It's easy to say that someone does, or does not, have, say, a broken bone. Or measles. When it comes to something like autism, though, which lacks concrete diagnostic factors (it depends on behavioral observations and judgments, not on culturing things or X-rays or looking at blood under a microscope), it's not so clear a matter. As the below article (in turn pointing to some LA Times research) indicates. #ddtb
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Are there more people with autism, or more people diagnosed with autism? – Boing Boing
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I have actually thought that more people were just being diagnosed, especially since it is now a "spectrum" disorder and some people that seem pretty normal are being diagnosed as being on the spectrum. Not to mention it is easier for some people to label problem children than actually try to help, like the cases of ADHD/ ADD.
I have a good friend who child does have ADHD and has responded well to the therapies and meds. She said that there is a night and day difference in his behavior and school work.
I have another friend whose son was diagnosed, but her marriage is horrid and they fight in front of the kids (he was even arrested for battery) yet no one thought to see if he was just disturbed because of his parents (the therapies and meds did NOT help him at all). The poor kid is on meds that make him feel crappy because the parents won't admit that they may be the actual problem and the Drs are quick to just label.
I can see where Autism wouldn't be much different especially if they were diagnosed with "high functioning" autisim. Maybe there are other issues that are at play, but it is easier to just say they are Autistic. That is a disservice to those diagnosed that aren't and to those that are, IMHO.
My eldest son has Aspergers, I display traits (there is a genetic element). Things get interesting. Fixed thinking is a real problem, especially when he is in the wrong.
Was going to type more, but just got a ‘Pick me up’ call.
At the time Arthur (and I) was diagnosed with childhood-onset bipolar disorder, there were plenty of professionals who said there was no such thing, in spite of rather clear evidence that medication and talk therapy made a big difference in these kids’ lives. In their minds, cycling 20 times a day was not possible, because they’d been taught that a (hypo)manic or depressive stage had to last at least four days. These days, if I have a hypomania, it disappears as soon as I notice it, and I may have had a few minutes to a few hours of it. DSM-IVR me as you please, but getting the same treatments that “real” bipolars need is making the same kind of difference.
Arthur stopped cycling more than once every so often a year or so ago, when his meds were finally more in balance. He can manage his reactions to something he doesn’t like a heck of a lot better now, but I had more than a few people on my case about “drugging my child” before he was 10.
There is now a controversy, in the autistic community, about autistic spectrum folks being trained to behave like the “neurologically typical”, instead of being accepted for the way their minds work. I see both sides’ points, so I’m no help.