The autism epidemic that never was

New Scientist ^ | August 13, 2005 | Graham Lawton

[merry10]

I also like "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" Not a true story but a peek into the mind of a high functioning autistic british boy. I also recommend books by Oliver Sacks.

[merry10]

Your district knows. They get a certain amount for every special ed kid. I will try to find some information for you over the weekend if you want. You can call them up and ask them.

[OldFriend]

Hope your child is doing fine! You kept persevering and no child could ask for more from the parent.

My friend's son went from an engaging and bright little boy to a staring vacant silent child to all the worst known symptoms of autism.

Good luck and an extra prayer too.

[old and tired]

We have a friend whose little boy is truly autistic. He was fine until about 2 yrs. old and then all progress stopped and he began to regress.

I also am the parent of a special needs son (Down Syndrome) and in his travels I have seen truly autistic kids - there's no doubt about it - they've got a problem. From my perspective, raising an autistic kid seems one of the toughest parental rows to hoe.

I personally think there has been an increase in true autism. My wife suggests maybe some kids just got labeled "retarded" in the old days. I don't know, but clearly there are more truly autistic kids than there used to be. I figure there is something to the vaccine or food allergy theory.

However, I'm also a grandfather who coaches an elementary age basketball team, so I see all different types of kids. A lot of kids are diagnosed with PDD who are developmentally normal in my opinion. It's my impression that the one thing these kids (boys who are able to play on a mainstream basketball team) have in common is weak parents who are always trying to reason with their kids instead of parenting them. I don't meet a lot of working class kids with PDD.

I was talking to my daughter-in-law about this article. She teaches Special Ed. Her opinion mirrors mine. The one thing she did say though that was very interesting to me was that the vast majority of truly autistic kids started out developing normally. Then their parents report development just suddenly stopped and slowly began to reverse. She laughed about the word trendy being used for autism. She said she and her colleague break the autistic kids into two groups: "really PDD" and "rich kid PDD".

[technochick99]

I haven't read anything current, but it did seem to be shown that depressions, etc. were perpetuated through the mother's line.

I'm not sure where you've seen that, but I keep up-to-date on that (in several ways) and I have never heard that.

[technochick99]

I just meant to bold the 'never'...

[Incorrigible]

I'm only half way through at this point.

I guess that waiting list at my son's school of profoundly Autistic children is also a mirage.

Pinging the Autism list.

[conservative cat]

I do know that whether or not my son had been diagnosed as autistic 30 years ago, he still would have been in special ed. There is no way he could have been in a mainstream class- even then.

I think there is something to the gut connection. My son improved in behavior on a gluten free diet (and had small improvements when he received secretin during a study.)

[neverdem]

Bump for reply in a little while.

[Dianna]

I'm not sure where you've seen that, but I keep up-to-date on that (in several ways) and I have never heard that.

A number of years ago (10-12?), my brother was mistakenly diagnosed as schizophrenic. As a result, my mother and I were doing as much reading as we could. We weren't computerized in those days, so we were reading books. Perhaps this was a theory in vogue for awhile.

I haven't kept up on the latest, so I'll guess this is NOT valid. I'm sorry for any confusion.

[AppyPappy]

Apart from the fact that about three-quarters of those affected are male

This would seem to bust the "vaccine" bubble since males don't make up 3/4 of the kids vaccinated.

[Incorrigible]

Domestic Church

I understand your criticism but it's actually more complex than you make it.

The schools were saddled with the education of special education by the IDEA act in 1974; shortly after the states reduced the populations of their mental institutions by dropping off their patients on the streets.  These were dark days for the mentally disabled indeed.

Now there are some schools, particularly in liberal controlled districts, that do have a habit of reclassifying troublesome students as special education students.  These students do get extra money and are removed from the rolls of standardized test taking thus helping the school look better as well.

However, you generalize from this situation to the more general situation of special education.  I, and other parents of Autistic children, can assure you that the school districts would prefer to have nothing to do with our truly disabled children.  The money supplied by any federal programs doesn't even begin to cover the appropriate methodology to help profoundly Autistic children so they will be less of a burden on society later in life.  Thus, we are a scourge, stealing from their general budget.

So who is looking to expand the definition of Autism and why?  It's organizations like NAAR, CAN, FEAT, COSAC and more that are doing so.  I am a member of two of those organizations.  These are organization developed to first help parents deal with their disabled children and then find out how they became that way.  Without research, there can be little insight into why Autistic children are they way they are.  However, there is lots of competition for research funds whether it's from public or private sources.  What the leaders of these organizations discovered was that there was a ton of public money being spent on non-existent global warming or on diseases like AIDS that have known methods for prevention (alas, not followed).

When research is done with federal funds, it becomes part of the public domain and the above mentioned organizations can then affordably scrutinize the data to find insight.  Thus, these organizations have INFLATED the number of children covered in the Autism spectrum.  Since my son was diagnosed 5 years ago, the number of Autistic children went from 1 in 500 to 1 in 50.  This is on the face of it preposterous.  And as the father of a son profoundly affected by Autism, it disturbs me that so many relatively normal kids are lumped in the same diagnosis. 

That said, the reason the diagnosis inflation is done is the same reason the military asks for thousands of armored humvees in hopes of getting a few hundred.  Without these types of numbers, research dollars will otherwise flow into studies on cow flatulence.  I don't like the game, I'm just a player. 

Would I prefer that charitable organizations be used to benefit my son rather than imposing on the fine taxpayers of my town and the United States.  You bet!!!  However, my son needs my help now and a method to get to a point that he can survive when I'm dead.  The federal government has been usurping the place of church and charity for more years than I've been alive.  I want to change the system but I want to help my son more.  A conundrum for a FReeper like me but one on which I will fall to the side of favoring my son.

[neverdem]

Have they looked into your genetic background? We have anxiety/depressions in our family through my mother's side. I haven't read anything current, but it did seem to be shown that depressions, etc. were perpetuated through the mother's line.

I've been searching depression and sex, depression and sex and (genetics OR heredity) on PubMed and Googled depression maternal linkage. The best that I can find are A population-based twin study of lifetime major depression in men and women. and Evidence for a possibly X-linked trait related to affective illness

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[technochick99]

Mistakenly diagnosed as a schizophrenic? Eek! I hate to imagine what must have brought that about.

Glad to hear it was mistaken though.

[Born Conservative]

There is no shortage of suspects. In the UK, blame is often laid at the door of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In the US, mercury added to a range of childhood shots has been accused. Food allergies, viral infections, antibiotics and other prescription drugs have all been fingered, often by campaign groups run by mystified and angry parents. The problem is that none of these suggested causes has any solid scientific evidence to support it

[diamond6]

bump 4 later

[ignorance_found]

Here we go ... this is the problem. People who will, now due to this foolish article, down play the true problem that exist. This article in my mind is worthless. Just another, how we can sweep away the issue under a rug.

I have a son with autism. Prior to my son reaching to the age of 3 years old, I had not a single clue of what was autism. We took him to 2 pediatricians, both of whom said he was fine and that my son was a late bloomer. The same crap I got from family members stating ... "don't worry, boys take longer to talk than girls".

Not until I saw, a news program concerning the rise in Autism and they listed the symptoms (most of which he matched).

- Him being nonverbal, the spinning, banging his head on the wall, the appearance of almost being deaf (due to unresponsiveness), the arm flapping, the lining up of toys in a straight line over and over again, the no making eye contact, and the list goes on.

As clear as day, it hit me what my son had. I was like a double edge sword. It was great that I now know what he has (I can now give it a name and others would understand) but it truly sucks that he has it. My wife was in denial. I don't blame her, who would want to know that there child has a brain defect (and that what it truly is).

I have read almost every article I can find on the subject. I am part of many different groups on the subject. All in hope that I can find a cure for my son.

But when, I see articles like this, it makes me angry. Trying to brush off or lightly coat this problem. After, I learned what the Autism spectrum was, I would spot an autistic child and even adults a mile away.

I know of at least 3 families, who due to contact via my children's school or my work, have autistic children. But they are in denial and don't want to take action. And now because of articles like this, they probably won't.

Sadly, no one has the cure or answer to what causes autism. This BS about, well in the UK from this time period compared to another time period there was no rise. That's just hogwash. Can someone explain to me why is it that based on some articles there are very few people with autism in the Amish community (here's the link http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050508-112601-3643r.htm )?

OK, maybe you want to say ... well the Autism of today is not the same as of yesterday. Fine. But don't tell me that there isn't still a problem. And it's not just called Autism, it's called the autism spectrum disorder. Which means that a person can fall within a spectrum of this disorder. Some have it more severe than others. Thank God my child is on the high functional end, meaning that he has it mildly. But nonetheless, he is autistic and has mental problems.

I would give my right arm (seriously) to have my son not have this. He's a great kid. But it hurts that as much love and affection that I have for him, he just gives me blank stares. I am accepting of him and all that he does, but I know society would rather ridicule and brush him aside.

For all those nay sayers who claim that this is not an epidemic and a true problem. I would hope that you bear a child with autism (since it's not a problem) so that you can walk in my shoes. I am willing to bet the author of this worthless article doesn't have an autistic child.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Sounds very similar to my experience and my sentiments.

I, too, get sick of people claiming there is no problem. (I forgot my sarcasm tags in my original post).

I would give my right arm (seriously) to have my son not have this. He's a great kid. But it hurts that as much love and affection that I have for him, he just gives me blank stares. I am accepting of him and all that he does, but I know society would rather ridicule and brush him aside.

Well said. I'm right there with you. We'll just keep loving these kids, and doing what we can for them, whatever the eggheads say and whatever the politicians don't do.