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Subscribe to RSSA new Centers for Disease control report demonstrates autism spectrum diagnoses have increased more than 20 percent from 2006 to 2008. NBC's Robert Bazell reports.
By Robert Bazell
Chief science and medical correspondent
NBC News
During the briefing for reporters Thursday on the CDC’s latest findings that one in 88 children in the U.S. (one in 54 boys) has a diagnosis of some brain disorder that falls on the “autism spectrum,” there was a polite but revealing dust up. Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conceded –in response to a question– that the increase in cases could be the result in changes in the way such disorders are diagnosed. Then Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, the biggest activist organization concerned with the disorder, said he begged to differ. Maybe half the cases, Roithmayr insisted, must be due to some as yet identified environmental factors.
Click here to read what every parent should know about autism.
Last January Dr. Fred Volkmar, director of the Yale Child Study Center, created a far bigger controversy when the New York Times reported he had said new definitions of autism about to come from The American Psychiatric Association could effectively end the autism surge. ''We would nip it in the bud,'' the Times quoted Dr. Volkmar.
Related story: Better diagnosis, screening behind rise in autism
Volkmar was not available today, but I interviewed his colleague Dr. James McPartland, who did not back down from that view.
“People who might have been diagnosed with something else in the past are now being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder," McPartland said. By “something else,” McPartland means problems that used to be labeled as ranging from “mental retardation” to “learning disabilities.”
Tiffany Meyers' son Aiden was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old. According to figures released by the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 88 American children are now on the autism spectrum, up from 1 in 110.
“The way we diagnose autism spectrum disorder has changed,” McPartland continued. “We're more inclusive. We include people with more cognitive ability and less severe problems then we have in the past.”
Anyone who spends time around children diagnosed on the “autistic spectrum” knows that it is indeed wide. Many have the severe withdrawal and lack of ability to engage in social interactions that characterize classical autism. But others seem high functioning and verbal.
Scientists have spent a lot of time looking for genetic changes that might account for disorders labeled as autism. More than 500 genes have so far been implicated indicating that no clear genetic cause will be implicated.
As for environmental factors, there are strong suggestions that older parents, especially fathers can increase the risk as can multiple births. But none of that could account for more than a fraction of the enormous increase (78 per cent since 2002 when the CDC started tracing autism.) The alleged association with childhood vaccinations has been widely discredited by scientists although a few hard core activists still cling to it.
So that takes us back to diagnosis. Whatever it is called, there can be no doubt that a lot of kids need special attention – and the sooner they get it, the better off they are. What a problem is called matters less than how society copes with it.
NBC's Robert Bazell joins MSNBC to discuss new data that suggests autism has become more common among children.
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CDC: 78% increase in autism rates since 2002
If we're looking for a change in this time frame, perhaps we ought to examine the secret surveillance program for tracking sex offenders using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and acoustic imaging by their radar/acoustic profiles.
Perhaps either Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or ultrasonic acoustic imaging may be damaging to fetal development.
Commercial passenger airliners participate and the media is complicit which is why this comment will likely be removed by MSNBC.
Check it out on Wikipedia Sar is used to develop 3D images of still objects like the moon. It has nothing to do with Sex Offenders.
wtf am I reading?
Autism is the new ADD/ADHD. Remember when every kid ho was a little rambunctious was diagnosed as ADD/ADHD and the parents were forced to medicated them into submission or be thrown out of public schools. It was later shown that ADD/ADHD was being severely over diagnosed and kids ho had no real problem were being diagnosed simply because of lazy teachers who did not know how to keep a kid who was a little more active engaged in class. Well autism is the new version. I do not think that the levels of children with autism is anywhere near as high as is being reported. I think this has become one of things where the doctors are looking for it so they find it, even where it does not exist. Many kids are being diagnosed with autism simply because they do not fit some predefined standard of what a persons personality should be like. Not every kid who is a little on the shy side has autism. Some kids are just more shy while others are more naturally outgoing. There is this overwhelming push to try and label anyone who is a little different as having some type of condition or disease. It is doing a huge disservice to these kids as well as to those who truly do suffer from autism. The definition for Autism Spectrum Disorders has become so broad as to be completely meaningless. Every little personality quirk is not a condition or disease, it is simply the diversity of people's personalities. Enough is enough, let's stop trying to label everyone who is a little different and focus on those who really d have problems and need help.
People don't want "normal or average" kids today. They want to slap a handicapped or "different" label on their child so they have someone or something to blame for not doing their job. It is not at all difficult to find doctors or mental health experts who are thrilled to pieces to slap a label on a kid. Instead of hanging up the damn cell phone and turning off the tv and computer and actually parenting your child, let's be sure there is a label and blame so you don't have to see what you as the parent could have and should have done. Ever wonder why these "defects" were not around 50+ years ago? It wasn't because of advances in diagnosis's, it was because fewer parents were happy to have a child with a label. Let your child be himself or herself and help them achieve their best. Kids can be shy or backward or do repetitive things without being autistic. Each child grows at their own rate and matures mentally at their own rate.
Yes, there are some children who are autistic but stop changing the parameters to include normal differences to make parents happy.
I agree -- and if your kid is labeled with a handicap of some sort -- he/she will be put in a special education area with a little extra help -- but the BIG benefit is you might gets some Social Security funds with it. I was shocked reading about a parent who has a couple of kids diagnosed with asperger's. One of them is actually doing much better, but this POS mom sounded a little bummed out that about this kid possibly not meet the asperger's diagnosis. Reports indicated the child is now doing great in school and even getting recognition for his/her intellectual abilities. The parent 'fears" they might lose the SS "benefit". Dear God up above help our sorry butts!!
I love how people who know nothing about having children of autism are the first to speak out. My daughter looks normal and acts "shy" I guess if shy is you don't respond to anyone except your parents. And I suppose repeating the same phrase from a book or a movie over and over and over AND OVER AND OVER again till my ears are bleeding is....quirky.
I must just LIKE having a label for my child...even though I never took her to get diagnosed until it was time for her to start preschool. I knew she had it since she was 1, I did my very best to deny and "fix" the problem myself until I had to face the truth I didn't WANT to face. And BTW, I STILL have not filed for SSDI benefits. Beyond that, I heard from the other parents at our autism center that there's an INCOME consideration to be met for SSDI, so you can't even get benefits unless you are truly needy.
BUT you guys know everything.
To the "unregistered user" above - you are exactly right. In order to qualify for SSDI, you have to be below a certain income level. As a parent of a child with autism who receives ZERO dollars of SSDI, I too am incensed at people who speak out saying that we just WANT a label for our children and we get one for them so that we can recieve monies. WAKE UP people! Who the heck would WANT a disability label for their child? My child does not have autism because we own a TV, a computer, a phone. My child has autism because... oh wait. Nobody seems to know why his brain cannot allow him, at age 9, to speak, sign, write, count, spell, play normally, dress himself, etc etc etc, even though we have been trying endlessly to teach him these same things for 9 years. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Please put yourselves in our shoes for just one day, then go ahead and comment on how we want free money, and don't do enough for our children. Please. I dare you. Come and get your heart broken every day and then write what you write.
Am I the only one that notices that the number of maladies children suffer today has gone up while the amount of chores and responsibilies given to them have gone down?
Is anyone studying THAT correlation?
What in the hell are you talking about? Are you receiving radio transmissions on your fillings? Check yourself in, dude.
LMAO!
Best comment I've read in a long time! Belly laugh and tears running down my face still.....J-L, you made my day!
I have two grandsons under the age of 8 who have been diagnosed as being on the "Autism spectrum" by experts at the Autism Center in WA state. I'm just glad that there are services available to help these kids and the sooner they get help, the better. They have both been getting extra help since they turned 3 and 4 and I've seen a huge improvement in their social skills and behavior. I don't care what you want to call it as long as the help is available....either through the school system or outside of it.
The problem with changing the diagnostic criteria is that this could result in denial of services to precisely those kids who can most benefit from them, such as your grandsons. Unfortunately, many beneficial services (and services that are most beneficial to those on the high end of the spectrum) have their availability tied to the diagnosis and could be gone were the criteria for the diagnosis changed.
I have not done a lot of research on this subject but has anyone considered the diet kids are eating? Processed foods, chemicals, artificial colors etc? Look at a typical diet for a child: Chicken fingers, mac and cheese and soda. Look at the chemicals on the ingredient list of what they are eating at EVERY meal. If mychild had Autism, I would start by taking all processed and artificial food out of their diet and then see if there was a difference in 6 months.
JP141
If that is the case then you may want to have the adults do the same. Since it's on a genetic level you will need to look at what the parents are doing regarding food because we eat the same unhealthy, chemical enhanced stuff that is in the food that kids eat.
Remember, some of this can be traced through the parents as far as what their habits are in eating. There are reasons why doctors tell expecting mothers what they can and can't have during their pregnancy. Problem is, there is no detailed research to see what we think is healthy really isn't because of those chemicals and additives in foods such as mac n cheese, chicken fingers, microwaveable meals, canned soups, etc. A lot of this stuff is high in salt content and other chemicals to preserve the food so it has a longer shelf life.
Somepeoplejust do not get it. My grandson was slow to walk and talk. Got clingy to mommy. Did notwant to interact with others includingGrandpa. No hugs, no kisses, noeye contact. Lined up his little cars in a row over and over and over. Then the bouncing on his toes. My wife a nurse at Childrens Hospital started trying to point out the facts and by 3 my son finely relented to testing. The county had a program set up to get to these kids with real one on one help. By five when he entered kindergarden he was looking me in the eye and welcoming me into the house. Today at nine Eric is in regular school doing his work with out the one on one. Yep he still has autism. Stilll wants to tell me the story of tangles beginning to end and can start walking in circles talking to himself when bored. But now he is so loving and responsive it is possiable to see a future. He is not retarded and perhaps that was the catorigory he would have been placed in years ago. It is good to know the goverment finely used some of my taxes in a much needed program.
In response to the dietary comment, one thing that has been said to help is reducing the amount of gluten in the kid's diet. Don't use wheat flour when baking (my wife uses rice flour or oat flour instead), and avoid wheat and whole grain. Oats are usually safe
And the Tin Foil Hat Brigade chimes in!
C'mon NBC. Enough with the "better diagnosing" mantra. Its losing steam. Your doctors know full well that is only part of the story and the increase in autism is real and alrming. Why not look at environmental exposures for a change. Let's get real!
Environmental...like the mercury injected into these kids when they get a mandated vaccination?? Read the book Evidence of Harm....
@AreYouBuyingThis? Just because you publish a book doesn't mean the statements in that book becomes scientific evidence. Thimerisal, the presevative that was used in vaccines contains ethylmercury, which is not the same thing as pure mercury (think of salt, composed of the toxic gas chlorine, and sodium which reacts violently with water, neither of these properties are seen in salt because the molecule is more important than the elements that it is composed of) ethylmercury goes right through people with no ill effects.
also thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 1999 if it caused autism we should see a drop... not an increase, in autism diagnoses.
As cute as that little boy is he seems fairly high functioning. I think you need to show the full spectrum in your stories. Maybe profile a few kids so people can see that some of our kids cannot talk, flap and stim.
The non-verbal kids are the obvious ones. It's the high-functioning kids that draw doubt and derision from people who think they have been "over diagnosed".
Exactly, terriels. Up until now, the only way people saw people with autism was only if they were non-verbal and if they flapped or stimmed. Frankly, most of us don't but most of us weren't being diagnosed. I have Asperger's Syndrome and I have a daughter with Asperger's and a son who is classically Autistic, though very high functioning (he is very verbal and social). I went my whole life knowing I was "different" but I had no help and, let me tell ya....it was tough. At least my kids are getting the help that they need. I was just waiting for the whole, "OMG, autism is being over-diagnosed" reaction. We've always been here, people. We just didn't have a label.
THis is why NBC should show more than one child with autism so people can see that its a spectrum. The overdiagnosed reaction comes from ignorance at not understanding that our kids have true neurological impairments in varying degrees of severity
It never ceases to amaze me how many people will fight obvious logic.
"We're calling more things autism than we used to. That's why there are more cases." It makes perfect sense, and, even better, it's completely true.
But no, there will still be people blaming everything from vaccines to pollution to radar waves, refusing to believe that the obvious truth, stated by experts in the field, might just have a little bit of validity to it.
Sometimes I swear people just want something to panic about.
Autism is increasing, and its not just statistical analysis that's doing it.
America has a big problem, and when that problem grows up and hits the street its will be bigger. This big population of Americans will need help, services and protection.
But as we all know, this is America so unless they are from rich families they wont get it. The "services" and "resources" people mention in the thread are non-existent, unless you are a citizen of a modern nation of course.
The spectrum is so wide that of course more are diagnosed. When I was a child and even as an adult I knew/know of many friends or acquaintances who were socially really challenged or showed other signs that could be diagnosed as something on the spectrum. They are/are different than most other people, but I just know they aren't going to think a joke is funny or want to talk about much besides their subjects of interest (or obsession). Heck, some of my college professors were obviously on the spectrum somewhere from their behaviors. That doesn't mean they all had to have special schools or even most likely other special services, but as I said, they very possibly would fall under the "one in ..." stats if we took them to specialists and had them tested comprehensively.
I am NOT saying there aren't many children and adults who do need special services and fall under the spectrum, nor am I dismissing the pain and frustration of parents or partners of those with a spectrum disorder...especially at the lower to mid-functioning level. Of course we need to make sure ALL children get any services they need, and adults too, for that matter in my view. But I personally do question that all those who have been diagnosed were diagnosed by someone qualified to do that, and some are "odd" by some standards, eccentric, need special services for other reasons, have other issues that need addressing, do have parents who make whatever issues they have worse by treating the child differently in ways that aren't helpful at all (I know some of these), or have medical, environmental, or psychological issues that need treatment.
No, I'm not saying autism isn't real or that it can't be a serious challenge, nor that way, way too many people aren't truly on the spectrum. It is awful to not have concrete answers or treatments or cures, and I feel for all affected. I have a relative (well, on the ex side and not blood) on the spectrum and she is treated as if she is dense, and that girl is the sweetest person and very bright. She is on meds that dull her intellect and it is a horrible thing to see her miserable and the scapegoat for the family's issues.
I think this is a serious diagnosis and shouldn't be made lightly or by those not experts in the field, and since we don't know for sure all that is causing so many to be affected it seems unhelpful to me to have people saying, "Oh, no, it's not because of the wider criteria" or "Oh, it isn't changing at all". This is a fight in progress and we just don't have all the answers yet.
Instead of spending SO much money on these stupid research project thats about nothing but numbers and statistics.......start spending the money on the kids and families who NEED HELP!!!!
BTW..I dont think ANYONE has the right to decide whos autistic and whos not unless they LIVE with a child who is! Dont tell me theres nothing wrong with my child unless you have walked in my shoes and lived MY life! Your Phd doesnt mean squat to me unless your a parent and really KNOW what life is like for these kids.....if not for God's sake shut the hell up!
I agree that parents have insights usually into their children, and while they may not know exactly why the children are as they are or do what they do, telling a parent there is nothing wrong with your child without the credentials and the diagnostics AND careful consideration of the parents' input is not okay. If something is happening there is a reason, and whether or not it turns out to be autism in a particular case doesn't mean the family doesn't need answers and the child doesn't need some kind of help.
But Rhonda, I wouldn't say stop spending money on the numbers since they really can be helpful. I would say balance it and make sure the research for the cure/treatments are adequate.
Rhonda, Well said!
Autismspeaks.org seems to be pushing the research/cure angle more than just helping the ones that have autism. I have two kids on the autism spectrum. My youngest has pdd-nos. My oldest has autism. He truly falls in the middle. He is not high functioning, not low functioning. Both of mine were diagnosed by autism specialist. With the oldest one, he is 20, I just recently had him retested to reconfirm the diagnosis. In my experience you can get alot of services for the child as long as they are a minor. Once they are an adult, you are on your own.
Overusing the label "autism" may prevent kids with other problems from getting the specific care they need. Casting the net too wide does not help.
Just to clarify since I missed the edit time limit...I'm not saying that there aren't seriously affected children or adults, and I'm not saying that a wider spectrum is the whole reason...just that is is probably a combination of factors, and those who say publicly that is IS this or that and no other reason aren't doing anyone a service in my personal view.
I think this has become the new ADD/ADHD too. Sure more kids are being born with some issues that are very severe but my brother has always had tactile issues and a few other symptoms of autism. Guess what, my mom started working with him on her own from a very early age so now they won't even give him a diagnosis. Yes some kids need serious help but how many of these kids are being dropped off at daycare and being raised by strangers who don't have the time or care to work with them at a young age?
I totally agree that too early daycare bears much responsibility.
As a clinical psychologist specializing in evaluation and treatment of children with autism and related disorders, this is an issue in which I am immersed on a daily basis. Based on my clinical experience I agree that there are many more children who have autism and related disorders than there were even 10 years ago. I believe the real problem is that we do not have accurate labels to describe the clusters of social/communication/sensory/behavioral symptoms many more children are exhibiting. There are clearly many children who struggle with neurodevelopmental issues, but they do not all have autism. Autism spectrum disorders, in my opinion, have become a catch-all diagnostic category for children exhibiting a very wide range of symptoms. This has happened, in part, because there are so few diagnostic labels that we have as options for describing the types of symptoms these kids exhibit. Take the example of a child with social-communication issues and some atypical behaviors that are impacting his functioning. If the child does not have AD/HD, learning disabilities, or cognitive impairment, then the category of autism spectrum disorders is one of the only options left for a diagnosis. As a clinician I refuse to place that label on children who do not clearly meet the criteria. However, there are many in my field who will use that diagnosis in an effort to give the child a label and get them services. It is an unfortunate catch-22 because these children do need treatment and supports - and the door to access those things is to have a diagnostic label. We need to have more accurate categories in our diagnostic system to help ensures that children who meet the criteria for autism receive that label, and others with problems requiring attention receive a label appropriate for them. Until that happens I believe we will continue to see the autism numbers rise; not just as the result of increased prevalence of autism in the population, but because of a diagnostic system that lacks an appropriate range of options.
-Nicole Beurkens, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
www.HorizonsDRC.com
thank you but apart from clinical diagnosing do you have an opinion on whether environmental toxins may play a role in the increase? Do clinicians ever consider that the autism crisis may be environmental? As a parent I feel this is huge factor but it gets downplayed in the press. I know that I am not alone as I hear other parents say the same thing. For example, we are getting more and more products (food, toys, medicine) imported from overseas that are poorly regulated and that is a big concern to me
Okay, since you have the expertise to diagnose and in the field that does the diagnosing, why not "label" these children with what is actually wrong with them? You can write the definition and have as many labels as you want. Now, what is the outcome of forty or fifty "new" labels. Your statement of "these children do need treatment and support", is the key phrase. "Someone" requires that in order for these children that do not fit the diagnosis of "normal", to receive assistance they need to be labeled THIS! So my arguement still holds true that it is and always will be about MONEY!
So, are you saying that a child who flaps and self-stims combined with social and texture issues should not be given a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, therefore shouldn't receive whatever help is out there?!?!? I'm confused.
It is frustrating when a report doesn't connect to other reports. In July-October of 2011 there were lots of reports about taking antidepressants in pregnancy causing increased autism. Then, nothing. Is this true or was it more speculation? There are many more Americans on antidepressants, so could this be it?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think clinicians are looking strictly at the DSM criteria when, with regard to autism, a broader view is needed. This increase must involve environmental factors but signs of a toxic exposure (poisoning) are not what clinicians are trained to recognize. As far as how are kids getting exposed? I would look at poorly regulated food and medicine coming into the US from overseas and making it onto store shelves.
More info:
The fight against counterfeit drugs, - 60 Minutes report
aired March 13, 2011 5:00 PM- 60 Minutes' nine-month investigation of counterfeit prescription drugs reveals how the dangerous and sometimes deadly fakes get into the nation's drug pipeline. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
and
Are we sure our drugs safe? By John Dingell, Special to CNN
Nicole, When you post on a public site and crow about your credentials, there might be something wrong with not responding to others. Common courtesy comes to mind followed by someone that has an attitude that would prove that God had TWO children. So from someone that has been doing research since , 1972 and is the Director of Research for three Institutes, some career and professional advice: When you blow your own horn, make sure ALL of the notes sound nice!
Nicole, I understand the stance you have as far as being in the Psychology field. I think that there has to be a closer look at health factors that affect kids diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorders. My now 17 year old was diagnosed last year with Aspergers after frustration mounted from concentration issues and organizational issues as well as behavior issues that were getting worse. I can't tell you whether this is completely due to Aspergers or whether the illness that she came down with shortly after we flooded and the mold started getting worse in the house. She is still not doing well and I am still in the process of getting a diagnosis of mold illness with the hope that treatment for that will help with the symptoms that have worsened. I also think that family history has to be looked at. The undiagnosed from generations past may hold the answer to the increased diagnosis. Think about it this way. I'm convinced that my father had Aspergers. He had 5 kids. From those 5 kids, there are 13 grandchildren. Of those 13 grandchildren, 4 have been diagnosed with some sort of Spectrum disorder. People live longer, people survive what previously was not survivable...Could this be an answer. Speculation on one single cause or reason for the increased diagnosis is too narrow. I agree that it is becoming a catch all for kids that the psychologists know need help, but have no other diagnosis for them. Psychology practice is being given more guidelines and controls, but there are kids who need help, but no one really knows what is wrong. We have to open our minds to what is happening here.
Many of you are commenting on the underlying causes of this huge increase in children who have neurodevelopmental issues, and I completely agree that we need to address this. There needs to be much more money, time, and effort put into understanding the environmental factors that cause symptoms. Much of the research money (what little is devoted to autism) is spent on genetic research. In my opinion there needs to be much more spent on investigating the environmental triggers that are likely connected. I agree with the poster above who said that "we have to open our minds to what is happening here" - and that means being open to investigating some things that have long been thought to be safe. Nothing should be "off the table" - we need to look at all possible factors.
-Nicole Beurkens
I also wanted to respond to margaret-347435 regarding her post above - I am not saying that a child with those symptoms shouldn't be diagnosed/receive help. I'm suggesting that there can be many reasons why children exhibit those behaviors - not just autism. You are correct that a child with sensory processing issues, self-stimulatory behaviors, and social issues that impact his/her functioning should receive appropriate services. And, we should have a diagnostic system that allows us to accurately label the symptoms instead of having to resort to the autism category. The diagnosis of autism is very appropriate in some cases - and in other cases it is not. I would personally like to see a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder, or even a more general Neurodevelopmental Disorder put in the next DSM version. Unfortunately that's not going to happen - we will still be saddled with a system that has very limited options.
-Nicole Beurkens
People are putting 2 month infants in Daycare today. When they cry they are not getting picked up. When infants cry, wiggling hands and feet, they are starting the process of talking. If no attention paid to them they then retreat from this process. Look at how early these mothers go back to work. Look at how many of these people have children that develop Autism!
no that's not it...as the first grandchild, my son was very well nutured as a baby. After a typical start, he regressed into autism after age 2. Environmental factors have to be given more serious consideration.
Dan I was a stay at home mom with my eldest until he was almost ready for kindergarten. Still has autism.
"Refrigerator mom" and "evil daycare" autism theory is false. Stop spreading lies and trying to blame mothers for it.
what is going on in the world as far as autism is concerned? do we see these rates of autism in other countries? i suppose diagnosing once again would be in play, but is it assumed that random countries have comparable rates of autism? is this an american thing?
Hasn't anyone considered how Television has impacted young children's socialization patterns? I know tons of moms who have been putting their babies in front of the TV since they were 2 months old. I strongly feel that the increase in parents not interacting with their children in the crucial brain building and socialization months shapes them for the future. Autism is definitely real for some children but it seems some children with poor emotional/social skills are being labeled as autistic.
No it is not bad parenting that causes autism. STOP TRYING TO BLAME THE PARENTS.
When I was in school, kids were labled "mentally retarded", now a very unpolitically correct term. Perhaps those kids are now part of the "autism" diagnosis bloom?
Certainly someone has looked into correlation of lack of one on one parenting as a possible cause.(?) It does seem to follow that between daycare and TV the amount of time a young child spends with a loving, inuitive, involved parent has decreased while autism skyrockets.
No.
BAD PARENTING DOES NOT CAUSE AUTISM. STOP BLAMING THE PARENTS.
Most autism parents are MORE involved with their children than neurotypical children's parents.
Why don't you try spending the day with a family struggling with autism and then try and tell us we are doing it wrong and blame us for our children's condition . You wont be able to.
I frequently want to invite people into my house to experience what I do on a day to day basis. I am a very involved parent and while I have to work full time now to support my children, I have always taken good care of my children. They were all nursed, they were all cuddled and held. They all spoke and crawled and walked at normal times, but still my oldest has Aspergers, as do three of my nephews. This has nothing to do with bad parenting. My girls did not watch TV all day, they were not on the computer before school age. But, My daughter started rejecting foods based on texture at 13months. Had I realized (at a time when this was not a well known diagnosis) that this was a warning sign, perhaps my daughter would have been diagnosed earlier than High School.
Spend a day in my house with melt downs and impulse control problems and the inability to know that you can't bombard people just because you "Have" to talk about something.
Autism is even more demanding as each part of everyday life requires patience and understanding and a lot of strength.
I would love to see those who blame neglectful parents spend time in the houses of those with kids with Autism Spectrum disorders so they can see just how dedicated these parents are. The number of forums for those seeking support and understanding is evidence enough!!!
Some thing to consider as far as potential enviornmental exposure is concerned....The biggest exporter of poisonous products the world- The Peoples Republic of China. Go online and read the FDA's Import Refusal Reports for China and ask how long has this been going on? Also read: New York Times series called: "A Toxic Pipline" WHY AREN'T AMERICANS BEING WARNED ABOUT ALL THE POORLY REGULATED TOXIC PRODUCTS COMING INTO THE US FROM OVERSEAS?????
Hear me out before you write me off - I have a genius IQ and like any people with a genius IQ I have learning differences, (dysphonetic dyslexia and SID). I'm not trying to brag or come across as above anyone else.If anything I am sympathetic to those who feel the only way they can get "help" is to pursue a Dx instead of demanding the system respect learning differences. I went through our dysfunctional compulsory education system that lets twice exceptional, SID, and/or alternative thinkers fall through cracks before it will ever acknowledge the uniqueness of the individual vs. the conditioning/socialization of the group. How many people are familiar with Dawbrowski's theory of over-excitabilities? I've often argue with experts, "I do not experience overexcitabilites because I have a high IQ.... ...I have a high IQ BECAUSE I experience overexcitabilities, (AKA SID.)"
Bonnie, autism is more than just a learning disability. There are sensory issues and communication issues involved also.
Bonnie,
I have to say that having never heard of Dawbrowski's Theory of Over-excitabilities, I looked it up and it explains a lot, not necessarily about my Aspie, but about me. I was always excitable and curious (along with several other descriptors mentioned). I never understood why I acted that way, but understand now why I had trouble in school.
Genenut, Read the description online of the Overexcitabilities. Not that it is Autism or even a spectrum disorder, but it is very interesting. Worth look at especially for Aspies.
I have a nephew who is over 3 that lacks verbal communication skills. His diagnosis "Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; with Autistic tendencies. Basically; "your kid isn't normal and we need to label him with something to make him normal, and your insurance covers Autism, so here it is." My sister sees it as a golden ticket because her son is slightly different from the norm. He shows emotions, he walks and talks, and he throws temper tantrums. He is an odd way of doing things; but that is to force his parents to pay attention to him. I don't believe there is anything actually wrong with my nephew, who even met with a neurologist and psychologist. My nephew will grow into his abilities and simply needs someone to lead him and help him find how to get there. THAT is the job of a parent. My sister was so distraught after having him due to the circumstances around his birth, that as an infant I truly believe he cried/fussed/raged because she was too stressed and he couldn't relax. Her infant daughter is a much happier child than he ever was and my sister is a better mother to her than she was to her son (yes, i know, the truth is unfair.) I make mistakes every day as a parent, but I can admit to them. I love my nephew and I think given time, this label is completely incorrect. For goodness sake, these are children being children. Stop finding reasons for your children to be different. Unfortunately, the real world can be cruel and most of us need to find a way to help us survive and live through it. Autistic or not, all children need to stop being coddled and start being taught that the world is a deep/dark/sometimes evil and sometimes wonderful place. It is up to you to figure out which one you want to live in.
OMG, I have no reasonable response to that................thank God that Anni-D is not the mother of the child she is talking about. The little boy needs someone to help him through the system and hopefully his parents will do just that. Oh, and by the way, I do believe that children should be coddled to some degree--------they need to be kids for a little while.
We have a 4-year grandson who is autistic. All I can say is that I hope your sister does NOT listen to you! A child who is not showing verbal communication skills at age 3 is probably in need of services. This diagnosis of "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" will allow them to get him the help he needs NOW (and we know that the earlier the better) and the child can be more specifically diagnosed when he is a little older and the symptoms have become more specified. Who cares what they call it as long as they get the child some help?
Life is fair only if you realize it's not the happy, safe, easy, golden-rule fantasy we build for our children. Parents aren't willing to allow their children to face the hard aspects of life. There are definitely children out there that need help, need assistance, and need more or additional support. My nephew has verbal issues and probably would benefit from speech therapy. Yes, it's about money. Yes, it's about lazy parents, Yes, it's about over-diagnosing children sometimes to get them help they need. Still, I grew up in the ADD/ADHD phenomenon with no medications, but watched all these kids around me taking pills everyday. This is the latest "fad." When my parents were kids, it was all about specialized shoes for kids with different feet. In 10 years, something else will be the latest craze. There is no "normal"; so how can someone be "abnormal and autistic?" if everyone is supposed to be an "individual and themselves." We know very little about the human mind and how it actually works, therefore any odd behavior (outside social "norms) is going to be labelled as something. Eventually, we are all going to need special services if we keep going at this rate. (really, 1/88?? does that not seem remotely excessive?)
No.
BAD PARENTING DOES NOT CAUSE AUTISM. STOP BLAMING THE PARENTS.
Most autism parents are MORE involved with their children than neurotypical children's parents.
Your "opinion" and attitude towards children with autism is offensive and I sincerely hope you don't spend much time with your nephew. You are a toxic person.
But, in this case, Anni may be seeing a truth about her nephew. Surely, not all cases that get labled as Autism are without question. There are many truths in this world. Just because Anni has drawn a conclusion about her nephew does not apply to all. However, Anni, I disagree about your view of children. I think that children should have a childhood. That was not always the case in western society. It was only the last couple hundred years that society has offered children a real childhood. In the not too distant past, children were considered to be little adults.
No, the parents of afflicted children cannot be held accountable. Real autism is not the mother's fault.
I have some friends with a young adult son who has labored with difficulty all of his life. He is very bright, but is suffering from a lack of ability to function in life. He was fed well, loved, cared for, and NOT spoiled. He was never plopped down in front of the TV, left alone in daycare, ignored, etc. NONE of that applies to his life.I have seen him struggle all of his childhood. It was only when he was a teen that he was labeled with Aspergers.
The difficulties that he faces are real. The efforts that his parents make, and the fear that they have for his future is real. They are fairly well off and they have had the resources to enhance his life and provide what they can for him.
I am of the opinion that this is genetic, in his case. He is from a northern European background. Both of his parents are well educated and successful. He has a sister who has had her own share of cognitive difficulties. However, she is well functioning and seems to be quite successful with her education, career, and her life.
I wonder how many of the people on the street fall somewhere in this dysfunctional mess. I suspect quite a few do.
I went to elem school starting in 1966 at a time in a rural area where kids where pretty much only vaccinated for smallpox, polio and tetanus. I came from a family of 6 kids and we and other kids at school all had the red measles, mumps, rubella, some whopping cough as I recall. Everyone survived fine with no complications. We might have missed a week plus of school. After 2nd grade we moved to larger nearby town, with a large elementary school (about 800 kids). I honestly do not remember 1 single kid who displayed even the slightest of symptoms that would resemble anything like ASD. I've had this conversation with classmates and relatives at a number of grade levels, and not one of us can remember anyone ever having any behavior even slightly resembling autism. Explain that. Was it because it was a time when we weren't toxed to the max with chemicals in household items and processed foods and did not use any pharmaceuticals except for the rarely needed antibiotic. We ate veggies from our gardens, ate meat butchered locally raised without any hormones or antibiotics. In a word, we ate almost all "whole" foods. Did that make a difference?
I doubt genetics is the whole answer. Possibly there is a genetic component, but I believe the condition won't present itself on its own without a trigger(s). How else can you explain the ever increasing number of cases. And I do believe they are increasing. It's not just about better diagnosis. In my neighborhood alone, there are 5 boys within a few blocks that I know of who have it. They are all quite socially and verbally and behaviorally deficient. A six year old who isn't potty trained. There could be more. Our school district has entire classrooms devoted to these kids. We need to dig very deeply and quickly into the real cause of this. It seems like the emphasis right now is treatment.
I am in the "over-60" crowd. I have been saying for a long time that I do not think that there are really that many more kids with these autism-spectrum problems as there always were-we are just labeling it as such. I feel confident that in the '50's and '60's (and certainly before that), many of these children were simply labeled as mentally retarded and treated as such. Others were simply called "difficult" or "problem" children.
I just recently read an interesting article on treating Autism with Reflexology. I think it is a novel approach that needs more research. Anything that may help a child with this problem could be a blessing.
Read the article and draw your own conclusions. www.reflexologyfootchart.net
"anything that can help" has led to a lot of lost money on the pipe dreams of those who don't understand how the body, or science in general works.
there is no biological chemical or physical mechanism that would explain how a neurological problem such as autism can be treated by rubbing ones feet, the body is simply not set up that way. odds are the massage is causing a temporary behavioral change, not because that area foot corresponds to some region of the brain but because its a stimulus to focus on.