For many years I have noted the link between the increased use of ultrasound and the increase in autism and autism spectrum disorders. The studies have clearly shown the effect of the Naval sonar systems on whales and porpoises, especially the increased stranding of juvenile whales.
Here are some recent studies and findings that relate to this issue:
Autism begins when certain brain cells fail to properly mature within the womb, according to scientists who say the scattered pattern of the undeveloped cells may explain the wide range of symptoms seen in children.
The finding, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, may one day offer a way to diagnose the disorder earlier, when the potential for treatment is greatest. The cause of autism and its related disorders is unknown. Affecting 1 in 50 U.S. children, it is mostly diagnosed from the ages of 3 to 5, based on behavioral changes that can occur.
“We found a novel aspect of cortical development never seen before that provides clues to the potential cause of autism and when it began,” said Eric Courchesne, director of the University of California at San Diego’s Autism Center of Excellence. “The type of defect we found points directly and clearly to autism beginning during pregnancy.”
What triggers the brain-cell disruptions remains a mystery, Courchesne said in a telephone interview. The cause could be genetic, environmental or a combination, he said.
http://www.ultrasound-autism.org/
safe fetal ultrasounds are the source of the worldwide rise in autism
Matching Timelines. Twenty years ago, the FDA increased the allowable intensity of prenatal ultrasound 8-fold to improve images.Autism rates have risen dramatically since that time. Today, it affects 1 in 88 U.S. children, and 1 in 54 U.S. boys.Prenatal ultrasound was once a rare medical procedure, reserved for women with high-risk pregnancies. Prenatal ultrasound is now routine for most pregnant women in developed countries. CDC reports rate of autism in 8-year-olds rose 80% in the six-year period between 2002 and 2008. The number of ultrasounds per U.S. pregnancy rose approximately 73% between the years matching the gestation times of these age groups, 1993 and 1999. Every year, more women have prenatal ultrasounds and have them earlier more often during a pregnancy.Now, the ultrasound vaginal probe, which places the acoustic beam closer to the embryo is in common use. The children of obese mothers have a higher rate of autism. Their abdominal fat layer often requires more of the scans to be done with the probe. The prevalence of autism continues to rise.
Naval Sonar Affects Whales
The Navy’s most widely used sonar systems operate in the mid-frequency range. Evidence of the danger caused by these systems surfaced dramatically in 2000, when whales of four different species stranded themselves on beaches in the Bahamas. Although the Navy initially denied responsibility, the government's investigation established that mid-frequency sonar caused the strandings.
Displacement of whales
Experts agree that exposure to sonar blasts can cause serious injury or death from hemorrhages or other tissue trauma. Whales can also suffer from temporary and permanent hearing loss, displacement from preferred habitat, and disruption of feeding, breeding, communication and other behaviors essential to survival.