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Commentary: Autism Means Too Many Things to Mean Anything
Channel News Asia ^ | 19 Oct 2025 | Emily May

Posted on 10/20/2025 12:10:02 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The diagnostic categorisation for autism is so broad that families of profoundly autistic children are being left behind, says the mother of a 7-year-old nonverbal daughter.

When I tell strangers that my daughter is autistic, their questions are often so far from my reality, it’s painful. Does she have a unique talent? Special interests? They picture a child who excels at puzzles. But my daughter hasn’t shown an interest in toys since she was 20 months old and is unable to tell me what she wants to be for Halloween or when she grows up. I fear illnesses like strep throat because she cannot tell me she’s in pain.

It’s difficult to have a national conversation about a condition that includes Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg and also my 7-year-old nonverbal daughter, who will likely need 24/7 care for the rest of her life. That’s why families like mine want a distinct diagnostic category for our children that clarifies our challenges and what we need from the medical community. In 2021, a Lancet commission report on the future of autism research and care introduced the term “profound autism” for individuals requiring round-the-clock care, with an IQ below 50 or minimal verbal ability or both. Just over a quarter of people with autism would qualify.

(Excerpt) Read more at channelnewsasia.com ...


TOPICS: Education; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: autism; diagnostic; medicine; tylenol
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To: Varda

Yes it did and those red welts burned quite awhile!😎


21 posted on 10/20/2025 1:47:54 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: nickcarraway

My son was diagnosed as being in the autism spectrum. He was late in talking and still at 26 has trouble verbally expressing himself and in reading. We do participate with organizations that work with special needs people and I’ve learned that each person is different in their disability
As parents we try to keep him involved in the community including participation in a bowling league, taking piano lessons and working a part time job. He plays the piano
quite well and plays several hymns as part of our church service. He can take of his own hygiene and can even cook his own breakfast!


22 posted on 10/20/2025 2:03:10 PM PDT by SubVet72
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To: Bonemaker

Very high functioning autistic checking in.


23 posted on 10/20/2025 2:14:57 PM PDT by cowboyusa ( YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: Bonemaker

Can do most things , but driving is too hard. Most of my autistic rages are driven by leftists.🤣


24 posted on 10/20/2025 2:16:23 PM PDT by cowboyusa ( YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: redangus

Alphabetical. It’s a joke. Folks with OCD habitually place things in order.


25 posted on 10/20/2025 2:57:16 PM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: cowboyusa

They don’t have a name yet for what ails me but it must be similar because leftists drive me nuts too!


26 posted on 10/20/2025 3:37:26 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Bonemaker

Liberals, I can deal with. Dumb and mistaken they love America. Leftists are demons.


27 posted on 10/20/2025 4:33:16 PM PDT by cowboyusa ( YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: Ikeon

He’s a very bright boy who struggles to stay grounded in reality. If you have ever watched THE BIG BANG THEORY on television, he is sort of like a 14-year-old version of Sheldon.


28 posted on 10/20/2025 4:41:49 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys many aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: ronniesgal

No. Her son is 2 years older. Very unusual for a girl to be autistic at her level. My friend has said if she had known her son was autistic earlier, she probably would have only had one. He wasn’t diagnosed until he was almost four. When he stopped making any attempt at talking and stopped developing mentally. By then she already had her daughter. She is probably 9-10 mentally but has real dangerous behavioral issue. Sweet to deadly in a snap of your finger. Has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as requiring institutional care for her own safety and the safety of others. Not a good situation.


29 posted on 10/21/2025 8:05:34 AM PDT by redangus (re f)
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To: redangus

thanks for the reply. sorry to hear.


30 posted on 10/21/2025 3:01:17 PM PDT by ronniesgal ( so is it okay that I said that??? GO TRUMP GO!!!!)
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