Comments on: The Claim of the Autism Epidemic http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:31:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Autism Vox 2008 in Review: April http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-565183 Autism Vox 2008 in Review: April Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:12:53 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-565183 [...] Clinton, and, yes, on vaccines—-and as to why vaccines, and topics like the so-called “autism epidemic,” continue to be discussed, seems to be a sign of at least a little paranoia and [...] [...] Clinton, and, yes, on vaccines—-and as to why vaccines, and topics like the so-called “autism epidemic,” continue to be discussed, seems to be a sign of at least a little paranoia and [...]

]]> By: Now Where Was It You Heard About the Autism Epidemic? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-548664 Now Where Was It You Heard About the Autism Epidemic? Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:08:31 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-548664 [...] of an epidemic of autism are just that, claims and assumptions based on what people feel and perceive. But where did you [...] [...] of an epidemic of autism are just that, claims and assumptions based on what people feel and perceive. But where did you [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-554672 Kristina Chew, PhD Sun, 11 May 2008 05:58:06 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-554672 @Susan, <i>yes</i>----wrote wrote "we love our kids and want them to live thier lives to the fullest." Thank you so much---it's lovely to hear about your family. Very best wishes on Mother's Day! @Susan,

yes—-wrote wrote “we love our kids and want them to live thier lives to the fullest.”

Thank you so much—it’s lovely to hear about your family. Very best wishes on Mother’s Day!

]]> By: Susan M. Bersee http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-547977 Susan M. Bersee Sun, 11 May 2008 05:46:34 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-547977 We have two biological sons with Autism. One has Aspergers the other PDDNOS which basically means he has all the symptoms of Autism. We have video of him as a " normal " toddler then he stopped talking and started spinning and flapping his arms. He is now doing well as an 8 yr old but functions emotionally as a 4 to 5 yr old. He loves art and music and can name more famous artists and composers than I ever had a clue existed. Khandinsky? had no clue lol. Our son with Aspergers is very bright but chews his clothing and is still very delayed emotionally. I can't figure out why they both have Autism or how it came to be, but our goal is to teach them to live with their Autism and have a good life. Blame for a disability never has a good end. It just causes anger and upset. We love our kids and want them to live thier lives to the fullest. I don't want to upset anyone but our other two children with epilepsy, that is not curable either, they take their meds and learn to live with it and have done very well. One is married the other is a volunteer firefighter. Our children will achieve and grow as we allow them to do so, disabilities or not. Thank you for this forum. We have two biological sons with Autism. One has Aspergers the other PDDNOS which basically means he has all the symptoms of Autism.
We have video of him as a ” normal ” toddler then he stopped talking and started spinning and flapping his arms. He is now doing well as an 8 yr old but functions emotionally as a 4 to 5 yr old. He loves art and music and can name more famous artists and composers than I ever had a clue existed. Khandinsky? had no clue lol.
Our son with Aspergers is very bright but chews his clothing and is still very delayed emotionally. I can’t figure out why they both have Autism or how it came to be, but our goal is to teach them to live with their Autism and have a good life. Blame for a disability never has a good end. It just causes anger and upset. We love our kids and want them to live thier lives to the fullest.

I don’t want to upset anyone but our other two children with epilepsy, that is not curable either, they take their meds and learn to live with it and have done very well. One is married the other is a volunteer firefighter.

Our children will achieve and grow as we allow them to do so, disabilities or not.

Thank you for this forum.

]]> By: Last Week’s Top Posts http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-555178 Last Week’s Top Posts Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:22:30 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-555178 [...] and Cancer To illustrate what some term an “autism epidemic” (including three presidential candidates), people regularly compare the prevalence rate of [...] [...] and Cancer To illustrate what some term an “autism epidemic” (including three presidential candidates), people regularly compare the prevalence rate of [...]

]]> By: Autism and Cancer http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-552876 Autism and Cancer Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:17:18 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-552876 [...] of 2007 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To illustrate what some term an “autism epidemic” (including three presidential candidates), people regularly compare the prevalence rate of [...] [...] of 2007 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To illustrate what some term an “autism epidemic” (including three presidential candidates), people regularly compare the prevalence rate of [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-540318 Kristina Chew, PhD Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:20:01 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-540318 Epidemic has been used for: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r991026.htm">obesity</a> <a href="http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20031003/diabetes-epidemic-grows-in-us">diabetes</a> <a href="http://www.ahrp.org/children/CareyADHD0603.php">ADHD</a> <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/heart/video-ch_01.html">heart disease</a> <a href="http://www.parenthood.com/article-topics/article-topics.php?Article_ID=5885">eating disorders</a> Epidemic has been used for:

obesity
diabetes
ADHD
heart disease
eating disorders

]]> By: Jill http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-549558 Jill Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:55:24 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-549558 @Regan - Good point in that people do assume that a low IQ level means that it will remain so if diagnosed with mental retardation. I mentioned to a supervisor that my youngest son had a double digit IQ increase in one year and she was very skeptical and said that a person's IQ does not increase. This is the mindset of many people which is probably why it is so difficult to get funding for early intervention. @Regan – Good point in that people do assume that a low IQ level means that it will remain so if diagnosed with mental retardation. I mentioned to a supervisor that my youngest son had a double digit IQ increase in one year and she was very skeptical and said that a person’s IQ does not increase. This is the mindset of many people which is probably why it is so difficult to get funding for early intervention.

]]> By: Synesthesia http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-540093 Synesthesia Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:04:13 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-540093 Calling it an epidemic bothers me deeply Calling it an epidemic bothers me deeply

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-540110 Regan Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:03:43 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/the-claim-of-the-autism-epidemic/#comment-540110 The IQ test thing is tricky because I have actually been in the position of advising people to not have their child get a reported IQ score on record if such is optional. Assessment of skills,yes., but unless the situation is exceptional to be cautious of IQ testing. The reason being, at least here, for services, once you get the MR attached to "autism", you can forget asking for intensive services, or at least it becomes infinitely more difficult. Ditto for insurance, because MR is considered a permanent global state. The other difficulty is that splintered profile and the dependency on language for many assessments, which if language-based assessments are used, might account for the leaps in IQ numbers after particular interventions. So if the person smarter, or is the instrument now as better fit for how the measurement is taken? I think the papers by Edelson, and Dawson, Gernsbacher and Mottron talk about some of the difficulties in this area. The IQ test thing is tricky because I have actually been in the position of advising people to not have their child get a reported IQ score on record if such is optional. Assessment of skills,yes., but unless the situation is exceptional to be cautious of IQ testing.

The reason being, at least here, for services, once you get the MR attached to “autism”, you can forget asking for intensive services, or at least it becomes infinitely more difficult. Ditto for insurance, because MR is considered a permanent global state.

The other difficulty is that splintered profile and the dependency on language for many assessments, which if language-based assessments are used, might account for the leaps in IQ numbers after particular interventions.
So if the person smarter, or is the instrument now as better fit for how the measurement is taken?

I think the papers by Edelson, and Dawson, Gernsbacher and Mottron talk about some of the difficulties in this area.

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