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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
 So I was discussing my thoughts with her today about my autistic nephew/shots/autism in general. She said that when she went to the doc with SIL and nephew (then 2ish) the doc said something about the way the hair grows on the top of the head is an indication of the way the brain is growing Something to do with a pattern is almost always seen w autistic children. It sound SO out in left field I was wondering if anyone knew anything about what MIL was saying.
ETA: the doc was an older GP not a Ped.
Message edited 6/26/2007 3:56:58 PM.
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Posted 6/26/07 3:50 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Ummm... sorry - no.... NEVER heard that!!!! 
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| Posted 6/26/07 3:52 PM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by lipglossjunky73
Ummm... sorry - no.... NEVER heard that!!!!
Thanks. I was like W T F lady
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| Posted 6/26/07 3:53 PM |
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My3Shmoos
Me and my Monkey
Member since 7/06 2437 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Never heard that but what type of pattern are they talking about?
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| Posted 6/26/07 3:53 PM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by KAbs
Never heard that but what type of pattern are they talking about?
Im not sure, she mentioned something about the swirl pattern in the back/top of the head (which both my boys have) and how it grows in a particular way. I was about 1 1/2 yrs ago s Im sure she doesn't remember verbatim.
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| Posted 6/26/07 3:56 PM |
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Marcie
Complete Happiness :)
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by KPtoys
Posted by KAbs
Never heard that but what type of pattern are they talking about?
Im not sure, she mentioned something about the swirl pattern in the back/top of the head (which both my boys have) and how it grows in a particular way. I was about 1 1/2 yrs ago s Im sure she doesn't remember verbatim.
Thats funny - cause my nephew just saud the other day - saying that which ever way the pattern goes it tells if the child will be left or right handed 
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| Posted 6/26/07 4:10 PM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by Marcie
Posted by KPtoys
Posted by KAbs
Never heard that but what type of pattern are they talking about?
Im not sure, she mentioned something about the swirl pattern in the back/top of the head (which both my boys have) and how it grows in a particular way. I was about 1 1/2 yrs ago s Im sure she doesn't remember verbatim.
Thats funny - cause my nephew just saud the other day - saying that which ever way the pattern goes it tells if the child will be left or right handed
that darn pattern
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| Posted 6/26/07 4:11 PM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
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Jessica
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Ok that is weird. Well I did a quick search and there may be some truth to at least part of it. Apparently there may be a genetic basis to whether your hair whirls clockwise ot counterclockwise. I found this one paper (published in 2006 so I don't think your nephew's doctor could have read this exact paper then) that said there may a gene that controls hair whorl direction, left- or right-handedness, sexual orientation, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum. But this guy doesn't really have evidence (although I can't be sure, even the abstract looks greek to me!), and he's publishing from the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, not from a medical school or university. Also I found a 2007 paper that found no relation between hair whorl and handedness and/or language.
So maybe there is something to it, but I don't think it's so cut and dry that you can look at someone's head and see if they are/will be autistic (or gay, or left-handed)!
Message edited 6/26/2007 4:14:01 PM.
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| Posted 6/26/07 4:13 PM |
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My3Shmoos
Me and my Monkey
Member since 7/06 2437 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
I just did some quick Googling. They seem to be talking about a pattern of children whose hair was tested for mercury levels in their hair. I've seen nothing about they way the hair grows.
It's just another thing to make us moms CRAZY!!!!!
I'm not reading another thing about it or I'll drive myself insane! Right Liza?? thanks for your helpthe other night!
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| Posted 6/26/07 4:18 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
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Ms. Brat
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
I actually just read an article in the New Yorker saying the direction of the hair whorl COULD be indicative of homosexuality. Boy, that hair whorl predicts A LOT!!
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| Posted 6/26/07 6:02 PM |
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by PatsBrat
I actually just read an article in the New Yorker saying the direction of the hair whorl COULD be indicative of homosexuality. Boy, that hair whorl predicts A LOT!!
Hmmm - so everyone will be checking to see if their kids are autistic homosexuals?
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| Posted 6/26/07 6:34 PM |
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by KAbs
I'm not reading another thing about it or I'll drive myself insane! Right Liza?? thanks for your helpthe other night!
Right! STOP reading!!! 
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| Posted 6/26/07 6:35 PM |
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
There is a link between hair growth and some syndromes.
One of my best friends, her son has FG Syndrome and is also on the spectrum for Autism. One of the symptoms/characteristics of the syndrome is the way the hair grows in a whirl pattern, kinda like a cowlick but swirly. He has several of these.
So I have never heard it specifically for Autism per se (although in this case he is Autistic) but it is linked to other syndromes.
HTH
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| Posted 6/26/07 7:04 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
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C
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
I dont get it. Don't most people have cowlicks??? I know I have 2 or 3 and I'm not autistic.
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| Posted 6/26/07 7:08 PM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
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D
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by jellybean1420
I dont get it. Don't most people have cowlicks??? I know I have 2 or 3 and I'm not autistic.
Then I guess my boys are doomed....Christopher has a swirl on the top of his head, and Matthew has 2 callicks on his head the top of his hair spikes up
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| Posted 6/26/07 9:04 PM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
Name:
Jessica
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Ok this is so weird, I was watching the Colbert Report last night and his guest was David France, who just wrote an article in New York Magazine called "The Science of Gaydar", and one of the things he talks about it how the counterclockwise hair whorl is associated with being gay and left handed. He didn't mention autism at all in the article of course, but he did explain on the show a possible reason. He said it may have to do with the amount of s e x hormones the fetus is exposed to during development.
So it definitely sounds possible, but I still don't think you can look at someone's hair and say if they will be autistic, gay and/or left handed. Even in the article, he says there was a study, out of 50 gay men (surveyed at a gay pride parade in Southern California), about 23% had counterclockwise hair whorl, versus 8% of the general population. It's not 100%, so obviously while there's a correlation it's not the whole story.
Sorry for being long-winded, I just thought it was funny that it was on the Colbert Report after you mentioned it yesterday, and it made me curious to read the article.
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| Posted 6/27/07 9:28 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by JessieQ
Ok this is so weird, I was watching the Colbert Report last night and his guest was David France, who just wrote an article in New York Magazine called "The Science of Gaydar", and one of the things he talks about it how the counterclockwise hair whorl is associated with being gay and left handed. He didn't mention autism at all in the article of course, but he did explain on the show a possible reason. He said it may have to do with the amount of s e x hormones the fetus is exposed to during development.
So it definitely sounds possible, but I still don't think you can look at someone's hair and say if they will be autistic, gay and/or left handed. Even in the article, he says there was a study, out of 50 gay men (surveyed at a gay pride parade in Southern California), about 23% had counterclockwise hair whorl, versus 8% of the general population. It's not 100%, so obviously while there's a correlation it's not the whole story.
Sorry for being long-winded, I just thought it was funny that it was on the Colbert Report after you mentioned it yesterday, and it made me curious to read the article.
I just read the article this morning (I'm behind on my New York Magazines). Great article although I worry about the implications on the gay community if people were trying to "fix" a genetic trait.
So by the pediatrician's opinion, it would folllow that all gay people are autistic?
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| Posted 6/27/07 10:11 AM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
Name:
Jessica
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by nrthshgrl
Posted by JessieQ
Ok this is so weird, I was watching the Colbert Report last night and his guest was David France, who just wrote an article in New York Magazine called "The Science of Gaydar", and one of the things he talks about it how the counterclockwise hair whorl is associated with being gay and left handed. He didn't mention autism at all in the article of course, but he did explain on the show a possible reason. He said it may have to do with the amount of s e x hormones the fetus is exposed to during development.
So it definitely sounds possible, but I still don't think you can look at someone's hair and say if they will be autistic, gay and/or left handed. Even in the article, he says there was a study, out of 50 gay men (surveyed at a gay pride parade in Southern California), about 23% had counterclockwise hair whorl, versus 8% of the general population. It's not 100%, so obviously while there's a correlation it's not the whole story.
Sorry for being long-winded, I just thought it was funny that it was on the Colbert Report after you mentioned it yesterday, and it made me curious to read the article.
I just read the article this morning (I'm behind on my New York Magazines). Great article although I worry about the implications on the gay community if people were trying to "fix" a genetic trait.
So by the pediatrician's opinion, it would folllow that all gay people are autistic?
Yeah, and that left handed people are gay and/or autistic? That's the weird thing, I think there's something to it but it can't be that cut and dry! They also mentioned the finger length theory, that more gay men and straight women have longer pointer fingers than ring fingers, and that conversely more straight men and lesbian women have longer ring fingers than pointer fingers. Again there is research to say that it's due to the amount of hormones you are exposed to in utero.
As a correlary to that, I know there are issues of environmental estrogen (in everything from hormone-treated cow's milk to plants to plastics) exposure to fetuses- I read this book called "The Estrogen Effect" and it talked about how these estogens are affecting everything from sperm count to prostate cancer. If it is true that the hormones you are exposed to before birth affect all of these things, and possibly homosexuality and autism, you would see an increase in these syndromes/diseases. Hmmm, I guess we ARE seeing an increase in some of these things. It doesn't prove anything, but it's something to think about.
Also I agree that it's scary because it opens the gates to some people trying to "fix" homosexuality, but I guess the knowledge of what causes these traits is important. And in the least maybe it would be an incentive for the conservative republicans (who are so against homosexuality) to do something about the environment? 
Ok now my head is hurting.
Message edited 6/27/2007 10:43:35 AM.
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| Posted 6/27/07 10:41 AM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Wow, all that and I just thought my MIL was talking out her hiney
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| Posted 6/27/07 8:49 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by lipglossjunky73
Posted by PatsBrat
I actually just read an article in the New Yorker saying the direction of the hair whorl COULD be indicative of homosexuality. Boy, that hair whorl predicts A LOT!!
Hmmm - so everyone will be checking to see if their kids are autistic homosexuals?
I think I have that swirl
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| Posted 6/27/07 8:52 PM |
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Yeah, and that left handed people are gay and/or autistic? That's the weird thing, I think there's something to it but it can't be that cut and dry! They also mentioned the finger length theory, that more gay men and straight women have longer pointer fingers than ring fingers, and that conversely more straight men and lesbian women have longer ring fingers than pointer fingers. Again there is research to say that it's due to the amount of hormones you are exposed to in utero.
I'm a lesbian!!!!
What am I going to tell my husband???? 
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| Posted 6/27/07 8:56 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Ok so my left-handed Dad is gay and autistic?
Actually wait.. he's bald!!! no whorl at all!!!
Gay, autistic and bald...
Well, if anyone thinks I'm strange it's because a gay, autistic, bald man raised me
Definitely an argument for not reading anything on the internet.
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| Posted 6/27/07 9:19 PM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
Name:
Jessica
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by lipglossjunky73
Yeah, and that left handed people are gay and/or autistic? That's the weird thing, I think there's something to it but it can't be that cut and dry! They also mentioned the finger length theory, that more gay men and straight women have longer pointer fingers than ring fingers, and that conversely more straight men and lesbian women have longer ring fingers than pointer fingers. Again there is research to say that it's due to the amount of hormones you are exposed to in utero.
I'm a lesbian!!!!
What am I going to tell my husband????
I know I have the longer ring finger than pointer. When I told my DH the story, he looked right at my fingers and said "you're a lesbian!" I will say I am left-handed, so that follows the pattern. I don't know what direction my hair whorls though...
I had a professor in college who told me some psychologists he met at a conference told him that having a longer ring finger than pointer in men means you're either very athletic or a serial killer (again because they think you were exposed to more testosteone in the uterus). He thought they were messing around with him, but he did a search and there are some studies out there saying this. So strange!
Message edited 6/27/2007 9:22:20 PM.
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| Posted 6/27/07 9:21 PM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
Name:
Jessica
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Re: Heard the strangest thing from MIL today re Autism
Posted by KPtoys
Wow, all that and I just thought my MIL was talking out her hiney
I know who would think people are actually researching this! I wonder how the first person even came up with this idea...
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| Posted 6/27/07 9:23 PM |
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