http://www.opposingviews.com/tags/special-needs Opposing Views - special needs http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/are-autism-and-vaccines-linked Over the last decade, autism has gone from a rare and misunderstood condition to a disorder that may affect as many as 1.5 million Americans. Without a clear explanation in sight, parents and doctors have worked tirelessly to pinpoint the cause of autism, but the answer remains elusive. Are vaccines the missing link? <br/><br/> Experts on the "Yes" side: <ul> <li>National Autism Association </li> <li>SafeMinds</li> <li>Dr. Karima Hirani </li> </ul> Experts on the "No" side: <ul> <li>Montreal Children's Hospital at MUHC</li> <li>Kevin Leitch</li> <li>Dr. Bryna Siegel</li> <li>Dr. Jennifer Shu</li> </ul> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:47:05 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/are-autism-and-vaccines-linked http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/can-autism-be-cured-or-managed “Your child is autistic.” No parent wants to hear those words. But if they do, treating their child’s autism becomes paramount. Some parents, including advocate and actress Jenny McCarthy, claim to have cured their children’s autism through natural methods. But others insist we should be more focused on managing the disorder than pursuing something elusive. When it comes to autism, what’s the real diagnosis? <br/><br/> Experts on the "Cured" side: <ul> <li>Autism United</li> <li>Dr. Karima Hirani </li> </ul> Experts on the "Managed" side: <ul> <li>Association for Science in Autism Treatment</li> <li>Kevin Leitch</li> </ul> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:47:05 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/can-autism-be-cured-or-managed http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-adhd-add-overdiagnosed-in-america According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, five percent of American children have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, prompting thousands of children to take medications like Ritalin and Adderall. Some parents and health professionals worry that we’re too quickly diagnosing our youngest patients, but for others a diagnosis has provided much needed help for their struggling children. Has the boom in ADD/ADHD made our children healthier, or only over-medicated them? <br/><br/> Experts on the "Yes" side: <ul> <li>Fred Baughman, MD</li> </ul> Experts on the "No" side: <ul> <li>Eileen Bailey</li> </ul> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:47:05 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-adhd-add-overdiagnosed-in-america