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A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

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Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#11

Post by hkt »

CalRobert wrote: post #6
eigengrau5150 wrote: post #2

I'm glad I didn't get diagnosed until I was an adult. It means I don't have to worry about my parents subjecting me to shit like this and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.

That's interesting, can you elaborate on your qualms with ABA? After my sister's belated diagnosis around 1990 (it was still quite rare compared to the present) my mom became an ABA practitioner (eventually getting a PhD). Sister went from completely non-verbal to speaking well, which was remarkable considering that there were professionals saying she'd always need to live in an institution. As best I can tell ABA ma…

My son's speech therapist described ABA as horse breaking, and the (way more humane) approach she uses as horse whispering. The approach she uses is JASPER: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34348479/

Edit: a part of the criticism I've heard for ABA is that it doesn't generalise, so kids know how to function only in a very limited set of circumstances and are often frozen with anxiety outside of them. It is also an all consuming lifestyle for the whole family.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#12

Post by nanna »

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency. The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#13

Post by TopRattata »

pengaru wrote: post #5
R0b0t1 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like with ADHD, the benefit of a diagnosis is usually more 1-on-1 time with a teacher, which leads to better scholastic outcomes regardless of if the underlying issue is truly present.

> Like with ADHD, the benefit of a diagnosis is usually more 1-on-1 time with a teacher, which leads to better scholastic outcomes regardless of if the underlying issue is truly present. My observation has been that usually diagnosis results in dependence on amphetamines.

I mean, no more dependent than a neurotypical person is on their naturally-produced neurotransmitters.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#14

Post by shkkmo »

nanna wrote: post #12

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency . The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

It is more complicated than that. On the "milder" side of the spectrum that is certainly true. On the severe side of the spectrum there can be significant cognitive deficiencies that impair an individual from living the life they desire. There is nothing wrong with creating tools to help ameliorate those deficiences as long as the goal is not to "force them to be normal" but rather to give them tools to help them realize their potential unique and valuable abilities and perspectives.

Edit: This does appear to be a money grubbing attempt to capitalize on poorly informed and desperate parents rather than an attemot to create tools to empower individuals with ASD.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#15

Post by collegeburner »

nanna wrote: post #12

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency . The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

What a load of nonsense, autism is a horrible thing that should be entirely eliminated if possible. An autist probably will never be a salesman, for instance, we should make that not the case if we can because otherwise those opportunitues will stay off limits because of some peoples birth. Then there are the more severe cases where people cant speak and care for themselves. Thats not a society issue, thats a birth defect and working to fix it is good.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#16

Post by hammyhavoc »

orthecreedence wrote: post #7
R0b0t1 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like with ADHD, the benefit of a diagnosis is usually more 1-on-1 time with a teacher, which leads to better scholastic outcomes regardless of if the underlying issue is truly present.

> Like with ADHD, the benefit of a diagnosis is usually more 1-on-1 time with a teacher Funny, they wanted to put me on Ritalin, not give me more 1-on-1 time.

Same experience in the UK. And much worse.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#17

Post by thepasswordis »

nanna wrote: post #12

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency . The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

Horrific? I have friends whose children are almost completely non-verbal, who require full time state funded caregivers to live with them, and who will likely never be able to live on their own due to their severe autism.

Yes. That is deficiency. Nobody on earth would choose that. Suggesting otherwise is abusive and to use your words horrific. Do not make these children martyrs in whatever stupid war you are trying to fight here.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#18

Post by nicoburns »

collegeburner wrote: post #15
nanna wrote: post #12

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency . The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

What a load of nonsense, autism is a horrible thing that should be entirely eliminated if possible. An autist probably will never be a salesman, for instance, we should make that not the case if we can because otherwise those opportunitues will stay off limits because of some peoples birth. Then there are the more severe cases where people cant speak and care for themselves. Thats not a society issue, thats a birth d…

> An autist probably will never be a salesman, for instance

Good? We'd probably be better off with fewer salesmen in the world.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#19

Post by shkkmo »

TopRattata wrote: post #13
pengaru wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Like with ADHD, the benefit of a diagnosis is usually more 1-on-1 time with a teacher, which leads to better scholastic outcomes regardless of if the underlying issue is truly present. My observation has been that usually diagnosis results in dependence on amphetamines.

I mean, no more dependent than a neurotypical person is on their naturally-produced neurotransmitters.

Although purely annecdotal, I've seen a close personal friend with ADHD develop severe abuse issues with their prescribed medication. I don't have data on how high the risk is, but it does exist.

Re: A Controversial Autism Treatment Is About to Become a Big Business

#20

Post by aspieandproud »

collegeburner wrote: post #15
nanna wrote: post #12

Horrific. Autism is about neural difference not deficiency . The problem is neurotypical societies pathologising and disabling neurodivergent people. What this article discusses is analogous to treatment for homosexuality. Shame on you, Duke university.

What a load of nonsense, autism is a horrible thing that should be entirely eliminated if possible. An autist probably will never be a salesman, for instance, we should make that not the case if we can because otherwise those opportunitues will stay off limits because of some peoples birth. Then there are the more severe cases where people cant speak and care for themselves. Thats not a society issue, thats a birth d…

Remove yourself from the gene pool asap (ideally also from society).
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