Autism Rates!! Just Wondering?? | Autism PDD
Ok, Sunday afternoon and my mind is wondering... Do u guys realize that with such an increase in autism rates and diagnosis (1 in 1000 ten years ago and now 1 in 150), one day our ASD kids will be the norm and NT parents will have to explain to us what is wrong with "their" kids??? LOL!!! yes, in my day i remember it was like 15:10000 or something back in the late 80's and early 90's. Today its 1:150 and much of the reason i think is the fact that their is more knowledge and widespread awairness, people know what to look for more and the lines are less blurry (i was diagnosed by 1 dr at the age of 4 with a learning dissability, a second said autism or HFA, now im AS)
Plus symptoms of a particular disorder seem to intersect with others, and often they would chalk it up to learning disabilities, more broad, today their are more classifications and better testing, so more get put in their right place (hopefully)
If im wrong, then its environmental or natural factors, but it seems that if thats the case, in just a few short decades, as stated previously their will be more ASD kids and the like then their will be NT!On Saurday afternoon while we were out shoppingwith our 2 autie kids my husband and I spotted 2 more tat were definitely on the spectrum. One boy came over and was standing next to my son in the fruit and veg department. First of all I thought it was "A" from his school but when I asked his Dad if his nme was "A" he said no it's "T". Well the little boy just stood next to his dad not looking at me not responding at all so I am sure he is on the spectrum but I didn't ask. The older boy I noticed at the butchers with his Mum was obviously autistic. It seems like thre are a lot of kids in our neighbourhood with autism.
[QUOTE=onlinedizzy]On Saurday afternoon while we were out shoppingwith our 2 autie kids my husband and I spotted 2 more tat were definitely on the spectrum. One boy came over and was standing next to my son in the fruit and veg department. First of all I thought it was "A" from his school but when I asked his Dad if his nme was "A" he said no it's "T". Well the little boy just stood next to his dad not looking at me not responding at all so I am sure he is on the spectrum but I didn't ask. The older boy I noticed at the butchers with his Mum was obviously autistic. It seems like thre are a lot of kids in our neighbourhood with autism.[/QUOTE]
Wow!!! not in my neighborhood. I never see any kids that I think could be on the spectrum. Only time I see them is at Ryan's school.
I kind of wish I did see more (Iknow that sounds bad) but I feel like my child is the only one with odd behaviors in public.
Do you all really believe in the 'increase' theory or do you believe that the spectrum is SO huge now, and so broad, and includes so much, that is why the numbers are 'bigger?' Out here in the midwest/northwest, most people believe in the 'broader spectrum' theory, even doctors! Just interesting I think.....
Our pediatrician feels it is an epidemic and is real careful with giving vaccines not before 6 mos. of age and only one at a time~no mercury. She sees more and more cases than ever before and is as scared as we are. We waived vaccines for both our kids because of not feeling comfortable giving them.
I think doctors are learning more about the early signs and symptoms of ASD more so now than 20 years ago.
I dont see many kids with autism except those in Sarah's old playgroup and they would not be obvious in public unless you were really looking at them...pretty high functioning. I did see a little girl once that was rocking back & forth in a Barnes & noble and chewing on her wrist..she was about 3 years old..I felt so sad for her..her dad stated her mercury was like 100x the normal limit in adults!
In my opinion, I also think the corrolation comes with the updates to the DSM. Even "back in the day" when Tony was being evaluated (1997), the frequency was much less than now. I think the pediatricians are also getting more versed on the red flags, and making the referrals quciker. I know when I first became concerned over Tony's differences (which were not severe, just odd), our well respected doctor took almost a year before he was convinced we needed to look further.
One other thing I think is going on is that doctors are looking deeper into the kids' behaviors... where in the past, they may have just treated for anxiety, or depression, or whatever.
Mary
The boy behind us is ASD. The girl next door is ADHD. I was beginning to think it was the SD ... but it isn't, is it???We notice autistic kids because we have autistic kids. I didn't notice autistic kids (except for the most severely affected, but even then, I didn't know what I was looking at) until my girls were diagnosed, less than a year ago, and now I see them everywhere. The "epidemic" didn't start this year. I went to school with several kids who, in retrosepc, were autistic, only we didn't know they were autistic - just thought them "weird", or slow or "one of those kids", but not autistic. I doubt their parents thought of them as autistic either, or the school.
To me, it seems obvious that the "epidemic" neatly coincides with the expansion of the DSM criteria in 1994 and increasing awareness and public interest. But sometimes I think I'm the only parent who feels this way.
To me, it seems obvious that the "epidemic" neatly coincides with the expansion of the DSM criteria in 1994 and increasing awareness and public interest. But sometimes I think I'm the only parent who feels this way.
I TOTALLY agree, and so do LOTS of other folks, truly! The expansion of the spectrum was huge and that is why the increase - you are correct. Back when it was 1 in 10000, ONLY classical autism was on there! So...you are not alone - even our doctors feel this way.
Fred, you are definately not the only one who feels this way."To me, it seems obvious that the "epidemic" neatly coincides with the expansion of the DSM criteria in 1994 and increasing awareness and public interest. But sometimes I think I'm the only parent who feels this way."
That's what I think as well.
I think there are more around. There are a lot of kids with autism who live in our suburb and the next one over. I just know this from all the kids who attend my kids school and before that early intervention. Also I keep meeting people with kids on the spectrum. At playgroup or a friends friend or a sister in laws nephew or my husbands boss at work. I think a friend o ours son may also be on the spectrum too , haven't said anything yet as we arent sure and haven't seen the son a lot. So just watching a little closer right now. I spoke to a principal at a local special school and he is seeing a lot more children with autism now. He has been doing this for 20 years. Even Tony Atwood said at a lecture that it is not just better diagnosis he would have diagnosed these kids years ago. That this is not just aspergers kids being recognised but a lot of very affected children too, which is what I see where we live. I do understand that before some of these kids would hve been labelled as disturbed or psychotic, but so many?? A few years ago the figres in Australia were 1 in 1000 and then 3 years ago the said 1 in 500, this year they estimate 1 in 160, thats a lot of kids to have been misdiagnosing or slippping through the cracks. I think there is a predisposition and then something might be triggering it or making it worse. Liz
I'm not sure what I think now. I used to think it was b/c of expanded criteria and better diagnosis. I did not buy in completely on the vaccination theory. Then I spent some time reading some things on this website below. They are providing evidence that what I thought, is not necessarily true.
Check out this website www.generationrescue.org
There are many of us who NEVER ever vaccinated, so I am not sure about the vaccination theory........
Wow, I didn't take Andrew's mommy to be speaking only as a doctor and implying she knows what the causes are. I think she has extremely well-balanced thoughts on ASD. Obviously it is not plain genetic. There is no such thing as a genetic epidemic. But Andrew's mom is keeping an open mind and looking and researching everyone's ideas.
Before I retired about 12 years ago I had taught in the same elementary school for 11 years and still speak with many of my colleagues. Forget the diagnosis end of this. The whole 11 years I was at this school in a very affluent neighborhood in NJ, there were no ASD kids. Now my friends tell me there are at least two in every grade level. Many of them are not classified. However, being a teacher we don't need a classification to tell us when children are globally delayed with verbal disabilities, social disinterest and other things we see in autism. I don't understand how anyone can think it is just because the spectrum is wider. If you read the DSM it isn't that much wider at all.
Fred, you seem a bit stressed and not your usual tactful self. I hope you are ok.
The epidemic reported by the media can be looked at in different ways... it's a matter of statistics, reporting, and diagnostic criteria. In the April 2007 issues of Scientific American Mind (fabulous and intensely interesting magazine, btw), there is an article about this very subject.
Some tidbits:
1980 DSM-III
*individuals had to meet 6 of 6 criteria for an autism diagnosis
*only 2 diagnoses revelant to autism
1994 DSM-IV
*individuals have to meet 8 of 16 criteria for an autism diagnosis
*5 diagnoses relevant to autism
hpc - the group you mention are strong proponents of the mercury causes autism hypothesis. You would do well to research any evidence of study that they put forth as evidence to get a full picture. They are presented a very biased view of the situation. I won't take on the rather extensive list of evidence that they put forth, but would be happy to discuss things a piece at a time. Here's a blog of one of their prominent "rescue angels" that you can discuss issues directly with on his blog, if you want. You can also see the kind of mindset that, I can only assume, typifies this group (since they advertise him on their web-site as one of their "angels"). You would do well to read some of his blog entries. Heck, maybe you'll find that you agree with him. One hint - this guy's kid isn't "recovered".
http://hatingautism.blogspot.com
New Jerseys stats are 1/94
Oh, MY how insulting and disrespectful!
And the next entry??? Going after Amanda? Disgusting.
The expantion of the DSM criteria had a lot to do with it. I also think it is over-diagnosed. The slighest "symptoms" getS PDD-NOS at the very least. I have reached a point were I am saying screw the label.... concentrate about the services..... I hate the label u guys ... I really do... it is scary ... I can't believe how srtong I feel about this as I am typing... Damn!!!He is trying very hard to discredit gtto because she commit the aggregious crime of advocating for the disabled. Nice guy, huh?
You're so right, that's exacly why I haven't been conviced on the vaccination theory, there are so many people out their with different situations and nothing explains a common cause. By their data the increases occured mostly before my ds was born.
However, I thought some of the published data was interesting and worth reading, especially the one that discussed that not necessarily was the complete issue vaccinations BUT, how some of our children might not excrete heavy metals effectively and be affected in that manner instead.
Okay, speaking as a doc...The numbers have increased with both the criteria and with the total number of vaccines given to our children.
They added the Hepatitis B vaccine...Given in the hospital with 2 more shots over the next 5 or 6 months of life while I was a resident from 1990 to 1993. From there, the number of required shots exploded.
I am not saying either fact is more important, but I wish that all people with autism in their family would be open to the possibility of genetics/predisposition AND expanded criteria AND vaccine/thimerosol/environmental poisoning AND autoimmune/allery AND other theories...And also realize that there are many conditions that OVERLAP. The autism spectrum is NOT the only spectrum disorder or medical condition...
Nothing matters other than getting the best diagnosis, treatment and care for our kids AS WELL AS finding out ALL of the causes and addressing each one in an appropriate way.
Real honey of a guy.
HATE AUTISM is a good name for his blog. It IS all about the rhetoric of hatred.
AndrewsMommy, as a doctor, you know that know one knows the causes, beyond a few genetic syndromes and prenatal insults (Rubella virus, etc.). To say that "finding out ALL of the causes and addressing each one in an appropriate way" implies that there are other known causes. There aren't. There are theories, of course, but no one knows. If someone wants to read the research and comes to the conclusion that their child is suffering from one of these theoretical conditions and pursue theoretical treatments for the theoretical condition, that is their perogative, but you shouldn't pull the "I'm a doctor" card and then imply that there are several known, treatable causes to the ASDs. Your word carries a lot of weight because of your profession and you are entitled to state your opinion, but I just wish that you not put forth speculation and theory as if it were known fact.
JMHO.
I did go through a phase where I felt like Autism was a product of evolution - perhaps the whole species is evolving to think in different ways in order to adapt to their environments. Perhaps this is Darwin's survival of the fittest kicking in - and all of us dummies are going to be in a museum as the Neanderthals of 2007. The only problem is, I don't think many of our kids could remember to eat or find food for themselves, or care for themselves. So I threw that theory out.
But wouldn't it be cool if they became the superior life form and we were all considered their "gaurdians" on the planet? LOL
OK sorry I will go back to my original theory which is that God made them this way for a reason, and it isn't for us to necessarily understand the reason. Sometimes I think he gave Gage to me to give me a reality check - I was a very intolerant, cruel, self-absorbed person before
[QUOTE=fred]
If someone wants to read the research and comes to the conclusion that their child is suffering from one of these theoretical conditions and pursue theoretical treatments for the theoretical condition, that is their perogative, but you shouldn't pull the "I'm a doctor" card and then imply that there are several known, treatable causes to the ASDs. Your word carries a lot of weight because of your profession and you are entitled to state your opinion, but I just wish that you not put forth speculation and theory as if it were known fact.
JMHO.
[/QUOTE]
Oops. Fred...The doctor card was for the first two paragraphs only.
The remainder of the post is AndrewsMommy's opinion.
I understand yur point Fred. I just thought that they way it came out didn't sound like you. After I posted to you I saw the thread about your dad and I assume that you have been under some stress. I hope you are feeling better.I don't see much of it also. We live in a very cloistered religious (Jewish) community. Lots and lots and lots of kids. And lots of boys (for whatever reason, almost all the babies born in the last 5-10 years have been boys. My son is the only one I know of who is on the spectrum.I just want to add that when I was growing up, I knew some quirky kids. They are nothing like the autistic kids I see today. I personally know about 10 autistic kids, not counting any child from sped school. When I was growing up families had at least 4 kids, I can't say I know 2 kids from my childhood with autistic like symptoms. IMHO there is an epidemic.
Concernedpa.
[QUOTE=GrammaSusie]Wow, I didn't take Andrew's mommy to be speaking only as a doctor and implying she knows what the causes are. I think she has extremely well-balanced thoughts on ASD. Obviously it is not plain genetic. There is no such thing as a genetic epidemic. But Andrew's mom is keeping an open mind and looking and researching everyone's ideas.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry for misunderstanding AndrewMommy's point. Reasonable people with open minds can disagree, even if they are looking at the same ideas/reseach/theories. But I don't think AndrewsMommy and I disagree as much as you think we do.
Whenever someone mentions medical treatments for autism, especially a doctor, I feel that they should clearly qualify their opinions with some acknowledgement that these are just theories - not only the conditions that are theoretically linked to autism, but the treatments that are supposed to remedy these conditions.
Me too! In fact there are only a handful at my son's huge elementary school as well!
On my street alone, there are 5 boys diagnosed as being on the spectrum; 3 with autism (one being my son), 1 with PDD-NOS, and the last with Aspergers. Needless to say, all my neighbors are becoming quite educated about the disorder. I also have to say that in my circle of friends( in my immediate
neighborhood) there are 5 autistic boys as well. We all know each other. All
high functioning byl the way. I think there are two others who are not. I just
do not know them but I see the little yellow bus. We live in the West Coast
any my Husband has a collegue in the East Cost with Autism. (We knew
before they knew) I am a type of Mom who has always volunteered in the
classroom. I even knew who was in the special education classes. When my
oldest son started Nt elementary school 11 yrs ago. Kids with autism were
rare. Now it is the most common.
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