Richard Perry/The New York Times
Jake Exkorn, 8, who had early social skills training, has frequent play dates. He recently horsed around with Sergei Bluman and Will Youmans.
Posted on 02/25/2005 8:13:00 PM PST by neverdem
Richard Perry/The New York Times
Jake Exkorn, 8, who had early social skills training, has frequent play dates. He recently horsed around with Sergei Bluman and Will Youmans.
ping
Item possibly of interest.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
So a decade ago there were 22000 autistic children, and now 6 times more, 140000. The population has not grown sixfold over the decade, and diagnostics 10 years ago was not SO bad as to miss 80% of them. So, unless it is an epidemics, why such growth in their numbers?
There seems to be an epidemic.
This is a sad, sad story. I feel for them
Autism ping.
The two kids I know who are Autistic never even got close to 1st grade, let alone 6th grade on their own (unless thier parents, grandparents, school, etc. were ALL completely clueless) to even ask the question "Why am I like this. What's wrong with me?". If you get "that far" without Autism being discovered as a factor, then it isn't a factor. To even be able to ask that question indicates that its something else, not Autism.
My Mom was pregnant and at the same time had German measles in 69... and although the odds were she would have a handicapped baby being devout Catholics abortion was not an option. She is a saint
Johnny was born autistic and deaf.
We had 5 kids in a small house.
No regrets.... at this time Johnny is a little blessing.
If you think you have problems think of little guys like him and count your blessings.
FYI ping
It's not an epidemic. Diagnostic skills are much improved today. My second cousin is Autistic. Unfortunately, his mother is of the opinion that at the age of 17 he will improve by the miracles of prayer, rather than occupational therapy and medication.
Surviving middle school is hard for many children but when you are autistic it can be a nightmare. The hormones kick in and scramble the progress you have made with the child. They didn't have a clue on how to behave in elementary school and even less as to how to handle their sexuality. The suicide rate is fairly high for high functioning autistic children as they grow into their teens. They are the perpetual outcast. All a parent can do is love them like a rock and keep trying to help them grow into a adult. A autistic child can be like a battle that never ends, you just never give up, do whatever it takes, and never surrender.
I entered autism, annual prevalence. This was one of the abstracts listed. Click "Related Articles". The epidemiology of autistic spectrum disorders: is the prevalence rising?
"The evidence suggests that the majority, if not all, of the reported rise in incidence and prevalence is due to changes in diagnostic criteria and increasing awareness and recognition of autistic spectrum disorders."
My son has been working in group homes with Autistic middle school boys....He's recently got a promotion, but hates to leave....Several are really making progress. There just are not enough people trained to help all in need.
Didn't incorrigible have an autism ping list?
She's not related to my sister-in-law is she? Their boy is 16, was in a legit therapy program for maybe a year when he was 3 or so. None since - "home schooled." He still wears a diaper and head phones to block out all sound so that he's manageable. She never took him to speech therapy (but they took the government money provided by SSDI). Now they're seeing a chiropractor-type weekly who claims to be able to help. My husband was just back visiting the whole family - said in 3 years nothing has changed that he can tell. The parents claim he's making improvements. If there are any they aren't particularly functional ones.
my objective view of her is that she carries so much tension and worry on her face...
the little things that most people just don't worry about, she worries....
she has never had a friend, wouldn't know how to make one, or to keep one...
she goes to the mall and one particular young woman salesperson was meerly polite and kind to my dtr, and my dtr took it to mean that she wanted to be some long lost friend....but the salesperson was only doing her job....
I can say for a fact that even thought these people are socially withdrawn, they do long for friendship.....its just out of reach for them with their differant social outlook and behaviors...
its very sad......
He isn't that bad, but he has grow tall and heavier than his mother. (Her husband left her some years ago.) He knows he can whip up on mom. He has already broken her arm once when he threw her across the room.
I've been telling her for years to put him in home-care or he is going to kill her. She is holding out for a cure from Jesus.
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