Autism

[Lissa]

I don't mean to start a debate or anything but I was just finished reading an article on autism and much of the symptoms sound like that of a normal child. In many of the articles I've read, I've wondered if autism really exists or if it's just another invisible diagnosis. Does anyone else feel this way? Sorry if I offend anyone. Maybe someone could help me better understand.

Here is one of the articles I just read:

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/autism-symptoms

[Kaytee]

You are right that some of the symptoms are of a normal child. The think is, is that these children do not have one symptom they usually have many. And they don't improve./ Such as no eye contact, odd babbling, stressing in situations that a "noraml" child would not stress in. Then when they do stress, they usually do "odd" behaviors such as spinning in circles, screaming, not just normal screaming, but high pitch terror screams for 10-30 minutes at one time. Things like that

[Tau]

When you meet a solidly autistic child - you can tell that they aren't truly plugged in. Its a whole different experience.

My best friend's brother is severely autistic and requires an adult living facility, because he cannot take care of himself. After meeting him, you can see the same behaviors, only magnified.

I can understand that those high functioning children (and there are a number of them) can stir the controversy pot, because they can interact so successfully a lot of the time. Just don't let that misguide you.

[Lissa]

Originally Posted by Kaytee

You are right that some of the symptoms are of a normal child. The think is, is that these children do not have one symptom they usually have many. And they don't improve./ Such as no eye contact, odd babbling, stressing in situations that a "noraml" child would not stress in. Then when they do stress, they usually do "odd" behaviors such as spinning in circles, screaming, not just normal screaming, but high pitch terror screams for 10-30 minutes at one time. Things like that

But don't you think toddlers and young children shouldn't be so quickly diagnosed because the symptoms can improve as they grow older? I mean obviously there is such a thing as autism. I'm just saying that children are children and eventually grow out of certain phases.

[Kaytee]

True, but if they have autism, they do not outgrow it. That is where the problem lies.
Unfortuantely it is not like ADD or ADHD (also highly over diagnosed) those CAN be tested with a physical test. Not all people opt to do it but it is there. As of yet there is no physical testing to determine, just levels of behavoirs

[Lissa]

Doesn't Jenny McCarthy's son have autism? Isn't he a toddler? Do you think that's a bit early to diagnose?

[Kaytee]

They say 3 is around when it is usually daignosed, but also if they discover it sooner the sooner they can get them in therapy and the better tehy usaully end up being.

And yes her son is autistic

[Lissa]

I guess my point is that children keep changing and changing over time and go through so many phases. I know that as a young child I did many weird things and had several absurd fixations. It's about discovering the world. I just don't think that a diagnosis can be made as early as the age of 3.

[Kaytee]

Some can and some can't . Typically it is the more severe that are diagnosed early on though.
Of course we all DID weird things at some point, the problem lies in: what if your 3 year old will not look at you? Does not speak, ever except babble? If she can't get what she wants she will bite herself till blood drips from her mouth( my friends 2 year old does this), if you put your 3 year old in an elevator with you at the mall, do they spin in circles an dblankly stare until it stops? Things like that are severe and are huge warning signs. And it doesn't mean that EVERY autistic child will have every symptom either

[adean]

I am reading on this topic as well. My son is 5 and has shown some questionnable signs of autism if you read the articles. However he is also a twin, so a lot of the communication issues we attribute to someone always there to talk for him. He does speak - however he also is very independent...would rather do things on his own most times than engage in play with others. He is active with people he is comfortable with however isn't so with new people. With all of the hype on autism, I often wonder if it just another bucket to throw "difficult to deal with" children in. I know there are severe cases where children hurt themselves, etc - but the milder cases of "autism"...I'm not convinced of the diagnosis.