Per the thread, the problem is not that Savage is denying the existence of autism, it’s that he’s simply observing (in his usually caustic manner) that an awful lot of those diagnosed as such are not - which actually is helpful by trying to shine the light on the imposters/whiners, and get the over-diagnosis back down to those tragic true cases thereof.
I agree 100% with Savage in that this disorder is WAY over diagnosed, and also incorrectly diagnosed. I’ve only known of three situations where a child was labelled “autistic” and I knew the family well. In each of these instances, the MOTHER was a hovering whiner herself who basically talked over and around the child about this supposed “condition” and stuffed the kid full of pills continually. Not only that, but I asked about the boy improving with one of these mothers who quickly pointed out IN FRONT OF the child “my boy will never be any better.”. NICE!!!
Call me what you will...and hold onto your excuses for poor parenting because that is the #1 cause of all childhood mental maladies. pathetic looser parents who don’t get it and ruin their kids.
I think it was Walter Williams on Jewishworldreview.com who noted that many children with Einstein syndrome (late talkers, don’t care if they’re alone, obsessive interests) are high IQ kids who aren’t highly social, and thus get slapped with an autism spectrum disorder. He likens it to say your kid has a blindness spectrum disorder and needs glasses.
Then there is the fact that the mental retardation diagnosis rate is down. Why? Because they are being labeled autistic instead.
Part of the huge spike in autism is mis-diagnosis. Part of it is moving one category into the new one (from retarded to autistic). Neither of these groups is helped by a big slap on the butt to fix the problem.
What I do not know is if Apsberger Syndrome and rage disorders would be better handled with stronger discipline.