Messages posted by: Anonymous

I have a son who is now 24. He is my second child. At 6 months old he did not respond to me as his mum. At 18 months old his speech development seemed to regress. At 24 months he did not want to join in with his peers. I read with interest regarding depression during pregnancy may have some effect on childhood development. I was very depressed up until I was 20 weeks pregnant. This depression occured from me being 6 weeks pregnant. My son is now 24 and still has difficulty in responding to other people in an appropriate manner. I now question if he has autism albeit at a more 'minor' level. Any comments/advice would be helpful. Thanks.

I also believe there are multiple causes for ASDs. Due to the recent reccomendation that all pregnant women receive the flu vaccine, I would like to see some correlational studies on the flu shot during pregnancy and the long term effects as it relates to speech delays and autistic-features. In my son's case, I am convinced that the flu shot was the one thing that caused his PDD-NOS. My other children are typically developing and I did not receive the flu shot during any other pregnancies.

I also happened to mention my suspicions to a small number friends, and 2 had a similar experience; a flu shot during pregnancy, and subsequently the child had a speech delay with or without autistic features. I am also friends with one mother who received a mercury-containing Rho-gam shot with 25 mcg of mercury while pregnant, and her son now has sensory issues and bowell problems, both of which are often associated with autism.

I think prenatal flu shots as related to ASDs should be studied as soon as possible. It could be that either exposure to mercury or the flu virus could have a negative impact on the fetus. To ingore this variable in the study of pregnancy and childbirth factors relating to autism seems to be glaring omission.