Posted on 02/10/2010 1:37:39 PM PST by GOP_Raider
Asperger's syndrome is really just a form of autism and does not merit a separate diagnosis, according to a panel of researchers assembled by the American Psychiatric Association.
--snip--
But a new draft fifth edition released Wednesday moves Asperger's officially into the autism category, provoking a wide range of responses among people with Asperger's — some of whom say they do not want to be labeled as autistic.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
I have Asperger’s, and usually I just tell people that I am mildly autistic if they wonder why I am so weird at times.
I’m not trying to be insensitive, I just believe many of these behavioral disorders are misdiagnosed.
A lot of them are, I agree. There was another FR thread on this a while ago.
Please, people. There are a lot of us here with children who have one or another form of autism. Let’s not pooh pooh the diagnosis.
What you from the outside might see as just a “boy who’s a little odd” is actually probably a guy with some specific disorder that can be helped as best as possible to have the best life as possible. Even kids with Asperger’s benefit from getting a diagnosis and learning to organize their lives appropriately.
If you are one of those old-timers wondering why there weren’t all these kids with autism back in your day, remember that the environment was different back then. We don’t know what causes autism to spring up (possibly from a genetic tendency): could it be all the plastics in every aspect or our environment? Could it be all the vaccines given to NEWBORNS - around 10 before the child is even 6 months old (with all the adjuvants, media, diseases, and preservatives in the vaccines)? We don’t know.
But autism is real.
And I certainly can tell that Asperger’s is a mild form thereof, so I reluctantly have to agree with the APA for once.
I am actually insulted at your spanking jokes. I am a mom who believes in light, hand on butt spanking between the ages of 3 and 6, to make a better-behaved older child. (Some kids need no spanking because a scold will shape them well enough.)
However, my son with Asperger’s could have been WHIPPED with a cat-o’nine-tails and would not have been ABLE to change his behavior. Would you be in favor of whipping Sarah Palin’s son if he doesn’t have perfect behavior too?
Enjoy your little joke, because those of us dealing with this will probably have to have a cry at the insensitivity of some of our fellow FReepers.
I have Aspergers, and I only found that out recently after my son was diagnosed with it.
I always had some form of “different” learning abilities that always stumped my teachers and parents. many thought it was a hearing problem, they tried to drug me when I was a teen and as I grew up I was never able to interact socially.
Only on the internet do I have pure freedom of speech and a more easily way to communicate.
Its a blessing and a curse, I was always the smart one but shied away from being propelled by others to be a leader.
Sarah Pain’s son has Down Syndrome. Big difference. Try again...
Autism is on a spectrum. Diagnosing it, one sees kids all the way from very highly functioning, but still with poor social and emotional control, to completely inside their own worlds.
Asperger’s definitely exists. You might find a child with Asperger’s unable to stop talking about the movie he just saw, and he may repeat the entire 2.5 hours verbatim to you. That is not your normal child. He may be able to solve complex equations and yet unable to tie a shoe, after months of trying. You might find a teenager crying against his will when disappointed in public; he can’t control it.
Look at David Boies (sp?): he’s a perfect example of Asperger’s even if he doesn’t know it (not sure if he is actually diagnosed). There he was defending Al Gore at the 2000 Supreme Court election case, saying to the justices to refer to page 325, paragraph 4. WITHOUT ANY NOTES HIMSELF. Then see him on CNN discussing his case, and they say all the right things to get him to stop talking but he doesn’t. He does not pick up the cues. They almost need the old Vaudeville hook. Think about his wardrobe. This multimillionnaire has a closet filled with the exact same cheap Land’s End suit. That is an adult with Asperger’s.
It’s real. And kids with it could benefit somewhat from being diagnosed, if only to help others understand them, and to give them a chance at a good life.
How is it different? Would you whip a blind boy for choosing the wrong color socks?
My point was that you punish kids only for doing something they could have helped, something wrong or dangerous.
That is the official ribbon colors for autism because of the branches of that disease. Seen UConn Coach Jim Calhoun wear one because he has a grandchild with it.
Yaelle, that was well written and I completely agree.
There’s a big controversy over that lady who invented the way to keep cattle calm while they are being led to the slaughterhouse, Temple Whatshername. Some say she is autistic, others say she is just an eccentric fraud capatilizing on a disorder. That’s the problems you have when a net is cast too wide.
btt
My guess would have been German instead of Latin.
Well congrats to you that you and your children are just perfect - no problems, no illness, no mental issues. People like you can just make fun of children with issues or illnesses. Those of us dealing with these things or who love children who have these issues know they are real. But go ahead and sit on your high horse and make fun of them. Classy.
Other than Temple Grandin, are there other movies about folks in the Autism spectrum who are making tons of money off of their pretend like disorder?
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