The Autism Wars

NY Times ^ | April 7, 2012 | AMY HARMON

[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...

[Roadgeek]

Hello,

in my humble opinion, just like you, I am not convinced that Asperger’s/autism are caused by too little maternal attention.

My mother was a stay-at-home mom and she was devoted to me from the moment she knew that I had been conceived :-)

Hovewer, a difficult birth has been named as one of the risk factors (among others) for autism/Asperger’s.

If this hypothesis should turn out to be true, it definitely applies in my case.

All my life, I have been given hell for my behavior, until I was finally diagnosed with Asperger’s four years ago.

[Grumpybutt]

My youngest is that way - always has been. Highly intelligent, but limited “social” skills or “common sense”.

When he was young, I took him to every doctor, specialist, you name it. They said he had ADHD and nothing more. We ran the gambit of behavior modification, medications, etc. When he was entering 9th grade he refused to take any medication because it made him feel anxious. At the end of his junior year, he refused special education services and chose to get thru his senior year without any assistance (being pulled from class or voluntarily going to spec ed room to get back on task or out of a situation he couldn’t handle) - which was good because he learned if he didn’t do what he was supposed to do or figure out how to handle a situation, then he wouldn’t graduate.

By the grace of God he got through school - it was never the academics that were the problem, it was the social “cues” and not “fitting in”. But it was the “rule breakers” that was/is the worst. He got his driver license at 16 but wouldn’t drive until he was 18 because he said it aggravated him that so many drivers were driving unsafe and not following the laws. Now he only drives to/from work.

It was heartbreaking and still is sometimes, but we get thru it with lots of tears, hugs, faith, and LOTS of nights on my knees praying for us to get thru just one more day.

We watched a tv program a few years ago about a young man with Asperger’s and my husband and I looked at each other and said “OMG, that’s it!” He was never diagnosed with it, but everything we’ve learned about it says definitely to us... that’s what it is.

And you are correct... there’s not much help for kids like ours. A nurse once told me about her own son with a mental disability ... she said to me “I love him, now it’s up to me to get him to a place where others will love him too”. And that’s so true with these children.

My son will soon be 20 and is “un-loader” and night stocker at Walmart. He likes this job he says, cause he doesn’t have to deal with too many people. He has a set “routine”, he knows what he is supposed to do and does it. He’s making some friends/acquaintances with co-workers and that’s a HUGE improvement over his “just one friend” rule.

I don’t know what is in store for him on down the road. I still work with him daily - several times a day - on how to handle different situations, change his mindset with the “rules” he sets for himself, frustrations, etc. One day he’ll be able to be out on his own - but until that day, I’ll keep working with him so that he can become independent.

Right now, he’s learning to deal with having his brother, sister in law, and 5 month old niece in the house as they are staying with us to get back on their feet. And I have to say, he’s handling it very well and even opening up and and joining in with family time/conversations more instead of isolating himself.

I’ll never give up on him or lose hope that he too will someday have a family of his own.

Sorry for the long post/ramble... this issue is close to my heart as I’m sure it is to yours too. ((hugs))

[Bigg Red]

I am so sorry if I offended you. Please let me explain my opinion better.

There are truly cases of autism, such as your child’s. I understand that I can’t imagine your pain and frustration. For your child and all of the other children who are truly autistic, the widespread misuse of the diagnosis to cover misbehavior and/or quirky behavior has caused a great deal of misunderstanding. It seems that autism spectrum is diagnosed in far too many cases just as ADD was in the 1980s. I know of a few cases in which the problem is clearly a lack of parental involvement and too much time spent by the kid in front of a TV or monitor.

You say that funds are not available. But, here in Maryland, there are all sorts of funds allocated for special education, and it has become a gravy train for our bloated public school system. So it benefits them to “diagnose” kids with autism.

I do not know what it is like to have a child with this disorder, but I know the pain of having “different” kid and worrying about him constantly. My bipolar son is now with the Lord.

Please forgive me for any hurt that I caused you. May God bless and keep you and your family.

[SCalGal]

Asperger’s symptoms run in my family history for several generations.

I've noticed a familial relationship. I teach special ed, and when you've got one kid diagnosed with it, if you start looking for relatives you generally find them.

Thanks for the links, hadn't seen them before.

[SCalGal]

I mention the classic ADD diagnosis because they are both bright. The oldest has pursued a degree in geology and is better read than most literature grad students. He has a mind like a steel trap, but his "executive functioning" just isn't up to the level required to make good progress through his college curriculum. The youngest cut his first CD with a band as the drummer at age 15. Three weeks of time in the studio. He plays electric and acoustic guitar proficiently. He has been in the top 5 world wide in "guitar hero". When not playing or writing music, his amusements include writing new elements into first person graphical "shoot up" style games in Lua or Ruby. Very bright. I wish I could get him to settle down long enough to knock out his GED.

Asperger's very often goes hand in hand with ADD/ADHD. When they're not interested, they're not interested and it's very, very difficult to get them to focus or pay attention. When they're interested, they hit a hyper-focus function and you can't drag them away. They're research for 18 hrs straight, forgetting to eat and resenting bathroom breaks - and then they're DONE with the topic and simply walk away from it.

[achilles2000]

I think someone has confused genius with ADD. Extremely gifted people aren’t “normal” and cannot be expected to behave or perform like “normal”. The problem is, what do you do? All I can say is that they should be nudged to the degree possible toward something that will allow their genius to be come productive.

Why not have the 8th grader try his hand at some CLEP tests? It might appeal to him as a challenge (although he probably would not have much trouble with it).

[Myrddin]

The 8th grader is turning 25 in August. The older son turns 32 in a couple weeks. Both still living at home. A big part of the reason that I have to keep earning a good income and living away from my family for the last 3 years.

Trying out things will have to wait until I can be home again. I only managed 3 visits home each year over the last 3 years. It's just too expensive to drive 925 miles only to have to return in short order. I have to work 2 weeks to earn 7.68 hours off. Work 11 weeks and have a week of paid time off. My company has left me dangling in the wind with no chargeable hours too many times. I accrue vacation hours as a hedge against being unemployed.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-—Again it is different when it is your reality.——

I have 3 nephews close in age, same family, same upbringing. All three have some form of ADD/autism. One functions pretty well, and is able to hold a job with a fair amount of responsibility. One worked briefly in an office environment, but can’t get past an interview now because of poor interpersonal skills. He has germ-phobia and sensitivity issues that have to be seen to be understood. The third brother will never hold a job with any responsibility. He can’t relate to other people in a normal way. But he thinks he’s normal, and as an adult, won’t pursue any therapy.

All three are very bright.

This disorder is obviously a huge cross for the heartbroken parents. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

[Myrddin]

The "big interest" topic seems to be a constant with the Aspies. Your observation of "hyper focus", then drop is also telling. That results in a pattern of "failure to finish or follow through". My mom spotted that behavior in me. I resolved to overcome it. I have a long list of accomplishments of things completed. What didn't change? When it's finished, it's finished.

[SCalGal]

Your observation of "hyper focus", then drop is also telling.

I live with it too.

[rabidralph]

I'm sorry if you thought my question was insensitive. I don't know much about autism so I am just asking questions. In the same way that's it's politically incorrect to suggest that single mothers sometimes hook up with abusive men, or that people on welfare may be using drugs, I had never heard of any research regarding drug abuse and birth defects, although other substances that regularly enter the body, such as cigarette smoke and alcohol seem to harm some children in the womb. In any event, here's some insensitive research, regarding autism.

[SierraWasp]

Here comes another smothering pantload of false Hope & Change

[1scrappymom]

I appreciate all the postive comments and apologies. I am sorry because when it comes to my child I am a momma bear.

The truth is that while my son presents enormous challanges he also gives us many Blessings as well. He is kind. He loves children and small animals and protects them. He has stood up to other children who are fully functional when they tried to do the wrong thing. He has an innocence and ability to see things in a way we cannot. He has broaden my horizons and reminded me to be grateful for what we do have.

It also doesn’t hurt that he can argue Conservative viewpoints to his teachers and peers. He’s even converted a few. He points out what is Constitutional and what is not. A few liberal teachers have had their brains explode.

The point is we parents of special kids have a hard job like any parent. We are desparate for answers and celebrate little things that others may take for granted.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link!

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link. Here are three other links that describe the older father and overweight pregnant moms stories with linked abstracts plus a new genetic angle if you're interested. Don't be surprised that they're linked on a thread about a new type of fuel cell. I'm a science junkie.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2870519/posts?page=8#8

[SierraWasp]

I'm probably to negative and skeptical on this and a variety of other subjects because I'm getting old and I've seen so much BS hyperbole on so many issues that used to be known a one thing, but now it's some "new and improved" scare.

As somebody's tagline that I used to read on here says: "I'm really getting sick and tired of being "sick and tired!" I think that tagline belonged to a much younger man than I... "ElkGroveDan" maybe, I'm not totally certain.

[ElkGroveDan]

LOL. Yeah Walt that was me. Thanks for remembering.

[AbolishCSEU]

Not unlike the “Special Needs” episode of King of the Hill. http://www.hulu.com/watch/43469/king-of-the-hill-special-needs

My husband’s CPS worker ex-wife has all three of his kids labeled “special needs” that way she can get out of parenting and just be a friend to the children.

The 13 year old daughter in particular has an IQ of 83 yet mommy had her tested UNTIL she got the ‘learning disabled-other’ *diagnosis* that she so desired. All three children are failing in school due to being raised on the “instant gratification” model and my husband being pushed out of their lives due to the vindictiveness of said ex-wife. Not just failing but Marianas Trench failing.

No doubt she gets an extra tax credit from Uncle Sam for having “special needs” children.

Here’s another appropriate URL http://www.hulu.com/watch/60401/king-of-the-hill-sweet-gig