20 audio clips of Michael Savage's comments on Autism

[Savage]

There have been numerous calls in recent days for Michael Savage, who hosts "The Michael Savage Show" for Talk Radio Network (the "Network"), to be fired or suspended for his brief 84 seconds of commentary concerning autism during the July 16th broadcast of the Show.

While the phrasing of Dr. Savage's remarks was inartful, after an investigation, as well as personal knowledge of Dr. Savage's strongly held views towards children and those dealing with special challenges, the Network is satisfied that he did not mean any disrespect to autistic children or their families but was instead reiterating his longstanding concerns on public health issues.



> Direct Link: 20 audio clips of Michael Savage's comments on Autism.

1. Savage says the real cases of autism need our sympathy and support. Listen

2. Savage says his brother was severely disabled and that misdiagnosis hurts the child. Listen

3. Savage says that the genuinely autistic need as much love and attention as we can give them. Listen

4. Savage talks about his disabled brother who died in a hospital. Listen

5. Savage speaks with Wendy Fournier, President of the National Autism Association. Listen

6. Savage interviews psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin. Dr. Breggin says that though there are real cases of autism, those involved in the broadening of its diagnosis are in the pay of pharmaceutical companies. Breggin says Savage is correct that autism is over diagnosed. Listen

7. Savage speaks with Dr. Stephen Camarata of Vanderbilt University who has worked extensively with autistic children. He says that the definition of autism has been expanded too far. Listen

8. Caller Kyle is a school psychologist who works with autistic kids and agrees with Savage on the over diagnosis of autism and how it only hurts the kids who truly have the condition. Listen

9. Caller Susan says her child was labeled autistic by school officials and that she was pressured to sign off on the diagnosis. Listen

10. Caller Tikvah is a therapist in New York City who works with children who says that kids are frequently labeled with autism even though they have other conditions because the agencies are provided with more funds for that diagnosis. Listen

11. Savage says his comments about autism were directed at those who are falsely diagnosed and that he knows what it's like to have a child suffer in front of his eyes. Listen

12. Savage reads from his book Healing Children Naturally where he cautions against the drugging of children. Listen

13. Savage mentions that UK doctors do not screen for autism because screening tools have not been fully validated. Listen

14. Savage says real autism is devastating, but that it's difficult to diagnose, such that the do not screen for it in the UK. Savage says that over diagnosis occurs because of the "autistic spectrum" and this is insulting to the truly ill. Listen

15. Caller Victoria has an autistic child and says it is too easy to get a child diagnosed as autistic. Savage says resources for autism must be reserved for children like hers. Listen

16. Savage says he has devoted his life to helping children and gives the context for his remarks. Listen

17. Savage criticizes doctors for recommending cholesterol drugs on children as young as two. Listen

18. Savage says that though people are making money from false diagnosis, real cases of autism deserve our sympathy and out support. Listen

19. Savage says many experts say that many children are falsely diagnosed. Listen

20. Savage says that real autism is tragic, and that a false diagnosis is a crime against the child. Listen