Ongoing risks of autism

Re “Research can’t link autism, mercury,” Jan. 8

As a speech and language pathologist, I have worked with many families whose children had autism. A child’s limited ability to interact and use language appropriately is a difficult aspect of the disorder. Studies continue to show that vaccines are not to blame for autism. Unfortunately, with human research it is impossible to factor everything involved, but focusing on the effect of one thing at a time has not found the culprit. Perhaps we should be looking at something different.

The developing brain is very plastic, and language development is critical during the first nine to 10 months of age, and any insult to the developing brain may affect it. A multiple vaccine blast to the developing brain may be implicated. When it is given, however, may be more critical. Researchers need to focus on the timing of vaccinations.

Sally Cook

Granada Hills

I am alarmed that we still do not know whether mercury plays a role in autism. It astounds me that manufacturers removed mercury in 1999 but existing supplies were allowed to reach the general public and potentially harm unknowing children whose parents were led to believe that mercury was no longer a threat. How can Dr. Eric Fombonne claim that autism does not occur because of inoculation if he did not take part in the Department of Developmental Services’ latest study, nor consider that trace levels of thimerosal may still exist and that the study itself may be flawed?

My wife and I continue to struggle with whether to have our 2-year-old twins inoculated because the risk is still there and the answers unclear. Larger-scale analysis of mercury and thimerosal in all products needs to be done before we know for sure.

Tony Bliss

Van Nuys