Dr. Phil & Autism - Wed.-December 19, 2007

[Guest guest]

Wednesday - December 19, 2007

Parents' Ultimate Test: Dealing with Autism

The ultimate test for any parent is loving a child who is difficult,

sometimes frightening, to the whole family. It’s a test parents of

autistic children are put to daily. Ten-year-old Luce throws screaming

tantrums, barks like a dog, and tells his mother, , that he plans

to kill her. has long felt despair at Luce’s out-of-control

behavior, yet she was shocked when a doctor diagnosed him with autism.

Go inside the daily life of this family, see Luce’s wild behavior

caught on tape, and learn why ’s main coping mechanisms might be

putting her at risk. Then, a member of Dr. Phil’s own staff achieved

miraculous results for her autistic child and her whole family through

an intense program. Could a similar treatment work for Luce? Plus,

what causes autism? Several recent media reports and high-profile

parents such as McCarthy have pointed the finger at

vaccinations. Is there a link? Child care expert and pediatrician Dr.

Jim Sears weighs in. Then, imagine having a crime committed against

you, but not having a voice or any way to tell someone you’d been

wronged. Some mothers in Las Vegas say that’s exactly what happened

when a teacher allegedly abused their autistic children, and they’ve

filed a lawsuit. Hear them recount the painful details of the alleged

abuse. What are their chances of winning in court?