tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882699769899830828.post1812805149843148735..comments2008-08-17T23:48:20.755-06:00Thejessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03567184371235993225noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882699769899830828.post-69117912252551341592008-08-17T23:48:20.755-06:002008-08-17T23:48:20.755-06:00I believe that you are quite on the mark here. The expansion of the defenition of autism has much to do with the so-called "epidemic." Note also that the instances of boys diagnosed with autism (at about age three) are higher (at a rate of 1 to 5 according to the NIH)than girls of the same age. This does not strike me as coincidental as boys are generally more rambunctious than girls at age three and would tend more often to exhibit some of the "behaviors" listed on the assessment. Moreover, shy children may also "exhibit" some of the behaviors used as indicators. As a child, I would certainly have qualified as "autistic." Let's also not forget that children spend much more idle time in front of the television than they once did and though I will not go so far as to blame the programs, it does appear to me that the hands-on teaching of proper behaviors and skills has been repalaced by TV time. It has also been suggested that television reduces the attention span (more so in youngsters than in adults). You can be sure as well that the drug industry has much to do with the escalation of the autism (and ADHD) "epidemic."<BR/><BR/>A former colleague once told me that she had an autistic son (age eight). I felt horrible for her (because I know what autism looks like) until I met her boy. He was certainly lagging behind in school and still had trouble tying his shoes at age eight, though I soon realized the problem. The boy had no peers with which to socialize and his parents spent zero, and I do mean zero, time with him. Their response to his very presence was was "go away." I made a few attempts at discussing this with his mother and suggeted that she work with him on the lacking skills. Her respopnse was complete apathy as she was able to dismiss him as "autistic" and therefore beyond help (other than medicating him). Needless to say, I just let the acquaintance fade. However, I do wonder what become of the boy. Enough said. The epidemic is not autism.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com