Errata on autism<\/p>\n
This is in reference to the article Parents struggle to help
\nchild with autism published in the Sunday edition of The Jakarta
\nPost on June 6, 1999, written by Agni Amorita.<\/p>\n
With due respect to the people involved, I would like to
\nsubmit several corrections on the following paragraph as the
\ninformation was misleading:<\/p>\n
"Medication continued in various ways. Dwi once tried a high
\ndose vitamin E treatment on the advice of Dr. Diah Puspita,
\ntreasurer of the Indonesian Autism Foundation. The treatment had
\nbeen effective for Diah's son, Irsan, who also suffered from
\nautism. Irsan, then six years old, finally managed to drink water
\nby himself."<\/p>\n
1. I am a psychologist, graduated from the University of
\nIndonesia, but not and never will be a medical doctor.<\/p>\n
2. Due to my professional background, I would have never
\nadvised anyone to take any kind of medication, especially high
\ndoses of vitamin E. There is a big misunderstanding here. Yes, I
\ngave my son a megadose vitamin treatment, based on the research
\ndone by Prof. Dr. Bernard Rimland of the Autism Research
\nInstitute in San Diego, U.S.A. The treatment consists of a very
\nhigh dose mixture of vitamins and minerals, mainly vitamin B and
\nmagnesium, not vitamin E.<\/p>\n
Yes, my son has had a lot of improvement during the treatment
\nof the megadose, but he was then under the strict supervision of
\na pediatrician here in Jakarta to get the most effective dosage.
\nThe mixture itself had to be imported straight from the U.S. as
\nthere was none available in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
3. My son's name is Ikhsan, not Irsan. He is autistic, but
\nhopefully he is not suffering. He has been able to help himself
\nsince he was only three years old, not when he was already six
\nyears old, and certainly not because of the megadose vitamin
\ntreatment. He was able to accomplish so many things due to the
\ntherapies he received, particularly the one-on-one structured
\nindividual therapy using Applied Behavioral Analysis.<\/p>\n
4. I am presently the head of Academic\/Training Affairs in the
\nIndonesian Autism Foundation, but not and never will be the
\ntreasurer.<\/p>\n
If I am not mistaken, the only conversations I had with Pak
\nDwi were by phone and through e-mail over two years ago (Ikhsan
\nis 8.5 years old now). I'm disappointed that he or the writer did
\nnot put any effort into cross-checking the information with me or
\nany other person, as the paragraph contained mistakes and
\nmisleading information.<\/p>\n
Should there be any inquiries about autism or what people
\nshould do to treat autistic individuals, we in the Indonesian
\nAutism Foundation would be very glad to furnish detailed,
\nscientific and up-to-date information for families and
\nprofessionals. Do not hesitate to contact us at 797-1945. We are
\nmostly parents and or professionals who are concerned with the
\nwelfare of autistic individuals.<\/p>\n
DYAH PUSPITA<\/p>\n
South Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/errata-on-autism-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }