Comments on: Help Needed; and, Is Autism Different in Girls? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:36:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-561763 julie Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:38:36 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-561763 The schools had her evaluated before she started kindergarten and she showed serious delay in sensory and speech so they provided those services as well as emotional issues so she also is in a special ed class and receives psych services as well The schools had her evaluated before she started kindergarten and she showed serious delay in sensory and speech so they provided those services as well as emotional issues so she also is in a special ed class and receives psych services as well

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-563593 Kristina Chew, PhD Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:54:13 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-563593 @mayfly, do you have a citation about the ratio of boys to girls that you refer to? Charlie has had only boys in his classroom for years. @julie, talk about frustrating.....on what basis has the school given her some services (speech, sensory issues?)? @mayfly, do you have a citation about the ratio of boys to girls that you refer to?

Charlie has had only boys in his classroom for years.

@julie,
talk about frustrating…..on what basis has the school given her some services (speech, sensory issues?)?

]]> By: mayfly http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-563581 mayfly Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:46:16 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-563581 No one has ever had any hesitation of diagnosing my daughter as having autism. In low-functioning autism the ratio of boys to girls still favors boys, but becomes closer to 1:1. High functioning autism and Aspergers much rarer in females than males. This is undoubtedly more due to genetics than prejudice, though the latter cannot be ruled out as a contributing cause. No one has ever had any hesitation of diagnosing my daughter as having autism. In low-functioning autism the ratio of boys to girls still favors boys, but becomes closer to 1:1. High functioning autism and Aspergers much rarer in females than males. This is undoubtedly more due to genetics than prejudice, though the latter cannot be ruled out as a contributing cause.

]]> By: Autism and Gender: Are there differences? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-556788 Autism and Gender: Are there differences? Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:03:23 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-556788 [...] recent post asking if autism is different in girls led to an interesting discussion; Sullivan also noted that the IACC Strategic Plan specifically [...] [...] recent post asking if autism is different in girls led to an interesting discussion; Sullivan also noted that the IACC Strategic Plan specifically [...]

]]> By: julie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-556359 julie Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:23:42 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-556359 This is exactly what we are going through. The developmental psychologist at our developmental center I think spends all day everyday diagnosing these disabilities and is very by the book. I did tell him that my daughter has been and at times still is obsessive about talking about death and dying. That it is strange and not natural conversation at normal times. He said to me that it is not stereotypical obsessive behavior and without that component he can not diagnose her. He said to me I can not tell you she does not have it what I can say is that with the criteria I have today which is primarily based on diagnosing a boy of a certain age she does not fulfill the necessary criteria to diagnose her. Right now the schools have been great and she is receiving everything she needs during the school day. The problem I see is that down the road she may not have access to the services that she needs after school. I would love to have my daughter included in a study but without the label we can not even though we were told she looks autistic in most ways and would benefit from programs for autistic children. It has been very frustrating to feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall just to be told she has what we already know she has. This is exactly what we are going through. The developmental psychologist at our developmental center I think spends all day everyday diagnosing these disabilities and is very by the book. I did tell him that my daughter has been and at times still is obsessive about talking about death and dying. That it is strange and not natural conversation at normal times. He said to me that it is not stereotypical obsessive behavior and without that component he can not diagnose her. He said to me I can not tell you she does not have it what I can say is that with the criteria I have today which is primarily based on diagnosing a boy of a certain age she does not fulfill the necessary criteria to diagnose her. Right now the schools have been great and she is receiving everything she needs during the school day. The problem I see is that down the road she may not have access to the services that she needs after school. I would love to have my daughter included in a study but without the label we can not even though we were told she looks autistic in most ways and would benefit from programs for autistic children. It has been very frustrating to feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall just to be told she has what we already know she has.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-559566 Regan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:04:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-559566 Sullivan, Thanks for highlighting that. Sullivan,
Thanks for highlighting that.

]]> By: Sullivan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-559616 Sullivan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:43:09 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-559616 The IACC strategic plan specifically mentions the following as a "research opportunity" "Research on females with ASD to better characterize clinical, biological and protective features." People should look over the Strategic Plan and comment. The Plan is here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/recurring-meetings/iacc/strategic-plan/2008/iacc-strategic-plan-august-2008.pdf comments can be made by emailing iacc@mail.nih.gov. Put NOT-MH-08-021 in the subject line. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-021.html I know you (Kristina) have mentioned this already, but I hope you don't mind me pushing the idea some more. The IACC strategic plan specifically mentions the following as a “research opportunity”

“Research on females with ASD to better characterize clinical, biological and protective features.”

People should look over the Strategic Plan and comment.

The Plan is here:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/recurring-meetings/iacc/strategic-plan/2008/iacc-strategic-plan-august-2008.pdf

comments can be made by emailing iacc@mail.nih.gov. Put NOT-MH-08-021 in the subject line.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-021.html

I know you (Kristina) have mentioned this already, but I hope you don’t mind me pushing the idea some more.

]]> By: Morgan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-562179 Morgan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:30:45 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-562179 I should also add that current diagnostic criteria also allow for the phenomenon of "recovery" as children grow older. I should also add that current diagnostic criteria also allow for the phenomenon of “recovery” as children grow older.

]]> By: Morgan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-559526 Morgan Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:06:56 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-559526 Again, the perils of diagnosing a "disorder" based on a collection of observed behaviors--in this case, it virtually eliminates the possibility of a female or an adult (or even an older child) ever getting a diagnosis. I would suggest that for all the studies and books, we are little removed from the dark ages in our understanding of what autism is. Again, the perils of diagnosing a “disorder” based on a collection of observed behaviors–in this case, it virtually eliminates the possibility of a female or an adult (or even an older child) ever getting a diagnosis.

I would suggest that for all the studies and books, we are little removed from the dark ages in our understanding of what autism is.

]]> By: Erin http://www.blisstree.com/articles/help-needed/comment-page-1/#comment-559480 Erin Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:25:17 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/help-needed/#comment-559480 I am in the same boat. I took my daughter to get a diagnosis and the Dr. was "happy to report" she wasn't autistic. And yet, she's now getting services through school for autism because she qualified through their eval.. go figure. I am in the same boat. I took my daughter to get a diagnosis and the Dr. was “happy to report” she wasn’t autistic. And yet, she’s now getting services through school for autism because she qualified through their eval.. go figure.

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