Episode 37: An Emergency Update Conversation with Autism Expert Amy Wetherby, PhD, Florida State University (FSU)

UPDATE 9/22/25; There was no real study released in late September, as expected, on a potential causal relationship between autism and Tylenol. Instead we got, basically, a rambling statement from President Trump (with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.at his side) warning that pregnant women should ask their doctors before taking Tylenol. (Already a protocol). The President  – citing no evidence - told pregnant women  just “tough it out”.

I’m calling this an emergency update on autism – as we wait for the new causal studies authorized by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – the Secretary of Health and Human Services. So far, according to a recent Reuters report,  researchers have submitted more than 100 proposals for RFK Jr’s 50 million dollar study of autism’s causes – essentially mining the CDC’s large data base. There’s a separate review in progress on vaccine safety as well as the relationship if any to autism. Secretary Kennedy originally made the unlikely  promise to have definitive findings by September – that’s this month  - but has now stretched that much further out.

Earlier this month Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for what evolved into a highly contentious hearing. Mostly on vaccines, changes at the CDC  – and autism. There’s an excerpt in the podcast.

So I’m bringing back Dr. Amy Wetherby - one of the top US autism experts - for this emergency update. To set you straight on the facts. The science. What we know now about autism’s causes – which is quite a lot. And how early intervention can change an autistic child’s life. Dr. Wetherby was my guest last June on Episode 34. Here’s the link to that much longer and more detailed podcast. https://youtu.be/5EMedABGCrU

Amy Wetherby is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Autism Institute in the College of Medicine at Florida State University. She’s also a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association with over 45 years of clinical experience and the Executive Director of the FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Amy is also co-developer of the websites Autism Navigator and Baby Navigator - which can provide a huge amount of help to the parents and teachers of autistic children. This update was recorded September 12, 2025. I’ll add to these notes if something coming out of HHS or the CDC substantially  changes anything we discussed.  

Autism Navigator now has a new menu of diagnostic services: https://autismnavigator.com/diagnosis-get-started-now/

The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (statement)

YouTube video link:  https://youtu.be/0RTTN5Yh4lc

Channel link: @conversationsonhealthhowwe4827