uncontrolled experiments on vulnerable children."
Sounds absolutely horrible, frankly.
Autism treatment works in kids as young as 18 mos. [ap/yahoo via dt reader sara]
TRIBUNE WATCHDOG DUBIOUS MEDICINE | Autism treatments: Risky alternative therapies have little basis in science [chicagotribune via tmn]
If you want to read a fascinating book on this whole alternative world, check out "Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure.'' The book's author Dr. Offit isn't a big fan of Jenny McCarthy's work.