Myths about autism
bbc.com
Myths about autism
1–10 of 36 posts
Re: Myths about autism
#2I only had time to skim, but is the first myth really false?
When I was a kid in the 70s - 80s, I had never met another child with autistic like behavior. Yet, of my son's friends, two of them are clearly autistic (and diagnosed), and several of them seem on the spectrum (including my son). I also have several friends with autistic children. How could it be that it was just under diagnosed previously?
On the other hand, my parents recall me having 'autistic like' behavior until I was 5 or so. In fact, I didn't speak until I was 3. I asked my mom about this, and she said she wasn't worried because she figured that I'd speak eventually. Such a strange attitude to me as a modern parent.
Re: Myths about autism
#3I only had time to skim, but is the first myth really false? When I was a kid in the 70s - 80s, I had never met another child with autistic like behavior. Yet, of my son's friends, two of them are clearly autistic (and diagnosed), and several of them seem on the spectrum (including my son). I also have several friends with autistic children. How could it be that it was just under diagnosed previously? On the other ha…
but is the first myth really true?
Does anybody take into account more modern business practices of putting tens of thousands of smart people in a small geographic area? That leads to smart people breeding with smart people which seems to be a known catalyst for spectrum disorders.
Before the mid 1900s, we didn't have mass service/technical employment (read: companies requiring "smart" employees instead of interchangeable factory labor) or ease of global relocation on a whim. You'd grow up on a farm, meet someone from your town, then settle down in your own town, and the cycle would repeat for generations.
Re: Myths about autism
#4I was surprised to see that the most prevalent "myth" about Autism -- that is is caused by early childhood vaccinations -- wasn't mentioned. Especially since that myth is making the rounds again after Donald Trump stated it as fact during the last Republican Presidential Debate.
EDIT: I was mistaken, it was mentioned. Bad reading on my part :-)
Re: Myths about autism
#5Myth #4: We’re just over-diagnosing quirky kids with a trendy disorder.
I'm sorry but this is true. I know plenty of (diagnosed) autistic people and they seem to cope okayish with their daily lives. The real deal - and I've read heartbreaking articles about it - is when the (even grown up) autist cannot take a shower on his own, and when he is asked a question he is merely capable of repeating fragments of things he heard before, over and over again. No normal communication is possible. A severe disability. Mental disorders are massively overdiagnosed these days, it's a business with little backing of solid science, and I ask anyone who claims the opposite to show me solid evidence and research papers.
Re: Myths about autism
#6I was surprised to see that the most prevalent "myth" about Autism -- that is is caused by early childhood vaccinations -- wasn't mentioned. Especially since that myth is making the rounds again after Donald Trump stated it as fact during the last Republican Presidential Debate. EDIT: I was mistaken, it was mentioned. Bad reading on my part :-)
Especially because it actually was mentioned in the article :)
EDIT: Hehe, no problem. I lost count of how many times I overlooked things in articles that I skimmed.
Re: Myths about autism
#7Myth #4: We’re just over-diagnosing quirky kids with a trendy disorder. I'm sorry but this is true. I know plenty of (diagnosed) autistic people and they seem to cope okayish with their daily lives. The real deal - and I've read heartbreaking articles about it - is when the (even grown up) autist cannot take a shower on his own, and when he is asked a question he is merely capable of repeating fragments of things he…
You also probably know plenty of depressed people who cope with their daily lives; that there are people who suffer from catatonic depression does not invalidate their depression.
I don't think you know what you're talking about, which is confusing because you have expressed a very strong opinion about the subject.
Re: Myths about autism
#8I was surprised to see that the most prevalent "myth" about Autism -- that is is caused by early childhood vaccinations -- wasn't mentioned. Especially since that myth is making the rounds again after Donald Trump stated it as fact during the last Republican Presidential Debate. EDIT: I was mistaken, it was mentioned. Bad reading on my part :-)
Especially because it actually was mentioned in the article :) EDIT: Hehe, no problem. I lost count of how many times I overlooked things in articles that I skimmed.
Ah! You're right. Totally missed it in the paragraph under that photo. My mistake :-)
Re: Myths about autism
#9Myth #4: We’re just over-diagnosing quirky kids with a trendy disorder. I'm sorry but this is true. I know plenty of (diagnosed) autistic people and they seem to cope okayish with their daily lives. The real deal - and I've read heartbreaking articles about it - is when the (even grown up) autist cannot take a shower on his own, and when he is asked a question he is merely capable of repeating fragments of things he…
> Mental disorders are massively overdiagnosed these days, it's a business with little backing of solid science, and I ask anyone who claims the opposite to show me solid evidence and research papers.
When stating your opinion as fact, the onus is on you to give evidence. I ask you for solid evidence and research papers.
Re: Myths about autism
#10The issue with articles that try to discuss "autism" as a whole tend to ignore that the wide spectrum of people diagnosed makes it impossible to generalize. The child in class who is considered quirky and exhibits a few rather harmless traits shares the same diagnosis as my child who is entirely non-verbal and exhibits self-injurious behavior.
The difference between someone considered "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" is often dramatic.
Until we separate the spectrum into a more distinct subset of disabilities (as well as abilities), the autism community will continue to be fractured into those who consider their autism a gift that want to "keep" their autism pitting themselves against the families of the most severely impacted who are advocating for those who often can't speak for themselves.