Autism Epidemic?

[pellegrino]

I thought Jenny McCarthy cured it.

IIRC Jim Carey was the autism whisperer who cured her boy.

[clackamascoug]

Every body is brain injured in some form or another. At least I'm not aware of a person who operates at 100% of brain capacity. That's why when you come across a person who is so excellent/smart/goodlooking it's kinda scary. The first time I met Mitt Romney, I walked away totally devastated as what a loser jerk I was. He was really impressive.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Every body is brain injured in some form or another. At least I'm not aware of a person who operates at 100% of brain capacity. That's why when you come across a person who is so excellent/smart/goodlooking it's kinda scary. The first time I met Mitt Romney, I walked away totally devastated as what a loser jerk I was. He was really impressive.

I am curious how you would go about judging that 100% of brain capacity thing.

And you might want to try a lighter touch with the name-dropping.

[Katy Lied]

Jim Cramer said the same thing about Mitt. He said he walked away from meeting Romney thinking he was an absolute idiot, because Mitt thinks so quickly.

Too bad Mitt is so miserably mean. Or that's what I hear.

Speaking of name dropping, I once let Sly Stallone slide on his bill because he forgot his wallet and didn't have any money on him. (I hear DDD does this as well!) Anyway, Sly never came back but he sent his business manager to take care of his bill. He's a lot shorter than you would think.

[Babs]

You can 'treat' autistic kids - at least the milder cases. As Tick notes, you cna't cure them. But you can give them coping mechanisms or show behaviors to them and suggest appropriate responses to difference circumstances. These treatments won't cure their autistic tendencies, but can help them learn to socialize more appropriately and have a much better quality of life.

gee, thanks for the 411.

[Babs]

Another issue is that 1) the administration of the tests for autism are quite subjective, and 2) school districts, social workers, phychologists, psychiatrists, etc all have INCENTIVE to give a kid an autism diagnosis.

I was curious if anyone was going to point out the motivations and incentives. Autism spectrum disorders are trendy and in the spotlight. There's considerable federal support for funding research right now, and Autism Speaks and other groups have a vested interest in getting as many diagnoses as possible, to help with their lobbying. You often see advertisements out there, sponsored by these groups, encouraging parents to get their kids tested.

In addition, there are incentives for schools and parents to procure diagnoses within the spectrum, too. As statman pointed out, there are additional subsidies set aside specifically for the education of students with autism. Some school districts simply pocket this extra money, but some use it to provide such a superior education for the autistic student, that parents of atypical students end up shopping for a doctor who will sign off on an ASD diagnosis.

[UtahDan]

Every body is brain injured in some form or another. At least I'm not aware of a person who operates at 100% of brain capacity. That's why when you come across a person who is so excellent/smart/goodlooking it's kinda scary. The first time I met Mitt Romney, I walked away totally devastated as what a loser jerk I was. He was really impressive.

Jeff Lebowski makes me feel this way, though I have never met him. He operates at at least 100% capacity, I suspect it might be much more.

[Babs]

Jeff Lebowski makes me feel this way, though I have never met him. He operates at at least 100% capacity, I suspect it might be much more.

lol. Lebowski's intellect notwithstanding, you are perhaps the most impressive suck up I've ever seen.

[wuapinmon]

The first time I met Mitt Romney, I walked away totally devastated as what a loser jerk I was. He was really impressive.

What about the second time? Law of Diminishing Utility?

[Jeff Lebowski]

lol. Lebowski's intellect notwithstanding, you are perhaps the most impressive suck up I've ever seen.

YOU SHUT YOUR ....... uhhhhh ...... SOONER MOUTH!

[Babs]

YOU SHUT YOUR ....... uhhhhh ...... SOONER MOUTH!

oops. sorry.

[Jeff Lebowski]

oops. sorry.

Hey, pardon my ignorance, but who is the woman in your avatar photo?

[Babs]

Hey, pardon my ignorance, but who is the woman in your avatar photo?

It's me.

[Tick's wife]

So far there is not enough scientific proof that vaccinations causes autism. Everyone is predisposed with genes for Autism, some just more than others.

The spectrum is so wide, that Dr.s are willing to label a child with Autism just for having 'autistic like characteristics'. Hell, we all have them in one form or another.

Also, please note that the majority of those diagnosed with Autism have some kind of mental retardation, ADHD, or other disability. However, a parent is more likely to accept that their child has a form of Autism, PDD-NOS, or Asperger's Syndrome, than being Mentally Retarded. Yes, MR is still a legal diagnoses and is used today. Most children/people with Autism do not look 'disabled' as does a person with Downs or CP or other such disabilities with physical features.

Many high functioning people, on the Spectrum, live normal, healthy lifestyles, they just need to learn to deal/control it, just as a person with ADHD does. Many lawyers have ADHD, BTW.

[John McClain]

Many high functioning people, on the Spectrum, live normal, healthy lifestyles, they just need to learn to deal/control it, just as a person with ADHD does. Many lawyers have ADHD, BTW.

That is a very true statement, and probably applies to me. BTW, how come your avatar is not as cool as your husband's?