Is autism the illness du jour ?

[KirstenB]

Since autism is a 'spectrum' I bet there are PLENTY of people out here that can pick out 6 things on this list that their child is/does/has and this is where you run into problems. According to this list I could label our oldest as being on the autism spectrum. Is he autistic, no, but I could probably make a case for it with the 'right' doctor. I can pick out 9 things that I could attribute to autism that are really in our case a lazy 16 year old boy who thinks he knows everything .

Wow, I'm really sorry for your son. He meets over half the diagnostic criteria. ON the other hand, our 10 yr old dd wouldn't even come close to a diagnosis. She is one of the most extroverted, empathetic children I know. Her younger sister is the one who meets the criteria, and has been diagnosed.

Honestly, you seem to view this as some abstract game. After all the information those of us who are affected by autism have shared with you....this is your reply. You're right, you win. Really, you do. None of us have children with autism. Happy now!!!!!!!!!

 

[golfgal]

Wow, I'm really sorry for your son. He meets over half the diagnostic criteria. ON the other hand, our 10 yr old dd wouldn't even come close to a diagnosis. She is one of the most extroverted, empathetic children I know. Her younger sister is the one who meets the criteria, and has been diagnosed.

Honestly, you seem to view this as some abstract game. After all the information those of us who are affected by autism have shared with you....this is your reply. You're right, you win. Really, you do. None of us have children with autism. Happy now!!!!!!!!!

I am not saying that at all--people are asking how this is diagnosed, how people can get a diagnosis without really being autistic, etc. and I was just illustrating how. My son doesn't really meet the criteria however I could give examples to a not so reputable dr and get a diagnosis if I really pushed it--which is what some people DO do so they don't have to take the blame for their not so perfect child. I never said that there aren't kids with autism. All I have to do is look out my window and see our neighbor boy who is severely autistic among other things. I am not doubting most diagnoses however there are plenty of kids that do have a diagnosis that are not autistic and THAT is what the debate is about.

 

[MelAnderson]

Don't know why you all keep beating your heads against the wall. Everything you read in the latest research indicates autism is simply a case of BAD GENES. No one wants to admit that THEY are responsible for developing an inferior child.

I will address the first part of your post. Can you post links to the research that support what you've just said? Can you name one research institute that actually does autism research? I am guessing NO. What is a bad gene? Can you explain that? Does it act up or have a behavioral problem? And by the way, there has been no case, EVER of a genetic epidemic.

Inferior child - oh, so you are perfect? The last time I heard talk of "inferior people", it can from the mouth of the like of Adolph Hitler.

 

[MelAnderson]

I am not saying that at all--people are asking how this is diagnosed, how people can get a diagnosis without really being autistic, etc. and I was just illustrating how. My son doesn't really meet the criteria however I could give examples to a not so reputable dr and get a diagnosis if I really pushed it--which is what some people DO do so they don't have to take the blame for their not so perfect child. I never said that there aren't kids with autism. All I have to do is look out my window and see our neighbor boy who is severely autistic among other things. I am not doubting most diagnoses however there are plenty of kids that do have a diagnosis that are not autistic and THAT is what the debate is about.

Does that happen (parents getting a diagnosis of autism for their child when it doesn't fit)? What percentage of cases do you think that is? I would guess that it's low. What if it's 1% or maybe even up to 5% of all cases? Guess what, you still have a legitimate epidemic.

And what if autism is genetic? Blame for a not so perfect child? If it's genetic, there is nothing you can do about it, so why would I need to blame someone? There is still a child involved that needs therapy, period.

AND that in no way accounts for the epidemic and the new statistics. Let me also add that school districts will re-evaluate each child with a diagnosis every other to every two years to see if they are indeed eligible for services. From the point of view of most school district's they would love to find that your child is no longer eligible for services so that they don't have to provide any. Does this slacker child beat the system, but scamming the occupational therapists, speech therapist, physical therapists and school psychologists on a regular basis? Hmmmmmmmmm...doubtful.

To focus on parents "beating the system" (which I am not convinced occurs), a system that provides you with NOTHING instead of focusing on the thousands upon thousands of children that are diagnosed per day is ignoring the problem of autism. There IS an AUTISM epidemic.

 

[golfgal]

Does that happen (parents getting a diagnosis of autism for their child when it doesn't fit)? What percentage of cases do you think that is? I would guess that it's low. What if it's 1% or maybe even up to 5% of all cases? Guess what, you still have a legitimate epidemic.

And what if autism is genetic? Blame for a not so perfect child? If it's genetic, there is nothing you can do about it, so why would I need to blame someone? There is still a child involved that needs therapy, period.

AND that in no way accounts for the epidemic and the new statistics. Let me also add that school districts will re-evaluate each child with a diagnosis every other to every two years to see if they are indeed eligible for services. From the point of view of most school district's they would love to find that your child is no longer eligible for services so that they don't have to provide any. Does this slacker child beat the system, but scamming the occupational therapists, speech therapist, physical therapists and school psychologists on a regular basis? Hmmmmmmmmm...doubtful.

To focus on parents "beating the system" (which I am not convinced occurs), a system that provides you with NOTHING instead of focusing on the thousands upon thousands of children that are diagnosed per day is ignoring the problem of autism. There IS an AUTISM epidemic.

Yes, it does happen, not only with autism but ADD/ADHD/LD, you name it. I would say it is 'common' if you look at the percentage of kids that are special needs. There is a number of them that don't really have whatever and the diagnosis is to sooth the parents more then anything. Again, these are NOT the parents that most people with special needs kids will encounter. They aren't the one looking for support groups or contacting advocates for assistance. They are the ones that take whatever they can get so they can say that Johnny acts that way because of his ______. They would rather their child have a 'condition' then admit they didn't do a good job raising them. I know it is difficult to fathom but it does happen and it happens a lot. Kind of the opposite of parents whining to get their kids into a G/T program because everyone knows their child is the next coming of Einstein.

 

[jodifla]

Does that happen (parents getting a diagnosis of autism for their child when it doesn't fit)? What percentage of cases do you think that is? I would guess that it's low. What if it's 1% or maybe even up to 5% of all cases? Guess what, you still have a legitimate epidemic.

And what if autism is genetic? Blame for a not so perfect child? If it's genetic, there is nothing you can do about it, so why would I need to blame someone? There is still a child involved that needs therapy, period.

AND that in no way accounts for the epidemic and the new statistics. Let me also add that school districts will re-evaluate each child with a diagnosis every other to every two years to see if they are indeed eligible for services. From the point of view of most school district's they would love to find that your child is no longer eligible for services so that they don't have to provide any. Does this slacker child beat the system, but scamming the occupational therapists, speech therapist, physical therapists and school psychologists on a regular basis? Hmmmmmmmmm...doubtful.

To focus on parents "beating the system" (which I am not convinced occurs), a system that provides you with NOTHING instead of focusing on the thousands upon thousands of children that are diagnosed per day is ignoring the problem of autism. There IS an AUTISM epidemic.

Again, the problem to me lies with the school districts being in charge of the "diagnosing." Too many of them just aren't equipped to do it correctly.

And, VERY IMPORTANT, they aren't trained to give a DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS. They have this VERY BROAD category of autism, and stick all kinds of kids with language disorders in it. THis wouldn't be so problematic if some of the treatments weren't terribly inappropriate for kids who are late talking or who have auditory processing disorders.

It also gives you that really high 1 in 150 number.


If you read through this link, it has some fascinating info on new studies being done on autism diagnosis. Basically, yesterday's language delay (or other issue) is today's autism spectrum disorder.


http://epiwonk.com/?p=82


Further down, in the comments, a person links to an article by Leo Kanner, the scientist who discovered autism, and his frustration over the diagnosis of it:

Kanner wrote :
“Moreover, it became a habit to dilute the original concept of infantile autism by diagnosing it in many disparate conditions which show one or another isolated symptom found as a part feature of the overall syndrome. Almost overnight, the country seemed to be populated by a multitude of autistic children, and somehow this trend became noticeable overseas as well”.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Technically, the schools can not 'diagnose'.

The school can identify problems and deficiencies, but they can NOT actually issue a real and/or official diagnosis and place it on any child.

In most cases, the schools actively REFUSE to identify any disabilities that are not majorly apparant... (this is the case with my son's school district) This very conveniently absolves them of any moral or financial responsibility to handle the child, and their education, appropriately...

Most parents of children with true disabilities such as this know the fierce and ongoing 'fight' with the school over any accomodations and/or services.

The reason that parents have to go looking for doctor's/specialist, is because, until there is a major diagnosis, the schools REFUSE to acknowledge the childs deficits and sufferering. They are not legally obligated to offer any help (which would involve a IEP...) until a major qualifiying diagnosis is given. At my son's public school, I saw disabled children routinely mis-treated.

This thread is just horrifying... "deficient children"... and page after page of a number of posters who, in all their infinite wisdom and experience, feel that they can make huge negative judgement calls... As always it is nothing less than self-righteousness and 'whining' because, just perhaps, somewhere, there may be child who is getting 'more' then theirs...

 

[jodifla]

Technically, the schools can not 'diagnose'.

The school can identify problems and deficiencies, but they can NOT actully issue a real and/or official diagnosis and place it on any child.

In most cases, the schools actively REFUSE to identify any disabilities that are not majorly apparant... (this is the case with my son's school district) This very conveniently absolves them of any moral or financial responsibility to handle the child, and their education, appropriately...

Most parents of children with true disabilities such as this know the fierce and ongoing 'fight' with the school over any accomodatins and/or services.

The reason that parents have to go looking for doctor's/specialist, is because, until there is a major diagnosis, the schools REFUSE to acknowledge the childs deficits and sufferering. They are not legally obligated to offer any help (which would involve a IEP...) until a major qualifiying diagnosis is given. At my son's public school, I saw disabled children routinely mis-treated.

This thread is just horrifying... "deficient children"... and page after page of a number of posters who, in all their infinite wisdom and experience, feel that they can make huge negative judgement calls... As always it is nothing less than self-righteousness and 'whining' because, just perhaps, somewhere, there may be child who is getting 'more' then theirs...

I agree with what you are saying, but I find the fact is that many parents go through the educational screening process, their kids are labeled or assessed autistic, and then that's what the parents think unless they've done investigating on their own and seek out separate diagnoses. They trust the authority figures in the school district.

There are a gazillion school districts in the country, and I know plenty of them do exactly what you say: Turn away services from children who need them!

But there' a sizable hunk of districts who want your child to be labeled with whatever program is convenient for them. In our area, autism programs have the funding, so they funnel the kids there.

It's hard to resist them, because they try to tell you, well, it's this, or nothing.

 

[debbi801]

I've been reading here and there within this thread and then avoiding it. But, I need to add my story for my own piece of mind.

My DS is 6 and going into 1st grade. He's always been different from my other 2 kids. Always been "more." More sensitive to noise, more sensitive to lights, more sensitive to tastes, textures, etc. He never ate baby food. He didn't talk when he was supposed to. He would have tantrums to end all tantrums. I'd never seen anything like it. When potty training time came around? Forget about it. DS was unable to look at me when I talked to him. And DS would get almost hypnotised by something he would be watching or doing, to the point that I could be right next to him talking and he would not hear me.

From the time he was about 6 months old, I noticed differences. Our pediatrician kept brushing us off. He kept telling me every kid was different, I shouldn't compare him to my other DS and my DD. He kept telling me I needed to relax, stop worrying, etc. He agreed to do a hearing test, that came back perfect.

Finally, when he started kindergarten last year, when I was getting daily phone calls from the school, when I could tell the pediatrician that other people were also getting concerned, he started listening. But, he wanted to make a quick diagnosis of ADHD and put DS on meds. We went a couple of months with him on ADHD meds and while a couple of the behaviors were marginally better, there wasn't much of an improvement.

We decided to take matters into our own hands and get testing done. Do you have any idea on what is involved with getting an autism diagnosis? While there may be pediatricians that decide to dx this on their own, that isn't what I've witnessed first hand.

First, there were the umpteen questionaires DH, DS's teacher, and I had to complete. Each were many pages long. All done almost like a standardized test, hundreds of questions pertaining to everything you can imagine. Once all the questionaires were complete, then came the actual testing. IQ tests (for which DS tested at the genius level), speech tests, pragmatic speech tests, testing done by a PT, testing done by an OT, evaulations done by the pediatrician, the pediatric psychiatrist, the pediatric neuro-psychologist. It was mind boggling. And almost all of it was not covered by insurance. After 5-6 months of testing from a variety of different medical specialists, we had a dx of autism.

Now, DS is in a variety of different therapies trying to help him be the best he can be. And honestly, I would love for him to not be this way, would love for it to be something as "simple" as me being more fstrict with him in order for him to not have his issues. But never in a million life times would I consider him as coming from Bad Genes. To us, he is a perfect 6 yr old boy whose smile can light up a room, who just happens to have autism (and all that goes with it).

Those who don't know what it is like to live this on a daily basis have no room to talk about what we as parents need to do to get our kids in line.