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Ex Lurker

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55. My nephew didn't talk until he was four years old

Thu Jul 21, 2016, 05:44 AM

Jul 2016

He was obsessed with numbers and shapes, went through a period where he would only wear red shirts and blue pants, and would have meltdowns if his shoelaces weren't exactly even. His pediatrician pushed an autism screening, but his parents resisted. Now he's a perfectly normal 14 year old, with good grades and a wide circle of friends--albeit one with a near-photographic memory and a fascination with maps, weather, and anything else having to do with numbers and statistics.

He has some traits associated with autism, but they don't hold him back, and in fact are arguably beneficial. Is he autistic? You tell me. I wonder how many other kids like him meet the "new" autism criteria. In my view the diagnosis should be reserved for those whose development is hindered and need help.

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"The increase was especially sharp among kindergartners, where autism cases grew by 17% last year." [View all] proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 OP

The diagnosis has no set criteria that are followed cosmicone Jul 2016 #1

It's difficult due to symptom overlap, changing criteria, and... Raissa Jul 2016 #2

No set criteria? missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #3

A lot of overlap - this is why psychiatry is really not a science n/t cosmicone Jul 2016 #6

Autism is a neurological disorder. missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #7

I am a neurologist and autism criteria you showed cosmicone Jul 2016 #8

Okay. As a neurologist, what do you think the diagnostic criteria should be? missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #9

I am not debating science on a political board cosmicone Jul 2016 #10

then why say anything? Nt Logical Jul 2016 #12

I expressed an opinion but debating the science behind it is another story n/t cosmicone Jul 2016 #15

Lol, ok. Nt Logical Jul 2016 #18

Post removed Post removed Jul 2016 #19

If you are a neurologist, why not share your expertise with others? Avalux Jul 2016 #29

I respect you for that. Scruffy1 Jul 2016 #128

That's too bad. I am sincerely interested in your perspective. . . . missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #14

Maybe PM each other? The peanut gallery here shits on experts closeupready Jul 2016 #81

That criteria is so broad as to be useless in many ways mythology Jul 2016 #11

My son is shit out of luck because he has a dual diognosis. Separation Jul 2016 #98

When it comes to mental health we are a backwards nation. Scruffy1 Jul 2016 #131

the question is - KT2000 Jul 2016 #4

LINK: "Special Education - CalEdFacts" from CA Dept of Education website proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #24

Thank you! KT2000 Jul 2016 #27

i wonder how many of these dx's are so kids will get special ed. mopinko Jul 2016 #28

Special ed is broken down KT2000 Jul 2016 #31

I wonder if all the additives in our food (antibiotics, growth hormones ...in the feed given to Cal33 Jul 2016 #38

the first 90 days are critical KT2000 Jul 2016 #42

Thanks for the info. These corporate execs. are not only sick - they are criminally sick!!! Cal33 Jul 2016 #100

Autism has a progressive component if left untended newthinking Jul 2016 #117

Unconcerned? Seattle Children's Hospital: About 5% of children younger than 5 yrs old have epilepsy. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #34

This message was self-deleted by its author lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #36

There is absolutely NO question about my grandson Jim Beard Jul 2016 #5

It gets really tiring to hear the deniers. There is a problem and it is serious newthinking Jul 2016 #114

Though the afflicted is my grandson, all family members are affected. Jim Beard Jul 2016 #136

Autism has become the new ADHD Calculating Jul 2016 #13

In my experience, (both personal and professional) it is fairly difficult to get an autism diagnosis missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #16

+100000000 EllieBC Jul 2016 #20

You are spot on. phylny Jul 2016 #47

We went everywhere! Greybnk48 Jul 2016 #97

What is your profession, if you don't mind my asking? Marr Jul 2016 #115

Former RN, now an Attorney missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #120

How are your adult Autisum children doing? Jim Beard Jul 2016 #138

Exactly this!!!! Physicians are cautious for young diagnosis yet it is still climbing newthinking Jul 2016 #118

My nephew didn't talk until he was four years old Ex Lurker Jul 2016 #55

But if he never got the screening done, Chemisse Jul 2016 #76

ADHD is still rampant among schoolchildren. Chemisse Jul 2016 #79

ADHD may be (IMO) a (dysfuntional) cultural phenominon newthinking Jul 2016 #121

I would love to see a lot more research done on this subject. N/T Scruffy1 Jul 2016 #132

Possibly. Chemisse Jul 2016 #134

This message was self-deleted by its author Greybnk48 Jul 2016 #82

This message was self-deleted by its author d_r Jul 2016 #85

My post was inaccurate as you stated. Greybnk48 Jul 2016 #111

no worries I was just saying :) d_r Jul 2016 #119

No it isn't and these kind of statements are not helpful newthinking Jul 2016 #116

My first impluse was to take offense to your statement. I think you are right though that there is o Jim Beard Jul 2016 #133

So what do you think causes this so called increase? We are all ears. n/t Humanist_Activist Jul 2016 #17

I don't think you were asking me but EllieBC Jul 2016 #21

The OP is an anti-vaxxer, alt-med promoting conspiracy theorist, that's why I asked. Humanist_Activist Jul 2016 #22

Yeah because there are no unvaccinated kids EllieBC Jul 2016 #23

That's incorrect, bud, every single word. (nt) proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #25

Really, you seem to enjoy posting things like this... Humanist_Activist Jul 2016 #39

That's some funny shit right there Major Nikon Jul 2016 #41

Arpad Pusztai KT2000 Jul 2016 #44

Wakefield is a hero of the anti-vax nutters Major Nikon Jul 2016 #45

respected journals can fail KT2000 Jul 2016 #51

On the bogus assertions regarding Dr. Arpad Pusztai's work... it's all in the details not the memes. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #53

Still pumping out funny shit Major Nikon Jul 2016 #67

That's an amazing confession. HuckleB Jul 2016 #59

Backed up by David L Lewis in his book described in depth on a pair of your previous threads. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #61

Your posts containing Lewis' conspiracy theory nonsense are rather inconvenient for you. HuckleB Jul 2016 #62

Here's the full text of the link you ignored. NOTE: Marc Edwards wrote intro for David Lewis' book. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #63

The only one ignoring anything is you, as you ask people to waste time reading anti-vax BS. HuckleB Jul 2016 #64

I'm with THEM, basically, among many others I could name and you could continue to attempt to mock.. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #65

No one is censoring your anti-vaccine propaganda. HuckleB Jul 2016 #66

AFK and came back to change "censor" to "mock" since I can't ascribe motivation- too late. nt proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #68

Ah, and the Straw Man hits. HuckleB Jul 2016 #69

'Andrew Wakefield will be the Carl Sagan of his generation' SidDithers Jul 2016 #78

Carl Sagan? Check out Jennifer Margulis. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #88

So does this mean disgraced crank Wakefield is no longer your hero? Major Nikon Jul 2016 #90

Everytime I mention the name since the documentary was released I get a hide. Seen it yet? (nt) proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #92

So perhaps that's also why you don't parrot out Age of Autism every other post now Major Nikon Jul 2016 #94

Attacking the the messenger to censor the message has worked, but it's a weak and temporary fix. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #95

Sure, because loons like Wakefield and Age of Autism are just such reliable sources Major Nikon Jul 2016 #96

Post removed Post removed Jul 2016 #109

You're not asking me either, but I think it has to do with what the mother ingests while pregnant. Avalux Jul 2016 #26

Please, please do not go there! missingthebigdog Jul 2016 #30

I'm not blaming anyone. Avalux Jul 2016 #33

Agree. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #40

not blaming the mother at all KT2000 Jul 2016 #46

There is also some speculation that a pandemic in the early 1900s phylny Jul 2016 #48

never heard that KT2000 Jul 2016 #50

Has to be somewhat genetic at least Freddie Jul 2016 #83

Trying to unravel what is causing autism is not blaming - could be not one but multiple factors womanofthehills Jul 2016 #127

New England Journal of Medicine - abnormalities occured in utero womanofthehills Jul 2016 #84

Is it possible autism rates are the same, but diagnoses have, for various reasons, increased? Eleanors38 Jul 2016 #32

Increases in diagnoses can't be fully explained by awareness or changing criteria. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #37

Autism is a spectrum disorder Agnosticsherbet Jul 2016 #35

Could it be from. . . .Gasp! Vaccinations? BigDemVoter Jul 2016 #43

No. It could NOT! LeftishBrit Jul 2016 #54

I WAS being sarcastic! BigDemVoter Jul 2016 #58

LOL! LeftishBrit Jul 2016 #73

Actually, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program awarded 1.5 mil for Vaccine/Autism womanofthehills Jul 2016 #86

Jesus, not this shit again EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2016 #89

Yep, you knew it would get there eventually. Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #93

I'm not claiming vaccines cause autism, I'm just stating a fact reported by CNN. womanofthehills Jul 2016 #129

Bullshit, that's not what the court said Major Nikon Jul 2016 #101

The court said it could be a contributing factor womanofthehills Jul 2016 #130

Wrong again Major Nikon Jul 2016 #137

Court said it "didn't cause her autism" but "resulted in her Autism" womanofthehills Jul 2016 #139

So you finally managed to read your own source Major Nikon Jul 2016 #140

caused and resulted sound the same to me - actually it sounds bizarre - doubletalk womanofthehills Jul 2016 #141

Then you should consult a dictionary Major Nikon Jul 2016 #143

I would have been diagnosed lancer78 Jul 2016 #49

You need to rethink that newthinking Jul 2016 #122

I think there would be less autism and ADHD TexasBushwhacker Jul 2016 #52

I think that could be true for ADHD but I don't see autism being related to lack of exercise. n/t pnwmom Jul 2016 #56

Perhaps not TexasBushwhacker Jul 2016 #74

Yes, that's true. And schools are going in exactly the wrong direction. Recess and PE are essential, pnwmom Jul 2016 #80

One of my autistic grandsons favorite outside activity was going to a new housing development Jim Beard Jul 2016 #106

My engineering relatives would have been right out there with him, pnwmom Jul 2016 #110

Many new studies say exposure to environmental chemicals while mother is pregnant womanofthehills Jul 2016 #87

It makes more sense to me that something is happening TexasBushwhacker Jul 2016 #91

Play the autism away? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #104

There's a difference between less of it and a disorder being more adaptable loyalsister Jul 2016 #112

I think less ADHD, not sure about Autism newthinking Jul 2016 #123

Schwarzenegger was governor from 2003 to 2011. Coincidence? Orrex Jul 2016 #57

Multitude of factors are probably involved pediatricmedic Jul 2016 #60

The spectrum is getting larger and larger to include any social awkwardness La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2016 #70

In NJ, 40% of these children are nonverbal, 80% are categorized as severe. Links posted previously. proverbialwisdom Jul 2016 #71

yes, and it's still not vaccines. La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2016 #72

Still not caused by vaccines. NuclearDem Jul 2016 #75

I'm glad they've expanded the spectrum Android3.14 Jul 2016 #77

"Magnet school" not "magnate school" I went to one years ago anneboleyn Jul 2016 #108

Thanks Android3.14 Jul 2016 #113

WARNING, OP IS AN ANTI-VAXXER PUSHING FEAR AND HYSTERIA. Odin2005 Jul 2016 #99

Always interesting to see who Rec's a post. GoneOffShore Jul 2016 #126

I strongly suspect *insurance* payments has something to do with this. Schema Thing Jul 2016 #102

Such as? What pot of gold are the parents of autistic children tapping into? n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #103

"Pot of gold" is a silly response to my post. Don't be silly. Schema Thing Jul 2016 #105

Then ignore the second sentence. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #107

There are a lot of silly comments in this thread newthinking Jul 2016 #125

Did you read the other comments newthinking Jul 2016 #124

So, lets cut to the chase: are vaccines to blame? Or maybe internet porn? Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #135

Sick answer to a serious question womanofthehills Jul 2016 #142

is it? Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #144