DS needs help for Health could be sensitive - Autism related

[BernardandMissBianca]

DS12 needs to do a poster on Mental Health issues in America and in the list from the National Institute of Health it lists Autism in group of Mental Disorders. I'm not sure how I feel about that, is Autism a Mental Disorder?? I don't see how Autism can be lumped into the same category as OCD or social phobias. But then again I'm not well versed on Autism.

Do you think he should include it? I'm thinking no but I also don't want him to get a failing grade either.


I'm not here to start a fight, y'all know this so that's why I posted here and not on the Community Boards. But I do want to keep it civil.

link to Mental Health Chart
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml

 

[rlovew]

I would say he probably should include it. I think Autism has such a wide range of levels it is hard to classify at times but the communication issues that some with autism have would fall into the same category as the other emotional diseases that also fall under mental health (such as depression). If you are classifing broadly as they seem to between mental or physical- it definately falls under mental rather than physical.

Rebecca

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

I don't think he should...but I'm probably biased. FWIW, I just googled 'is autism a mental illness' and a lot of the sites came back with no. It is a developmental disorder.

ETA: what about just asking his teacher what he/she thinks about including it vs leaving it off...?
If there are any students with autism disorders in the class, if the poster is going to be displayed, that might be a bit awkward...

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

It's due tomorrow, we were just leaving the Autism part off until the end.

The teacher is wishy washy, he's hard to read. And really really mean. He was my gym teacher too and I still can't stand him. LOL

We don't have any kids with Autism in DS's class but we do have kids mainstreamed in the school. I think the poster will be displayed at least in the health room if not the hallway.

DS decided to leave it off.

Thanks for both opinions!

 

[WDWMom]

My BFF has a son with autism. We have spent days at a time with him (we live in different states now) and I would not classify autism as a mental disablility nor would his parents. I would leave it off.

 

[Lisa]

Autism is a developmental disorder.

 

[Raenstoirm]

As a person who has worked with disabled kids for 15 years, I have to fall on the other side of this. (I have a cousin with Aspergers, so it is also personal, FYI) It is a mental disorder. The reason why it is classified as developmental (PDD) is more of a social stigma issue. Which to me is awful. What makes a kid with autism any "better" than a kid with schizophrenia? They are both genetic conditions (I don't buy the vaccine debate at all). And both "diseases" will be cured or at least preventable in the next 20 years or so. Currently, if you can get to child early enough, they can be "cured."

What I mean by that, is if a first born has a PDD, a second born can go into therapy as an infant to mitigate any inherent brain formation issues that will lead to PDD issues. The problem with autism at this point is the time factor. A child does not usually develop PDD symptoms until they are toddlers and the developmental damage has already be done. Current therapy and medication can help people bypass the "bad" parts of the brain, but cant fix the inherent issue that is noticed in bran scans.
For example my 22 year old cousin with Asbergers has been trained to recognize the emotion of someone by looking for specific ques in their body language (slumped shoulders, down eyes = sad). "Normal" people can just tell when someone is sad without having to go "hmmm he is slouching that means he is either tired or sad. Oh and his eyes are turned down that means he must be sad." And yes we do teach kids to "recognize" other people's emotions by using a checklist like that.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

ok here is my clincial take on it.
autisum is a developmental disorder NOT at mental health disorder
for example depression, schizophrenia, OCD are mental health disorders - they can be treated with medication for people to be able to control or subside symptoms.
in the DSM multiaxial evaluation system Autistic disorder is listed as an Axis II diagnois (299.00) along with mental retardation (317.00)
people with developmental disabilities can have mental health issues or not
just like people without developmental disablities
does this make sense?
I know it can be confusing and they are changing the guidlines all the time- just like years ago homoselxuality was listed as a mental health disorder - but dont get me started on that.
let me know if you need more info buffy.
i hope he does well with his presentation

 

[Raenstoirm]

ok here is my clincial take on it.
autisum is a developmental disorder NOT at mental health disorder
for example depression, schizophrenia, OCD are mental health disorders - they can be treated with medication for people to be able to control or subside symptoms.
in the DSM multiaxial evaluation system Autistic disorder is listed as an Axis II diagnois (299.00) along with mental retardation (317.00)
people with developmental disabilities can have mental health issues or not
just like people without developmental disablities

I know it can be confusing and they are changing the guidlines all the time- just like years ago homoselxuality was listed as a mental health disorder - but dont get me started on that.

Another psychologist? Can I tell you how much I HATE the DSM? I had the sucker nearly memorized in college! Homosexuality was a mental disorder until 1980 was it? DSM-V is due out in a few years and there is supposedly a big change with the PPDs.

Oh, but BAMB if you want the official psychological classification, logan&tylersmama has it right.

 

[SusieStone]

It is not a mental health disorder.

It is a developmental disorder that may have othre issues that accompany it.

This information is from the board certified developmental pediatrician/board certified psychiatrist and I am a mother with a child who is on the spectrum and have been a nurse for over 20 years.

 

[TinkerBean]

*My* DS has Asperger's...It is not a Mental Health Disorder. It is a neurobiologic syndrome. Most kids on the spectrum fall under PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder...Again *developmental*.

I know this is a sticky subject, but as a parent I want the answer to the question to be clear...

AUTISM is not a metal disorder...

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to close this thread so we don't get an influx of people posting.

He should get his grade on Friday, I'll let you know what it is.

Thanks again!!