Autism Among the Amish

A Vaccination Myth Deconstructed

Oct 9, 2009 Stacy Herlihy

Some people have alleged that certain Amish groups do not vaccinate and as a result do not have autism in their communities. Both of these assertions are false.

The Amish are a strict Christian religious sect. Community members adhere to a firm set of rules designed to minimize contact with members of other communities and reduce Amish reliance on modern technology. Many Amish people avoid commonly used appliances and rely on farming or small business for their livelihood.

Sect practices differ from community to community. Some communities allow adherents to use telephones while others avoid them completely.

One such practice that can be different in each community is medicine. Most members of the Amish community do not use any form of government help for health care. Instead they rely on aid from the community to deal with illnesses that arise. Community members may also solicit help from outside sources if the need becomes important.

Amish and Vaccines

In recent years, some commentators such as Dan Olmsted of the Washington Times have asserted that the Amish of Lancaster county in Pennsylvania do not vaccinate their children. Mr. Olmsted has asserted that as a result the Amish in this area do not have autism in their community.

Autism is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate verbally with others. Autistic sufferers may have many different cognitive deficits as well, including problems with language acquisition and mental functioning. Autism diagnostic rates have risen over the last few years primarily as a result of reclassification from other diagnosis such as learning disabilities and mental retardation.

Some people, such as Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his widely discredited study in the Lancet medical journal, have alleged that such rates have risen as a result of vaccination.

A vaccination is an injection of material into the body in order to provoke an immune reaction. The vaccination primes the immune system to create antibodies that can then protect against a specific disease. Some commentators have asserted that vaccinations do not protect against disease. Rather, they have argued, vaccination causes disease.

Commentators such as Mr. Olmsted point to the Amish of Lancaster county and argue that the Amish do not have autism and further argue that this is proof that vaccinations cause autism. Neither of these statements are true.

In the first place, it is true that some Amish sects forgo vaccination. However, many Amish communities fully adhere to vaccination schedules for their children. The Amish attempt to forsake modern conveniences that they believe have not improved our lives. Many members of the Amish community do not forsake common, sensible public health practices that protect their children from contagious disease.

Normal Rates of Autism

Commentators also argue that the rates of autism are low in the Amish community. Again, this is not true. Pediatricians who work with the Amish community report that members seek out treatment for their children for symptoms that resemble autism or can easily be diagnosed as a form of autism. Dr. Kevin Strauss is a pediatrician at the Clinic For Special Children in Lancaster County. Mr. Strauss states, "The idea that the Amish do not vaccinate their children is untrue." Dr. Strauss also states, "We see autistic behaviors along with seizure disorders or mental retardation or a genetic disorder, where the autism is part of a more complicated clinical spectrum.”

Dr. Stauss and Dr. D. Holmes Norton are the authors of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that studoes of Old Order Amish children. The authors have, " identified the genetic mutation that causes a previously unknown disorder, with seizures that progress to autism and retardation."

The Amish are members of a very closed community that cannot be taken as representative of the community at large. Many members marry inside of the group. As a result, members often carry a shared gene that does not resemble that of their fellow Americans. Common ailments among the Amish include Maple Syrup Urine Disease and Crigler-Najjar Syndrome. These disorders are found very rarely found in the general population.

Autism among the Amish is common. The autism vaccinate their children with rates that are comparable to the rate found in the general population. Vaccinations (or lack of vaccination) among the Amish do not tell us anything about the origins or causes of autism.

Sources:

Wakefield, Andrew and others THE LANCET Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children 1998 Feb 28;351(9103):637-41

Olmsted, Dan UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL April 2005 The Amish Anamoly

Autism News Beat January 30th 2008

Strauss, Kevin et all NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE Recessive Symtomatic Focal Epilepsy and Mutant Associated Protein-like 2 N Engl J Med 2006;354:1370-7.

The copyright of the article Autism Among the Amish in Autism/Asperger's Syndrome is owned by Stacy Herlihy. Permission to republish Autism Among the Amish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Amish Children

12 Comments

Comments

Oct 10, 2009 12:16 PM

Guest :

You make many broad statements in your "Autism Research" article and I don't see any evidence, just your opinions, unless the one doctor you asked if he had any patients with Autism is your research. I guess you are entitled but I'd like to see some reliable data before I spred the word.
Your statement "A clear examination of the facts makes the facts quite clear. Autism among the Amish is common" is odd since you don't really provide and "research" as evidence. What facts are you talking about? You say you have provided facts but I see no references or citations.
Maybe I missed something. The opinion is interesting but I would be careful calling this fact like this issue needs no more research because here are the facts. This is just my opinion.

Oct 10, 2009 4:14 PM

Stacy Herlihy :

If you read the link I provided you will indeed see that there many reported cases among the Amish. Autism is not unknown among this community.

In any case you can't really make any statements about the causes of Austism based on the Amish. The Amish are a very genetically distinct population. Their genetics shed very little light on the causes of this illness.

Oct 14, 2009 8:05 AM

Carmella Dunkin :

Your article proves absolutely nothing other than the fact that the "some" of the Amish communities have succumbed to modern technology and are now placing their trust in man, instead of God where they have always had their faith and trust in the past. You have however more or less proved that vaccines do have a link with autism, because there was no autism in the Amish community before they stopped trusting God and started vaccinating their children. At least that is what I took from YOUR article. Sorry! Now how bout we look at another side of vaccines... I'm sure you say they are safe, right? Reactions are rare, right? Okay, now let me share a story with you about a young mother who had 6 young children. This young mom believed every word the medical world told her, so she made sure that all 6 kids were fully vaccinated. She could never understand though, why did her babies get so sick after each vaccine? Why did they get what they were being vaccinated against? Why did they get the measles after their MMR vaccine? But the biggest question... WHY was she always told, "it's a normal reaction"? Even as she sat comforting her young baby/child as they screached in severe pain, as they ran that 102-104fever, as all this happened for days on end, sometimes weeks, sghe had to endure the, "it's all normal ma'm"! Well, as we all know now, painful screaming, high fevers for days, huge red area at site, getting the disease, these are all SERIOUS reactions that are to be reported to the CDC, not one of my children's reactions were ever reported to anyone and now the 6 kids are permanatly damaged for life in many ways... Cancer, autism, learning disabilities, mental issues., etc. This same mom had two more kids after she learned about vaccines and that they were the cause of so many health issues in her first 6 kids. The last two never had a vaccine and never had a reaction to a vaccine. They were the two healthiest kids the mom had ever seen, wow what a difference a vaccine can make in the health of a child! The reason the young mom learned? Her oldest son fought for his life from cancer for 6 years. In the 6 years her son's oncologist taught her a valuable lesson... Vaccines kill! Yes, I am saying that the oncologist told the mom that vaccines could be the "why" of her son's cancer, this sent mom on a quest to learn BOTH sides to vaccines and she is still learning to this day! Vaccines are today, more deadly than they have ever been. I AM the mom in my story!!!

Oct 14, 2009 8:24 AM

Stacy Herlihy :

I am really sorry you feel that way but your ranting proves nothing.

If you'd really like to see dead children by all means look in places where they don't vaccinate.

According to the World Health Organization nearly 200,000 people died from lack of access to measles vaccination worldwide in 2007.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/

If you feel your children should not get vaccinated then don't vaccinate them. But the facts are that most children should be vaccinated. They are far healthier as a result.

Some of Amish do indeed refuse to vaccinate their children.

Some of the results?

Congenital rubella and damaged children.

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=3611693

Not exactly a desirable outcome . . .

Oct 14, 2009 9:09 AM

Carmella Dunkin :

Your article proves absolutely nothing other than the fact that the "some" of the Amish communities have succumbed to modern technology and are now placing their trust in man, instead of God where they have always had their faith and trust in the past. You have however more or less proved that vaccines do have a link with autism, because there was no autism in the Amish community before they stopped trusting God and started vaccinating their children. At least that is what I took from YOUR article. Sorry! Now how bout we look at another side of vaccines... I'm sure you say they are safe, right? Reactions are rare, right? Okay, now let me share a story with you about a young mother who had 6 young children. This young mom believed every word the medical world told her, so she made sure that all 6 kids were fully vaccinated. She could never understand though, why did her babies get so sick after each vaccine? Why did they get what they were being vaccinated against? Why did they get the measles after their MMR vaccine? But the biggest question... WHY was she always told, "it's a normal reaction"? Even as she sat comforting her young baby/child as they screached in severe pain, as they ran that 102-104fever, as all this happened for days on end, sometimes weeks, sghe had to endure the, "it's all normal ma'm"! Well, as we all know now, painful screaming, high fevers for days, huge red area at site, getting the disease, these are all SERIOUS reactions that are to be reported to the CDC, not one of my children's reactions were ever reported to anyone and now the 6 kids are permanatly damaged for life in many ways... Cancer, autism, learning disabilities, mental issues., etc. This same mom had two more kids after she learned about vaccines and that they were the cause of so many health issues in her first 6 kids. The last two never had a vaccine and never had a reaction to a vaccine. They were the two healthiest kids the mom had ever seen, wow what a difference a vaccine can make in the health of a child! The reason the young mom learned? Her oldest son fought for his life from cancer for 6 years. In the 6 years her son's oncologist taught her a valuable lesson... Vaccines kill! Yes, I am saying that the oncologist told the mom that vaccines could be the "why" of her son's cancer, this sent mom on a quest to learn BOTH sides to vaccines and she is still learning to this day! Vaccines are today, more deadly than they have ever been. I AM the mom in my story!!!

Oct 14, 2009 9:16 AM

Carmella Dunkin :

I suppose if you take what you hear over what you see first hand, you may have a point. However research has also proven that the "statistics" written about that you mention, are blown out of proportion, just as reactions to vaccines are under reported.

I am only stating what I experienced first had in 30 years of being a mother. I am NOT telling anyone not to vaccinate, but I am BEGGING everyone to research, not scim a surface, do serious research into BOTH sides of this debate. Take your time, spend YEARS, not months. Start researching BEFORE you get pregnant, dig as deep as you can, into BOTH sides, not just the medical side, both sides. Then make a determination for yourself. But be ready to also make some discoveries that will shake all beliefs you may have, except your belief in God. He is the only one that stands true always, and this all is Biblical, if you just open your Bibles and read.

Oct 14, 2009 9:25 AM

Guest :

Forgive me Carmella- I do not believe, for a single second, that a medical professional of any stripe told you that a child having a 102 degree fever for two weeks was "normal". Nor, frankly, do I believe a mother would go through such an extreme reaction, then not only get her next child vaccinated anyway and get the same reaction all over again, but continue the process FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE KIDS.

Is it perhaps possible only ONE of your children suffered such an extreme reaction, and you are generalizing from that to describe the reaction of all six?

And let's be clear: has any medical professional, EVER, actually stated that yes, your kid definitively got cancer from a vaccine?

Oct 14, 2009 9:45 AM

Stacy Herlihy :

It is ironic that Ms. Dunkin mentions cancer. Two vaccines -- the Gardesil and the Hep B -- have actually been shown to protect against cancer.

It is also ironic she mentions research. Vaccines are literally among the most research medical procedures ever with a history that spans hundreds of years.

Oct 14, 2009 8:39 PM

Carmella Dunkin :

I suppose if you take what you hear over what you see first hand, you may have a point. However research has also proven that the "statistics" written about that you mention, are blown out of proportion, just as reactions to vaccines are under reported.

I am only stating what I experienced first had in 30 years of being a mother. I am NOT telling anyone not to vaccinate, but I am BEGGING everyone to research, not scim a surface, do serious research into BOTH sides of this debate. Take your time, spend YEARS, not months. Start researching BEFORE you get pregnant, dig as deep as you can, into BOTH sides, not just the medical side, both sides. Then make a determination for yourself. But be ready to also make some discoveries that will shake all beliefs you may have, except your belief in God. He is the only one that stands true always, and this all is Biblical, if you just open your Bibles and read.

Oct 14, 2009 9:00 PM

Carmella Dunkin :

When you are being told, "vaccinate or loose your kid" you vaccinate. Try to remember this was the 70's, things were harsher and yes, I too was brain washed.

I said the oncologist said vaccines, "could" be the why, I never said that he said it was, only it was a possiblity. And I am sorry if you think that doctors are perfect and would never say that all my kids went through were normal reactions, but they did. No it was not ONE, it was ALL! Sorry you feel I am lieing, i am not, i also am not the only motther that has gone through this and was brainwashed to a point they feared loosing their children. Go back to the 70's and take a refresher course in the brainwashing that went on for young mom's. I had 6 kids by the time I was 24, i was very brainwashable, as are many young women. It's okay, everyone can believe what they want, i know what my kids went through, what i went through, and how i believed everything fed to me by the doctors until my oldest son was diagnosed with cancer and i started looking into vaccines, then and only then did i realize the brainwashing i had allowed happen to me, and the fact that i was responsible for all the reactions because i allowed them to continually be vaccinated. Yes i blame ME, because i feel i was too stupid to wake up and see the truth. Instead i believed everything i was told. I admit i was stupid, and not a day goes by that i do not put a lot of blame on myself for allowing it and not seeing it. I have spoken my peace, I only came here because a comment was left on my husbands post. I'm going to bed, therefore my browser will close and i will most likely not find this again, so no need to make me look any more stupid for what i allowed to happen to my kids because i believed in doctors more than i should have, than you already have. I know i should have fought, but when you are being threatened with your kids being taken, you get scared and do what ever to hold on to your babies! I had no idea that i had a choice, i was told i had no choice in the matter at all. Have a good night and i wish you all the best of luck in whatever you decide as far as vaccines are concerned.

Oct 20, 2009 5:57 PM

Guest :

Listen, I am a mother of 2 daughters, ages 4 and the other is 7 months. I have done extensive research on the vaccine subject, I too believed they were good for my children, so I fully vaccinated my 4 year old daughter routinely as a baby, let me just say that she had 9 ear infections in the first year, had severe neutropenia after her mmrv vaccine and was so weak the doctors said if she got the common cold she could have died. Now lets just say that my mom worked in a pediatric office and was the main floor supervisor, so she was able to tell me that actually 23 kids from that practice had severe neutropenia after the mmrv vaccine, it was documented in her chart, and she also said that the doctors will never i mean never tell you other common reactions that could happen to your child because each pediatric office must meet a quota in vaccines the same way police do. Now on to my next daughter. After each dtap vaccine, she has now had 3, our entire family got sick with a cough that would last anywhere from 7-14 days. I wrote on the calender each vaccine and when we each got sick including the baby and all 3 times it was 7 days on the dot. I mean each and every time. I mean she and the rest of us pretty much got what we were trying to prevent, wtf? I have spaced the vaccines with my youngest so that all she receives is no more than 2 at a time, but we have given the dtap shot alone each time. Yes I go to the doctors each month to get vaccines but it is worth it. Now I'm not saying all vaccines have severe reactions, but I mean I guess it would be better to just chance it instead of deff. getting it with a vaccine. O, last thought, If only 1 percent of serious reactions are reported to the vaers program, then the true numbers are astronomical. I truly believe that they truly do more harm than good, I mean just do the research because the truth will enlighten you.

Oct 20, 2009 6:11 PM

Stacy Herlihy :

Correlation does not prove causation. The VAERS data is unfilted. Anyone can report anything to do it at all.

Furthermore the side effects from measles are usually far greater in small children than a round of fainting (which is what neurocardiogenic syncope is) or ear infections.

Rubella, if caught by a pregnant woman, can leave her child with severe consequences including mental retardation.

Mumps can cause sterility and deafness.

Measles can easily cause pneumonia, a form of encephalitis and all sorts of other complications including deafness as well.

If your child cannot be vaccinated your best course of action is to urge others to vaccinate on your child's behalf so that child can get protected.

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