The perceived increase in the number of cases is due to two causes:
(1) the expanded definition of "autism". It used to include only the severe forms -- kids who were mute, oblivious to others, and spent hours in repetitive meaningless behaviors. Now it includes things like Asperger's Syndrome and "autism spectrum disorder" and "broad autistic phenotypes" -- in other words, kids that we used to describe as geeky or socially awkward or just 'a little odd'. Many kids now diagnosed as autistic were formerly diagnosed as mentally retarded. Under current standards most of my family probably could get a diagnosis if we worked at it.
(2) Which leads to the second factor: federal funding -- follow the money. Any time you reward something, you get more of it. There are borderline diagnoses and a good deal of outright fraud when free money is available.
It is overlooked because the evidence shows otherwise.
This is grossly irresponsible.
Now it includes things like Asperger's Syndrome and "autism spectrum disorder" and "broad autistic phenotypes.
Asperger's Syndrome is autism. The disorder occurs in a spectrum of severity. Did you bother reading anything about it?
Many kids now diagnosed as autistic were formerly diagnosed as mentally retarded.
Yes, and that is also monumentally tragic.
Under current standards most of my family probably could get a diagnosis if we worked at it.
No comment.
Same here with my kids. I know a family who’s got a socially awkward girl who was diagnosed as autistic and the parents thought the doctor was nuts, and he’s an EMT.
It reminds me of what’s going on with the alleged increase in asthma. I know kids who have been diagnosed as having asthma when they were at the doctor’s for having a cold. How the heck can you diagnose asthma when the kid’s already congested with a cold? And the kids NEVER display any asthmatic symptoms after the cold is gone. But here they are, diagnosed asthmatic.
My son had a *lung capacity test* done at the doctor’s office using a little hand held device. It came out as *good* but they told him he had only 90% lung capacity; this from a swimmer who can hold his breath well over a minute when sitting still. The nurse looks at the machine and says *Oh, it says good. It never did that before. It usually says “very critical”.*
?????
And I should trust this diagnosis?
And what about all the other people who got diagnosed with that machine?
And, of course, there’s all the medication they now want him to be on. He NEVER has a problem.
All that to say, that personal experience has led me to have some serious doubts about diagnostic procedures for conditions that can have vague symptoms.