Comments on: Take Your Own Sweet Time

By: Thomas Sowell on False Diagnosis and “Genuine” Autism

Thomas Sowell on False Diagnosis and “Genuine” Autism — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:05:18 +0000

[...] process that requires a lot of specilized teaching and services and that takes as long as it takes. Each to his own sweet time. ASD, Aspergers, autism, autistic, children, conservative, Education, family, health, hoover [...]

By: Regan

Regan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:42:09 +0000

Just came across google news this AM in re: the “window”
An “Autism Mom’s” Open Letter to Jenny McCarthy
http://autism.about.com/b/2007/11/12/an-autism-moms-open-letter-to-jenny-mccarthy.htm

By: Regan

Regan — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:18:13 +0000

Traditionally there have been developmental windows where learning certain skills are easier than periods beyond that-example some musical skills, second languages, some math prerequisites, etc. No big news flash.
There has also been some work showing that skill acquisition/mastery may be more reliably retained when taught within a developmental window than after. Coincidentally many of the windows are before the age of 5 in typical children–ex: the explosion of language between 1-6, but others extend to adolescence and beyond.
But that doesn’t mean that once that period has passed that learning is impossible or done with. Much of what I learned in college about neurology and windows of opportunity have been shown to be not quite as definite as posited in the past and appears to be better defined as more study has been done.
I think that one confound may be environment. I was disturbed by one paper I skimmed 6 months ago that showed that students in Special Ed could lose trajectory of progress rate with every year in school, and that was correlated with lack of fit of instruction. That might be one reason to make as much progress as possible during the preschool years.
I dislike the term “Fix” because of the negative connotations in relation to a person. You fix a sink; you treat or teach a person.

By: Another Voice

Another Voice — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:56:19 +0000

The “timeline”, the “window of opportunity”; why is this usually quoted by those that have something to sell? A book, a treatment, a drug. It is like they want to tell you there is a “blue light” special in aisle 5.

This rhetoric from the ad agencies is doing tremendous damage.

By: julie

julie — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:58:01 +0000

Shen she talks as though a child can be fixed it gives parents the idea that if their child is not in a regular classroom doing well and no melt downs that they have somehow failed. My daughter has made much progress and continues to do so at almost 8 I hope that this will not change. I do not believe that she needs to be cured just taught. I have a close famly member though who has a son who is much worse off and his progress has been much slower and dificult. sh gets overwhelmed and frustrated by the implication that if she just did this one thing it would be better. She has tried almost all of it and with the same results. Jenny needs to be careful about how she words things. She is a celebrity which means everyone is listening.

By: KC'sMommy

KC'sMommy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:43:08 +0000

Jenny McCarthy really ticks me off. She gives off the vibe, “hey I recovered my son, why can’t you?” I do hope she shuts her trap soon cause the more she talks the more annoying she becomes.
“Fix,” K.C. doesn’t need fixing, he’s certainly not broken. I wonder if ms. mccarthy would have ever accepted her son had he not been “fixed?” I also wonder what her son is going to think when he reads “fix’ as he gets older.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:30:20 +0000

A timeline? to fix a child? Kristina, I like your post title better…and I believe that time is sweet. Any time spent with my child is sweet as can be, just as he is.

By: Caroline L.

Caroline L. — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:43:38 +0000

Hi Maria,
would you mind very much listing the medications that work? every child’s system is different as well. meds that help without side effects…now there’s a concept.

The only timeline now in our household is to try to give our child a happy childhood and to be a content,independent citizen upon reaching adulthood. a tall order some days, and very possible other days.

By: Marla

Marla — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:49:52 +0000

I really wish celebrities would not be quoted as if they are experts. I too have heard parents say they tried their child’s medication and took the child off of the med. as a result. A child’s brain with autism and epilepsy will react way different to medications than a normal adult’s would. If my daughter did not have medications she would not be where she is today.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:08:06 +0000

I guess McCarthy may well not have intended everything that is implied in the statement about a “timeline,” but her celebrity does result in anything she says getting a lot of play. We heard plenty about there being a “window” or “timeline” to help and “recover” our son and, after 8 years of ABA (since he was 2 and still busily at it), I don’t think that that is the best place to put one’s energies (or was to put my mind……..)—-really good to hear that your son is making good progress with the ABA!