Re: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

[Guest guest]

Hmm but conversely, NHS tests always show negative, meaning no treatment is necessary.

Wish I had been there, lol

Vicky

[Guest guest]

How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with Gillian Baird

in London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA or

pro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than our

paediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical she said

there was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo pooed DAN!

and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end of story!

When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue too

vociferously (but we did argue)

She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our big heads

but of course, offered no help.

She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the fact that

loads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!

Sara

Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting

last night

Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on this

list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was

talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my

information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

attend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

in!!

Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring

paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is

definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition. There

are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty.

I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up

her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good though

to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope

they were taking notes!

Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very

rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big rise

in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-

2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??) Could

be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to

quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the

favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

problems, methylation issues etc etc etc.

So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She

highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting

big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr Baird

said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at

the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a proper

study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin

doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.

Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been - a

missed opportunity.

Sharon

DISCLAIMER

No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice.

If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

practitioner.

[Guest guest]

oh dear that doesn't sound very good (or very up to date!).

On 24 May 2006, at 21:02, Sass and Rem wrote:

> How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with Gillian

> Baird

> in London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA or

> pro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than our

> paediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical she

> said

> there was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo

> pooed DAN!

> and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end of

> story!

> When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue

> too

> vociferously (but we did argue)

> She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our big

> heads

> but of course, offered no help.

> She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the fact

> that

> loads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!

> Sara

>

> Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford

> meeting

> last night

>

> Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on this

> list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was

> talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night.  WARNING - my

> information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

> myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

> attend.  If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

> in!!

>

> Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring

> paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

>

> According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is

> definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition.  There

> are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

> children.  She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty. 

> I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up

> her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these).  It is good though

> to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

> autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting.  I hope

> they were taking notes!

>

> Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very

> rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

> better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

> experts herself so coming from her this is very good).  The big rise

> in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

>

> Why the rise in autism?  Something triggering it at around 1.5-

> 2years.  But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??)  Could

> be because of the genetic suseptability.  (I wish I'd been there to

> quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

> environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the

> favoured explaination.  No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

> problems, methylation issues etc etc etc. 

>

> So what about medical treatment?  Not much of substance here.  She

> highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting

> big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results.  Dr Baird

> said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at

> the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!).  Until there is a proper

> study the jury remains out.  My friend thinks she said secretin

> doesn't work.  Gut issues were focused around constipation.

>

> Please do add or correct this if you were there.  Wish I had been - a

> missed opportunity.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical

> advice.

> If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

> practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Forgot to say, she also said that

privately done tests are not to be trusted as they will ALWAYS show results that

mean treatment – presumably, she meant, because someone can make money

out of it (we told her that Tom had just had a krypto pyrroles test and tested

as fine but she didn’t answer). I asked ‘do you think they just

make the results up?’ and she said ‘no, they read them differently.’

In other words, nothing will EVER convince

her.

SARA

Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting

last night

Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on this

list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was

talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my

information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

attend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

in!!

Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring

paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is

definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition. There

are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty.

I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up

her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good though

to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope

they were taking notes!

Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very

rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big rise

in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-

2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??) Could

be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to

quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the

favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

problems, methylation issues etc etc etc.

So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She

highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting

big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr Baird

said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at

the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a proper

study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin

doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.

Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been - a

missed opportunity.

Sharon

DISCLAIMER

No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice.

If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

practitioner.

[Guest guest]

I know a number of people who have had negative results from the ARU.

And Archie's last urine test we had done for IWDL was near normal (way

more normal than I expected it to be anyway).

On 24 May 2006, at 23:00, Sass and Rem wrote:

> Forgot to say, she also said that privately done tests are not to be

> trusted as they will ALWAYS show results that mean treatment –

> presumably, she meant, because someone can make money out of it (we

> told her that Tom had just had a krypto pyrroles test and tested as

> fine but she didn’t answer). I asked ‘do you think they just make the

> results up?’ and she said ‘no, they read them differently.’

> In other words, nothing will EVER convince her.

> SARA

>  

> Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford

> meeting

> last night

>

> Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on this

> list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was

> talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night.  WARNING - my

> information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

> myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

> attend.  If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

> in!!

>

> Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring

> paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

>

> According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is

> definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition.  There

> are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

> children.  She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty. 

> I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up

> her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these).  It is good though

> to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

> autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting.  I hope

> they were taking notes!

>

> Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very

> rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

> better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

> experts herself so coming from her this is very good).  The big rise

> in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

>

> Why the rise in autism?  Something triggering it at around 1.5-

> 2years.  But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??)  Could

> be because of the genetic suseptability.  (I wish I'd been there to

> quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

> environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the

> favoured explaination.  No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

> problems, methylation issues etc etc etc. 

>

> So what about medical treatment?  Not much of substance here.  She

> highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting

> big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results.  Dr Baird

> said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at

> the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!).  Until there is a proper

> study the jury remains out.  My friend thinks she said secretin

> doesn't work.  Gut issues were focused around constipation.

>

> Please do add or correct this if you were there.  Wish I had been - a

> missed opportunity.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical

> advice.

> If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

> practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Me too. Wish there had

been an army of us there. J

Re:

Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

Hmm but

conversely, NHS tests always show negative, meaning no treatment is necessary.

Wish I

had been there, lol

Vicky

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[Guest guest]

What a pratt. These " expert doctors " drive me crazy. I feel so

annoyed/frustrated with these people that I don't think I would be able

to trust myself to be civil if left alone with one for any length of time.

Miles.

Sass and Rem wrote:

> How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with Gillian Baird

> in London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA or

> pro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than our

> paediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical she said

> there was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo pooed DAN!

> and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end of story!

> When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue too

> vociferously (but we did argue)

> She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our big heads

> but of course, offered no help.

> She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the fact that

> loads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!

> Sara

>

> Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting

> last night

>

> Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on this

> list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was

> talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my

> information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

> myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

> attend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

> in!!

>

> Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring

> paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

>

> According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is

> definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition. There

> are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

> children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty.

> I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up

> her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good though

> to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

> autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope

> they were taking notes!

>

> Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very

> rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

> better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

> experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big rise

> in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

>

> Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-

> 2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??) Could

> be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to

> quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

> environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the

> favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

> problems, methylation issues etc etc etc.

>

> So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She

> highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting

> big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr Baird

> said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at

> the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a proper

> study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin

> doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.

>

> Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been - a

> missed opportunity.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice.

> If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

> practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bizzare indeed.

I will have to quiz my sources on how they could have possibly got it

all so badly wrong! I hope my originial post (below) didn't mislead

anyone. I was seriously hopeful for a moment that we were seeing

some kind of a mainstream breakthrough - an acceptace that autism

presents is a medical condition and should therefore be amenable to

treatment.

From what you say it doesn't sound like that was her opinion at

all.

Sharon

>

> How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with

Gillian Baird

> in London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA or

> pro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than our

> paediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical

she said

> there was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo

pooed DAN!

> and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end

of story!

> When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue

too

> vociferously (but we did argue)

> She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our

big heads

> but of course, offered no help.

> She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the

fact that

> loads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!

> Sara

>

> Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford

meeting

> last night

>

> Since we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on

this

> list recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she

was

> talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my

> information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting

> myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who did

> attend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip

> in!!

>

> Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and

caring

> paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.

>

> According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism

is

> definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition.

There

> are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic

> children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being

faulty.

> I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back

up

> her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good

though

> to hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that

> autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope

> they were taking notes!

>

> Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising

very

> rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to

> better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic

> experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big

rise

> in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.

>

> Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-

> 2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??)

Could

> be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to

> quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be

> environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not

the

> favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox

> problems, methylation issues etc etc etc.

>

> So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She

> highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties

getting

> big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr

Baird

> said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look

at

> the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a

proper

> study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin

> doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.

>

> Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been -

a

> missed opportunity.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical

advice.

> If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified

> practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've had this said to me before! How do IWDL make money out of an abnormal CDSA or Organix or Thyroid test?? Shares in probios? My dd had an abnormal free T3 from IWDL; 9.5, so her paediatrician repeated it and it was suddenly down to 6.3, therefore 'within range' so no problems with it. Of course it must have been the NHS one that was correct!

Diane

RE: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

Forgot to say, she also said that privately done tests are not to be trusted as they will ALWAYS show results that mean treatment – presumably, she meant, because someone can make money out of it (we told her that Tom had just had a krypto pyrroles test and tested as fine but she didn’t answer). I asked ‘do you think they just make the results up?’ and she said ‘no, they read them differently.’

In other words, nothing will EVER convince her.

SARA

-----Original Message-----From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of Christianne PollockSent: 24 May 2006 21:34Autism Treatment Subject: Re: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

oh dear that doesn't sound very good (or very up to date!). On 24 May 2006, at 21:02, Sass and Rem wrote:

How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with Gillian Bairdin London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA orpro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than ourpaediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical she saidthere was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo pooed DAN!and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end of story!When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue toovociferously (but we did argue)She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our big headsbut of course, offered no help.She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the fact thatloads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!Sara-----Original Message-----From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of sharon_asd_ukSent: 24 May 2006 19:06Autism Treatment Subject: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meetinglast nightSince we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on thislist recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who didattend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip in!!Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition. There are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty. I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good thoughto hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope they were taking notes!Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big rise in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??) Could be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox problems, methylation issues etc etc etc. So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr Baird said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a proper study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been - a missed opportunity.Sharon DISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice.If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualifiedpractitioner.

[Guest guest]

I've had this said to me before! How do IWDL make money out of an abnormal CDSA or Organix or Thyroid test?? Shares in probios? My dd had an abnormal free T3 from IWDL; 9.5, so her paediatrician repeated it and it was suddenly down to 6.3, therefore 'within range' so no problems with it. Of course it must have been the NHS one that was correct!

Diane

RE: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

Forgot to say, she also said that privately done tests are not to be trusted as they will ALWAYS show results that mean treatment – presumably, she meant, because someone can make money out of it (we told her that Tom had just had a krypto pyrroles test and tested as fine but she didn’t answer). I asked ‘do you think they just make the results up?’ and she said ‘no, they read them differently.’

In other words, nothing will EVER convince her.

SARA

-----Original Message-----From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of Christianne PollockSent: 24 May 2006 21:34Autism Treatment Subject: Re: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meeting last night

oh dear that doesn't sound very good (or very up to date!). On 24 May 2006, at 21:02, Sass and Rem wrote:

How bizarre! We have just come back from our appointment with Gillian Bairdin London and it was a complete waste of time. She was pro-ABA orpro-education, as she put it, which is a damn sight better than ourpaediatrician. As soon as we started talking diet and bio-medical she saidthere was no proof and no proper studies for any of that, she poo pooed DAN!and Shattock. She said it was neurological and genetic - end of story!When we saw she had made up her mind not to help us we didn't argue toovociferously (but we did argue)She talked a lot about pruning and head size and measured all our big headsbut of course, offered no help.She said it is DEFINITELY NOT a medical or gut condition and the fact thatloads of autistic kids have gut conditions - coincidence of course!Sara-----Original Message-----From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of sharon_asd_ukSent: 24 May 2006 19:06Autism Treatment Subject: Dr Gillian Baird - Guildford meetinglast nightSince we've been discussing the paediatrican Dr Gillian Baird on thislist recently, I thought some of you might like to hear what she was talking about at a Surrey NAS meeting last night. WARNING - my information is SECOND HAND as I wasn't able to get to the meeting myself, but have heavily quizzed two mums at gym just now who didattend. If anyone else on this list was actually there please chip in!!Dr Gillian Baird came over to my friends as an open minded and caring paediatrican who seemed to really know what she was talking about.According to my sources, Dr Baird said in the meeting that autism is definately a real medical condition, a neurological condition. There are marked differences in the brains of autistic vs non-autistic children. She talked about pruning of the brain cells being faulty. I'm told she presented lots of research studies and graphs to back up her arguments (my sources couldn't follow these). It is good thoughto hear someone as well respected as her in the mainstream say that autism is a medical condition out loud at an NAS meeting. I hope they were taking notes!Dr Baird also said very clearly that autism is definately rising very rapidly over recent years and that the rise can NOT be put down to better diagnosis alone (she is one of the UK's formost diagnostic experts herself so coming from her this is very good). The big rise in autism is in the sub-set of regressive, late onset autism.Why the rise in autism? Something triggering it at around 1.5-2years. But this doesn't have to be an external trigger (??) Could be because of the genetic suseptability. (I wish I'd been there to quiz her more fully about genentic epidemics.... ) Could be environmental trigger too, but from what I was told this was not the favoured explaination. No mention of mercury, toxic load, detox problems, methylation issues etc etc etc. So what about medical treatment? Not much of substance here. She highlighted the lack of research studies and the difficulties getting big enough samples to get statistically signifcant results. Dr Baird said they'd tried to get a controlled study off the ground to look at the gfcf diet but couldn't get funding (!). Until there is a proper study the jury remains out. My friend thinks she said secretin doesn't work. Gut issues were focused around constipation.Please do add or correct this if you were there. Wish I had been - a missed opportunity.Sharon DISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice.If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualifiedpractitioner.