Autism redux
The topic of autism has come back into the news lately. Or perhaps it never left. So this might be as good a time as any to call your attention to this 2008 post of mine in which I deal with the explanations for the increasing numbers of diagnoses of autism.
An excerpt:
I am not going to present all the pros and cons of the research involved; that would require a book. But I will say that, having read a good deal of it, I come down fairly strongly at this point on the side of thinking the epidemic is almost entirely an artifact of statistics and diagnostic changes.
Increasing reimbursement also fuels the increase. And the vaccine connection theory was revealed a few years later to have been a hoax.
I also want to call your attention to a Frontline documentary I saw on television way back in 1993. It’s extremely sad and very well-done. The topic is facilitated communication in cases of profound autism. Parents desperately (and understandably) wanted to believe that their previously nonverbal autistic children were thinking deep thoughts and aching to communicate, and that the technique of facilitated communication had unlocked riches that had always lurked hidden within them. But it was actually – if not exactly a hoax, then a case of yearning and wishful thinking on the part of both health professionals and the relatives of the autistic children.
Here’s the link to the documentary:
True Autism is a tragedy and should not be trivialized by the hoaksters.
We have a connection to the family of an Autistic man. We cannot know what goes on in his mind, but he seems content for the most part; although prone to outbursts if frustrated.
While his is the tragedy of a life profoundly restricted, another aspect is his Mother, who is failing badly herself. She has grieved, and has worried for most of his life about what will happen when she is gone. Fortunately, he has a sister who is prepared to take on the responsibility for his care, so it will hopefully be a relatively smooth transition. Emphasis on relatively.
The scourge of Autism can cast a wide net of worry, grief and debilitating burdens over loved ones.