Posted on 04/08/2012 6:22:16 PM PDT by neverdem
THE report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that one in 88 American children have an autism spectrum disorder has stoked a debate about why the condition’s prevalence continues to rise. The C.D.C. said it was possible that the increase could be entirely attributed to better detection by teachers and doctors, while holding out the possibility of unknown environmental factors.
But the report, released last month, also appears to be serving as a lightning rod for those who question the legitimacy of a diagnosis whose estimated prevalence has nearly doubled since 2007.
As one person commenting on The New York Times’s online article about it put it, parents “want an ‘out’ for why little Johnny is a little hard to control.” Or, as another skeptic posted on a different Web site, “Just like how all of a sudden everyone had A.D.H.D. in the ’90s, now everyone has autism.”
The diagnosis criteria for autism spectrum disorders were broadened in the 1990s to encompass not just the most severely affected children, who might be intellectually disabled, nonverbal or prone to self-injury, but those with widely varying symptoms and intellectual abilities who shared a fundamental difficulty with social interaction. As a result, the makeup of the autism population has shifted: only about a third of those identified by the C.D.C. as autistic last month had an intellectual disability, compared...
--snip--
But whether the diagnosis is now too broad is a subject of dispute even among mental health professionals. The group in charge of autism criteria for the new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has proposed changes that would exclude some who currently qualify, reducing the combination of behavioral traits through which the diagnosis can be reached from a mind-boggling 2,027 to 11, according to one estimate...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Because the drugs are trying to work on children whose brains and metabolisms are changing very rapidly. My son grew several inches in one year. The meds that helped him in school suddenly were totally useless.
Often one drug can help with distractions. Allow the child to focus more. However it won’t help with the OCD or with the social anxiety which can be deblititating.
You don’t just get one drug and it works perfectly forever. Its constant adjustments, dietary changes, etc. That’s why you must have a CHILD psychiatrist not just a psychiatrist who is willing to prescribe for kids.
Now, having said this I have also seen some very involved and engaged parents who have children on the autism spectrum and do everything they can to help their child succeed.....these children can succeed in the proper learning environment along with a supportive and loving home environment......
btt
our son is not on ssi. None of the kids in our private schools are. The parents make too much.
But hey, lets keep blaming the parents and greed. If it gives you buzz, obviously logic isn’t permeating these stupid excuses.
Many of you posting are showing absolute ignorance on the subject of autism. You’ve got assumptions which are incorrect. Enjoy your arrogance. One day, odds are, you will be touched by this and get a real education.
See: Crypto Sensitivity Syndrone
http://www.backlash.com/content/disab/2003/rvm1203.html
Asperger’s symptoms run in my family history for several generations. But, creativity does too.
What do you think of this symptom list?
http://www.backlash.com/content/disab/reference/CryptoSensitivitySyndrome.pdf
Yep, once they start you on a drug, they hook you for life. If a teacher, doctor, etc ever told me my son had ADHD, autism spectrum, etc, I’d want to punch them in the face.
This is actually very interesting. My son definitely fits this quite well from what I can intially read over. I am bookmarking this and will be doing more research on it.
I had heard that there was going to be more definition for High functioning autistics. I do think that there is a need because the challanges for them are different from the non functioning. For example, my son knows geography. Taught the teacher. He finally gave up and just gave him the tests for it after 2 days. He passed with high 90s two semester of geography in two and half days. It was amazing.
Thanks for the useful info!
I realize now after posting that remark that I should have clarified. I am not blaming parents at all as other posters have. But I do know that the Autism spectrum now contains 20,000+ diagnoses - far more than even 20 years ago. If a child has a serious problem, then parents should get all the help they need. My point, very poorly made, is that this is resulting in some serious abuses and more big-daddy govt. intervention. I still believe that there is a huge negative impact on babies with all the immunizations they get. Way more than when my kids were born more than 30 years ago. If I were having babies these days, I would be in big trouble - just give them the basic MMR and we’ll be homeschooling until that’s against the law, too.
I should have explained myself better. I was not referring to cases like yours. Sorry for not doing better on that.
I meant the prevalence of the ASD diagnosis for so many kids out there who are probably not actually on the spectrum. It’s so easy for people to assume that kids who show out have some sort of actual problem when they are just not disciplined. Obviously, this does not apply to your son, but I’ve seen lots of cases where there is pressure to label the child so he can be treated or medicated for a non-condition.
I realize now after posting that remark that I should have clarified. I am not blaming parents as other posters have. But I do know that the Autism spectrum now contains 20,000+ diagnoses - far more than even 20 years ago. If a child has a serious problem, then parents should get all the help they need. My point, very poorly made, is that this is resulting in some serious abuses and more big-daddy govt. intervention. I truly want to know what is behind the increase of serious Autism. What is the impact on babies with all the immunizations they get - Way more than when my kids were born more than 30 years ago. If I were having babies these days, I would be in big trouble - I wouldn’t allow any more than the basic MMR — we’d have to be homeschooling because they wouldn’t be allowed in public school.
Actually, when you get the diagnosis you are just stunned even though you instinctively know something is different. You wonder about everything. Did I forget to take my prenatal vitamin on a critical day? You question everything and wonder how you failed your child.
Then you get scared. Will my child ever be “normal”? Are all my hopes and wishes for my child dashed?
The anger comes when you realize that the medical community does not have many answers for you.
You say you won’t do drugs, then you get a dose of reality and learn that your kid functions and is happier with the help. You wouldn’t deny a diabetic child insulin would you? Well, many of them are lacking serotonin or other normal brain chemicals. To deny the child this medication would be cruelty. It is NOT noble to let your child suffer because of some stupid high horse about drugs. We learned this as well. So have all the other families we know. Again it is different when it is your reality.
It sounds like you are a wonderful mother and that you and your family are doing everything possible to help your son develop into a healthy young man.
Sadly, those who have not worked with youngsters who have difficulties like those seen on the autism-spectrum are quick to speculate and make uneducated judgments.
Thank you for your patience on this thread as you work to educate others on the issue and its impact on families.
Absolutely agree! My son is Aspergers.
These people posting have no idea! But they don’t mind sharing...
To every one here doing an armchair confirmation of the CDC BS explanation that it is simply better detection, try taking care of an autistic child for a day or a week. You will change your thinking in less than an hour. It is not bad parenting or difficult to control children. To suggest so shows stunning ignorance. Once you have spent any time with an autistic child you will understand that there is no way your explanation works. You also just might finally begin to get what an ever growing % of the population is dealing with.
I have two brothers both with autistic children (boys). Neither one is in public school. Neither one means more government money for anyone. Not to mention there are NO funds available for my family to “take advantage of the system.” They pay for outrageous medical and schooling costs all out of pocket. The idea that this is a scam is beyond insulting.
I would be angry because I know my child functions normally.
I have taken both ritalin and adderall (recreationally and to study for tests in college). These are not drugs for kids. I am sure they help them perform better, but they are mind altering. Insulin is not mind altering, apples and oranges. I was very wild back in the day and I will tell you ritalin and adderall are worse than most illegal drugs. I certainly wouldn’t put my child on anything without trying it myself first.
the libbies really want to find upper level autism such as Aspergers Syndrome, my son has it, I have it. usually these individuals are above average intelligence but with lacking of social skills, and are usually victimized by persons of authority.
But they also make excellent poster kids for funding, so the more they can corral the more funding they can get, and the more that can be converted.
I have no love for those that have an agenda to seek out those that are different, I have seen what has happened.
A family that has an autistic child should be very aware that if given the opportunity these child care expert agencies WILL take your child away, they will find any reason to ascertain you cannot take care of them, they did to my son.
Adderall affects those without ADD/ADHD very differently than it does those of us with a true diagnosis.
Same can be said with marijuana, cocaine or even alcohol. All affect people differently.
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