Rapid Responses to:

LETTERS: P V Finn Cosgrove Diagnosis of autism: Use of autistic spectrum shows undisciplined thinking BMJ 2004; 328: 226-b [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Check out the neurology

Alan Challoner MA (Phil) MChS   (23 January 2004)

Check out the neurology 23 January 2004
Alan Challoner MA (Phil) MChS, Retired LL18 5UR Send response to journal: Re: Check out the neurology	The response from Dr Finn Cosgrove strikes me as one that might be expected from a psychiatrist. (“I believe that the use of autistic spectrum (as opposed to a straightforward diagnosis of autism) is undisciplined thinking.”) Perhaps he should have more inter-professional consultations with neurologists and neuro-psychologists than might be the case. There is no doubt in my mind, from personal studies and my experience within the learning disability service, that Classical Autism and Autistic Spectrum (or Syndrome) are connected only by the parts of the brain that are not functioning properly and not by aetiology. Certain types of brain damage that occur in early infancy (e.g. vaccine damage) can bring about Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This syndrome is quite different from the ‘present at birth condition’ that later shows as classical autism. Competing interests: Father of daughter with autistic spectrum disorder caused by vaccine damage.