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<p>No dragonmom, that is that what I meant. I think people with money are more able to doctor/diagnose shop for finding of autism, ADD, etc., etc… It somehow statisifes a need they have.</p>
<p>But don’t get me wrong, these serious malady’s do exist and can have devastating effects. What I am suggesting is that the current inflated numbers have more to do with some parents satisfying heir own physiological needs rather than addressing medical fact.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to offend anybody, but want to share my opinion about the diagnosis of autism.</p>
<p>In our clinic, diagnoses are mostly based upon the results of a semi-structured assessment with the child and a lengthy interview with the primary caregivers about the child’s early developmental history. These two assessments are pretty much the “gold standard” for establishing a diagnosis, but they’re not all that specific to the diagnosis of ASD. Kiddos without ASD often meet criteria on the ADOS (the semi-structured assessment) if they’re shy, have auditory processing deficits, etc. Similarly, kiddos with developmental disorders other than ASD will also often meet criteria on the ADI (the structured interview).</p>
<p>So, we basically have two assessments now, which have become the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of ASD. Ultimately, the diagnosis should come down to clinical judgment, but clinicians (in our region, at least) know that you don’t get services without a diagnosis. It’s not fair, but it’s reality. So, if there’s any chance at all that kiddos might be on the spectrum, the clinicians will likely err on the side of caution and throw out a provisional diagnosis (PDD-NOS is common) or just stretch the diagnostic criteria a little too much. There are also upper-class families like toblin mentioned who can afford to “shop” for a diagnosis (visiting multiple doctors, until they get one they like) in order to access services that they feel will benefit they’re child. </p>
<p>And, thus, as a result of the “current system” of diagnosis, we do probably have some inflation. As others have mentioned, there are kiddos today with diagnoses that likely would have just been identified as socially anxious or shy in previous decades, if identified at all. Decades ago, there wasn’t as much of a push to “fix” the symptoms, especially if they weren’t negatively affecting the individual’s life. Now, in the age of psychotropic medications, where every symptom is targeted, simply because a “fix” exists, the approach is different.</p>
<p>I will say as a Mom of a child that is the the highest functioning level of Aspergers, that early detection is very important.</p>
<p>I knew when our DS was very young (3) that something was not just quite right. Academically he was on par or above, but socially he had issues. For people who don’t know Aspergers, the best way to describe it is SOCIAL ADD. They don’t understand personal space, they have strong ties to special issues. For our DS the warning sign was he would flip out at 3 if I didn’t tie his shoe laces right according to him. I got to a pt that I bought Van sneakers so I could avoid the flip out from him.</p>
<p>10 yrs ago Aspergers was not even a common diagnosis. Now it is different. When our DS entered Kinder they thought he had ADD, it took us 3 yrs, multiple IEP testing and hours on the net to pinpoint that I thought he was a highly functioning Asperger syndrome child. Even now, because Aspergers is so unique, it is hard to get an IEP for the child.</p>
<p>I was a teacher and because of that I feel I accept the fact that this is not a reflection of me as a parent or what I ate or did while I was pregnant. I put my personal issues aside and dedicated myself as a parent to acknowledge the issue and get the best resources for my child. I believed and still believe that sticking your head in the sand only hurts the child.</p>
<p>What I find interesting is the fact that on Bullet’s paternal side he has many male members with either autism or Aspergers. His uncle was known to be not quite right socially (Asperger individuals need to be taught social skills like personal space or appropriate jokes). His cousin’s son is autistic. His cousin’s sister has an Asperger child.
In honesty, he is 2 yrs younger than ours. Everyone in the family would talk about him and his social ineptness behind their backs. I met him at 6 and said to his Mom, I think he has Aspergers. Our boys hit it off immediately and his actions were identical to our sons. </p>
<p>I am happy to say that he was diagnosed with Aspergers at 7 and now he is blossoming. Same with our DS2. Aspergers is nothing to be afraid of, if you acknowledge and are active they can grow into a successful adult. The important thing is to acknowledge it, once you do you can work on making them cognizant of how to adapt to social situations.</p>
<p>There are many signs of Aspergers and if you feel that it isn’t just quite right socially than investigate.</p>
<p>Some are:
<p>It is incredibly hard for Asperger children and parents, especially in elementary school. I always would tell the teacher up front that our DS2 is a highly functioning Asperger child, but he was so high that he did not qualify for an IEP. He was truly on the cusp, however, because I did tell the teachers they were able to work with him. For example, when he was young the teacher could tell that the noise was upsetting him. We worked a system between us that if he asked to go to the water fountain, it meant he needed to re-group himself. We were fortunate and had supportive teachers that because of our input they became aware of the warning signs of the impending melt down. They were gifts from God because they worked on the same page with us.</p>
<p>One thing I would say to Asperger parents is to consider Tae Kwon Do. The formal structure is something that they can grasp and feel confident about themselves. At the same time since the class is a group they learn how to interact socially with others. Finally, it gives them a sense of pride earning belts in an athletic arena.</p>
<p>zpmqxonw - I would agree with your post. </p>
<p>I am quite sure my 23 yr old has Asperger’s. I never heard of it until she was 16. I read an article that laid out the characteristics to look for and she was 90% of it. </p>
<p>Pima - in your list she is 2,4,5,6,7,8. What a struggle her childhood was. She is a beauty, brilliant and a gift but I honestly can say in hindsight; I would have done many things differently.
I spent many hours with her elem and middle school guidance counselors, teachers, principles. NOT one ever used the word Asperger’s.<br>
In our family, she is well, she just is. Personality wise - she is very much like my brother and her cousin (the son of another brother).<br>
I have a couple of uncle’s whom were also considered “odd” in the family and back a couple of generations ago it was not uncommon in large families to have one or two members kind of stand out from the rest.</p>
<p>JAM,</p>
<p>I get the frustration because before I found out about Aspergers I lived with teachers contacting me to test him for IEP, only to say he didn’t qualify. It was a TAG teacher who was getting a PHD that said, I think he has Asperger. They said this in April, we moved in May. I went to the new school and said I think he has Aspergers, this was back in 01 and the new teacher had no idea what that was. I actually had to educate
them.</p>
<p>I think it is hard for parents to acknowledge the issue. There is a stigmatism that parents would rather ignore than address.</p>
<p>Every parents wants the academically gifted, athletic, social child. That rarely occurs. It is what WE DO as parents when they are young that will impact their future. I have seen parents who put their heads in the sand and parents who stomp on the desk and say LISTEN TO ME SOMETHING IS WRONG! HELP ME!</p>
<p>It was very hard for me to accept that what my mind was saying. I felt like I was a bad Mom. I was a stay at home, and that was my job. I really felt like a failure. It was even harder to accept since DS1 at 1st grade was tagged as gifted and the school wanted him to jump. I felt as if I failed DS2 because I was busy with DS1 and DD.</p>
<p>I came to realize very quickly that not every kid in the family is going to be the same. I love our DS2 and because of accepting the fact that he is a highly functioning Asperger, I am probably closer to him than our “normal” kids.</p>
<p>I don’t baby him, because the fact is there is a real world out there. To this day he doesn’t know he has Apergers, we ride him hard when it comes to social aspects. My brother is an albino, and he/we were raised that he is our equal, but to understand he has unique circumstances that impact their life. My brother is legally blind, but he scored an 800 on his math SAT, I love the fact that for all 3 of my children think he is the best uncle in the world. My Mom always worried that he would never get into college, get a job, get married because he was an Albino. He is happily married, a college graduate and works in the finance world giving advice to Hollywood Stars. </p>
<p>My brother’s success as an albino makes me realize that our DS2 will be successful. The only roadblock is if you believe that there is a roadblock!</p>
<p>Pima -
funny you mention testing. My D was tested in first grade for gifted. That year they really wanted to wait until the class was in 2nd grade but tested her early. Of course, she tested very high and was in gifted throughout school for what that was worth. I think her elem teachers were glad to get her out of the classroom because they didn’t know what to do with her! In 12 years she had about 4 teachers who understood her.
I would have gladly welcomed testing for Asberger’s … anything to know why she was “different” and that it was not my “bad parenting”.</p>
<p>Gifted education didn’t solve her social problems nor her problems with orgainization. Organization is the biggie that has stayed with her throughout high school and even in college.
She is the kid who thought SAT’s were “fun” (1510 first try, no studying) but could not find her school ID the morning of the test.</p>
<p>She did get herself though college - graduated in 4 years as a Biochem major. She did well but had to repeat a class mostly because of the organization issue.
She made a good group of friends and they remain close knit. She has a SO and they have been together for two years. He has ADHD and my kids want her to promise never to have children! 
Anyway - I could keep you entertained for hours with some pretty good tales…</p>
<p>Aspergers is really unique. As I stated before it is social ADD.</p>
<p>A big warning sign is when they take standardized tests. If your child scores off the top in math and science, but is at the bottom of the barrel for English. You need to address it immediately.</p>
<p>Teachers know a large discrepancy means a deeper issue, however, many parents choose to fight the teacher. I personally have seen this.</p>
<p>Trust me teachers love your children as their own they have a genuine interest in their success. You don’t become a teacher for the $$$, you do it to make an impact on the world!</p>
<p>We don’t hate your child when we say negatives, we never say it to the child, we say it to you hoping that we can be partners to lift the child. The worst parent is one who believes “YOU HAVE IT IN FOR THEM!” We honestly don’t,and realistically as a teacher the more failures you have the less job security.</p>
<p>Even with tenure, a teacher who does not have a high % in EOG/SOL can be fired or transferred due to the No Child Left Behind Act. Take a gander at school pay, and you will typically see a 2 or 3 tier system. Tenure being one, but Masters and National accreditation being the other tiers.</p>
<p>People want to believe what others tell them through the grape vine, but it is rare that what they are told meets with reality.</p>
<p>Parents need to include the teachers, and teachers need to listen to parents. I always walked in on Day 1 and said to the teachers with our child by my side, you have them for more waking hours than I do. I will never say “NOT MY JOHNNY JOE, UNLESS I THINK YOU ARE OFF THE MARK” That statement said 2 things:
<p>I had been trying to get my younger D diagnosed since she was born I admit- I knew it was not common for a child to tear skin off her feet until they bled, to scream for 4 or 5 hours at a time & to refuse to be held while being nursed.</p>
<p>Never got a good diagnosis, because " she wouldn’t cooperate".
:rolleyes:
Both my parents had characteristics of " being on the spectrum".
My sister is dyslexic, and I had psych testing as a child, but it was never disclosed to be the diagnosis.</p>
<p>I always was very different- but I don’t know if it is happening more now, but we certainly are more aware of other syndromes as well.
I know several people who had ALS, quite a few who have had breast cancer- growing up I didn’t know of any.
Same thing with ADD ( which wasn’t even a diagnosis when I was in school), anxiety, etc.</p>
<p>I expect there is a strong genetic component to neurodifferences. The families I know, who have an autistic child, also have another child with similarities that aren’t severe enough to be diagnosed as * anything*.</p>
<p>Schools in our area rarely address it appropriately. We tried and tried to get help through the schools, because ins doesn’t cover testing, and we didn’t have the money to get anything more than the most rudimentary testing or tutoring help.</p>
<p>She had been tested by an OT through the schools who said she saw problems, but it wasn’t at severe enough of a level for the district to cover it. She tried to teach me how to do the therapy myself.</p>
<p>But anyway- I think the knowledge we have about autism is also due to public figures being willing and interested in speaking about the issue which helps everyone.
It isn’t just football players.
[CNN.com</a> - Transcripts](<a href=“CNN.com - Transcripts”>CNN.com - Transcripts)</p>
<p>
Funny you should mention taekwondo specifically. I wasn’t diagnosed with HFA/Asperger’s until 18, but started taekwondo when I was very young. It quickly became a super-strong interest / obsession of mine and most of my childhood revolved around taekwondo. I eventually reached international levels of competition, and believe this was likely made possible by my ability to hyper-focus on one thing; excluding almost all other interests in life. It wasn’t an ideal way to develop by any measure, but it worked for me. I found the athletic training helped me to develop motor skills and the ability to “read” nonverbal signs. The structure was also initially appealing, but as I got more into the sport side of it, I found it became more and more unstructured. Workouts were never exactly the same and the matches were even worse. Each one was different and extremely unpredictable. I constantly had to change my “routine,” which was frustrating. </p>
<p>Eventually, after growing frustrated with taekwondo, I switched to cycling. I’ve found the people on my cycling team way more similar to me (almost to an eery extent) than taekwondo people ever were. They have the same love for data and routine that I do. Cycling is extremely structured and you can train exactly the same way if you’d like to (although I don’t suggest that). The team aspect is also helpful. People don’t expect you to make eye contact when you’re riding 25mph, 6 inches from the wheel in front of you, so conversations are much, much easier. Lack of personal space is also fairly common, since it can allow you to be more efficient (due to the lessened air resistance when drafting). Lastly, there’s a ton of nonverbal signs during races. My team’s been especially good about pointing them out to me in training, so that I can start to recognize when people are fatiguing, distracted, tense, etc. It’s a pretty awesome sport.</p>
<p>Anyway, I guess the point of this ramble is to emphasize that sports can be very helpful for kids with ASD, but don’t be afraid to try several different ones!</p>
<p>Bookmark…</p>
<p>I can see cycling for the ASD person. It is also like Tae Kwon Do, there is the on your own aspect, and yet the team aspect. It blends both of the worlds to the exact same level needed by the ASD person. Just enough to fill their social acceptance level, yet not too much for them to feel socially inferior.</p>
<p>I do believe to be diagnosed at 18 must have been very hard on you during your young educational yrs. I know even with our DS and knowing he has ASD it was hard on him when he hit that 10-15 yr range. He knew he was different, but not how to fix it in his mind. It was constant reinforcement of acceptable social behavior that got him past it. I am not sure he would be the same kid now if we had yet to diagnose it. I understood as a parent that this was an ASD issue, that taking for granted that by 10 your child should know not to get up into someone’s face when talking to them was not going to be the same for our DS. I knew that he had to learn social issues. We had to re-jig his mind and literally teach him like you would teach a child to read. It was not inherent. He now knows his triggers of frustration and has found his own way to get around it.</p>
<p>The one thing I notice with our DS is that he will remove himself from the situation, mainly because he knows he is about to explode. Unfortunately others don’t understand and they think they can bully him because he won’t fight back. The reason he won’t is he know his strength (he is 6’3 and 230 lbs), if he doesn’t remove himself he will explode and haul off and clock them. He had to come to terms that it was bettered to be bullied than getting In school suspension for fighting.</p>
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<p>Yes, definitely. It was not optimal to receive a diagnosis so late, but I consider myself very lucky to even have received one at all. I had been in therapy for a year with numerous “symptoms” of ASD, which were misdiagnosed as: social anxiety, OCD, generalized anxiety, etc. I also have a brother who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s, but the diagnosis was never mentioned for me. Then, by chance, I started working on an autism research study and found the ASD diagnosis described me better than all of the other diagnoses combined. I completed the evaluation process and was officially diagnosed with Asperger’s a little while after that.</p>
<p>Like your son, however, the ages of 10-18ish were especially difficult. Taekwondo was my escape from the rest of the world, but even there, I failed pretty miserably at the social aspects. I never “fit in” with my team and was frequently cheered against by most of the crowd. My competitors seemed to be more adept at winning the crowd over and just more personable, in general.</p>
<p>Now, with cycling, I truly feel as if I “fit in.” It’s been an amazing experience for me because I’ve never really had friends before. With some of my teammates, I can tell them anything. I can talk for hours about my special interest and they don’t mind; they even encourage it! They don’t think it’s weird if I record my heart rate patterns while sleeping, or want to do the same route every day, or eat the same exact foods. They understand why I love cycling and why I do the things I do, in general. It’s pretty awesome.</p>
<p>I guess the hard part is knowing if the friendships now are a result of: general maturity, social skills coaching (over the past 6 months or so), better personality compatibility, or a combination of the previously mentioned factors. </p>
<p>
This is a very good strategy and one that I use often now too (especially this week!). As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned more about how to cope with my emotions in non-harmful ways, and removing myself from the situation is usually very helpful. I think that sometimes I don’t realize the physiological triggers (i.e. hunger, tiredness, sensory over-stimulation, etc.) contributing to the situation, but if I can get myself to walk away to a calmer environment, my mood gets calmer too. Change the environment, change the mood. </p>
<p>I think, also, my knowledge of ASD has helped me to learn how to really advocate for my best interests. I’ve asked to change lighting in my office at work, for instance, because the previous lights were really annoying. Or, asking people to send me a quick email if they want me to remember something important, instead of telling me in person (I don’t usually retain much from in-person conversations). Little things like that have really added up to help improve my quality of life.</p>
<p>No you are not alone. I have been thinking about this for quite some time and have come to the simple conclusion that the Autism, birth defects, and other maladies thrust upon sports figures is completely off the scale. The one thing many if not all of these athletes have in common is they spend an inordinate amount of time on GRASS which in turn is fertilized and weed controlled by chemicals which are known carcinogen, endocrine disruptor’s or directly linked to certain diseases. Add to this that more affluent people have larger greener lawns and that quarterbacks and pitchers routinely lick their hands before and after touching footballs and baseballs which come in contact with herbicides and pesticides.</p>
<p>Many other athletes play golf or spend their time on pristine manicured lawns. PESTICIDES IS THE CAUSE and SCOTTS should burn in hell!!</p>
<p>Ok- I did a quick check of the quarterbacks with Autistic children and many if not all seem to have played on Artificial Turf at some time. IMO, the key is to find out where they were playing most of their games 9 months prior to conception. The idea here is that somehow sperm are mutated by chemicals or that fetuses are potentially harmed in uterno when they come in contact with certain chemicals either in grass as herbicides or chemicals found in artifical surfaces (eg PAH - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) </p>
<p>I also found that PAH’s are associated with this.</p>
<p>[CorpWatch*:*US:</a> It’s Not Easy Being Green: Are weed-killers turning frogs into hermaphrodites?](<a href=“http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14102]CorpWatch*:*US:”>http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14102)</p>
<p>[AstroTurf</a> Linked to Autism: PAHs may cause Developmental Disabilities and Slow Development](<a href=“Suite 101 - How-tos, Inspiration and Other Ideas to Try”>Suite 101 - How-tos, Inspiration and Other Ideas to Try)</p>
<p>drneutrino, I think toxins play a huge role in these neuro and other diseases. But to try to attribute the problem to any one particular toxin, or any particular exposure, when we are all exposed to so many toxins in so many ways, is counterproductive.</p>
<p>May be a relation between the pesticides in the turf grass and the bleach they use to kill staph infection in the locker rooms. All very deadly and linked to reproductive problems, cancers, autism and can be passed through to baby from dad and mom.</p>