ADD and Autism have completely different behaviors...about the only thing they have in common is brain damage, and the fact that some retarded children who are autistic are also hyperactive.
A true autistic doesn’t recognize people as people...they are cold emotionally and often need a very rigid environment to feel comfortable.
An ADD is hell on wheels, and often has sutle learning disabiities and mild incoordination but they are lovable.
Think “Rain Man” vs “Dennis the Menace”.
But I agree about the TV...and a lot of kids have behavior problems that are from not being with a stable caretaker (be it mom, grandmom, or the same babysitter all the time)...
>>A true autistic.....<<
And that, my FRiend is the difference. You are talking about the low end Autism patient. Many symptoms are or are mistaken for “High end Spectrum Autism”.
YOU and I know what is true Autism. Parents do not. School officials get cash for those labeled as such. So be it “Autism Spectrum”, PDD or “Asperger’s Spectrum”, the kids are labeled, the schools get their federal funds and the family is given some drugs to make the children pliable.
I see it here in my district. I personally know a girl who is quiet and prefers to read, but interacts with people she knows. The girl is labeled as “High Spectrum Asperger’s”. Luckily, the parent’s won’t medicate her. Another boy I know, is undisciplined, has great marks in school and needs a firm hand. His parent’s were talked into “Begindergarden”, so he is the largest boy in the class and is picked on in fourth grade. His parents tell me that he is “Autistic” because the school councilors said this. He has not been evaluated by a Psych and no IEP has been done. However this is accepted as fact by all concerned and the parents are going to a “school recommended Psychiatrist” this summer. You know where that will go.
As I said, I have a Psych background. I can see what is going on.
The point about tv is not the lack of caregiving but rather the bombardment of input on developing synapse.