Why in the world CNN and many other media outlets decided to give “equal time” to various autism experts like Jenny McCarthy is beyond me. This is like giving equal time to the Flat Earth Society when discussing El Niño and ocean currents. McCarthy, Kirby, and others are using Autism…
Tag: diagnoses
Apparently, contrary to urban legends, the unvaccinated Amish do get seizure disorders and autism: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/tb/2954 Of course, why trust the New England Journal of Medicine when there are so many “experts” pushing their theories on the Web? I am now accustomed to the anti-vaccination crowd claiming that any research that…
This is a rant, based on exchanges elsewhere… One of the unavoidable aspects of writing and speaking publicly about autism is that I am certain to offend someone with nearly every sentence I type or speak. I have been told I don’t know “anything at all” about autism or its…
Today the media are reporting an analysis of autism rates in California since the removal of thimerosal from most vaccines. The autism rate, or more accurately the rate of diagnoses, is still climbing in the state. Study challenges drug’s role in autism By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer…
“Did you know Bill Gates and Tim Burton are probably on the spectrum?” Only a mental health professional has the right to “diagnose” somebody else — and only when that person is a patient. Of course, a doctor would have to adhere to confidentiality standards. Can we please stop such…
I was reading LiveJournal today, the Asperger’s Syndrome community, and encountered the recurring topic: “I’m an Aspie, but my therapist denies it.” Okay, I’m not a therapist, but I’m about to play one online. (That’s sarcasm.) Self-diagnoses can be valid. They can be necessary when you need to start on…
Though the autistic label is fairly new, I have been labeled many things in the past. As I think about the past and present experiences, I realize that including bits and pieces from my evaluation in the book I’m completing will help others with similar experiences. I know I am…
There are people I consider mental health hypochondriacs. They read a list of symptoms or personality traits and self-diagnose themselves with everything from attention deficits to autism disorders. If there’s a way to excuse a lack of success, self-control, organization, healthy relationships, and general contentment, these people will find it…
As I compile my notes for essays and a book, I realize how much easier it is to be considered “different” your entire life versus a late-in-life diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) or High-Functioning Autism (HFA). The more I read about and communicate with AS students and adults, the more…
Probably the most difficult decision anyone with a developmental disorder can make is who to tell and how. I certainly do not have a good answer for either question, since I resist the labels experts have offered. There are benefits to disclosure, based on the experiences of others. First, you…