"Aspergers and Autism are not the same thing and do not belong on the same “spectrrum” - further proof that the professional illiterates who wrote the current DSM-V have their heads up their ass, where 80% of that profession have kept theirs since birth."
"Aspergers and Autism are not the same thing and do not belong on the same “spectrrum” - further proof that the professional illiterates who wrote the current DSM-V have their heads up their ass, where 80% of that profession have kept theirs since birth."
My daughter (a voice actor) just recorded this letter to the editor from a parent for "Spectrum Autism Research":
"Families like mine who face profound autism have advocated for this distinction for quite some time. We strongly believe that the breadth of the autism spectrum has become unwieldy, and the phrase "autism spectrum disorder" has become such a big-tent term that the people under that tent often have little in common with one another. Autism can mean genius or an IQ below 30. Autism can mean highly verbal or nonverbal. It can mean graduating from Harvard Law School or exiting high school with a certificate of attendance. If we are going to be able to personalize our approach to care, as the Lancet Commission report suggested, we need terminology and language that are specific and meaningful, rather than terminology that lumps everyone together."
Ta Da!! I know some psychiatrists and PhDs who could use this explanation! My cousin also an RN, has 2 grandchildren with the same story. The first (early talker) is very bright and a gifted pianist. Her younger brother, on the other hand, didn't talk until he was 4 or 5, and has great difficulty connecting to people. My cousin saw one study that suggested there may be a genetic process with Aspergers and autism that is not unlike what happens with the sickle cell gene. If someone inherits one sickle cell trait gene, it is an evolutionary gift that protects the person from malaria. If both parents carry the sickle cell gene, and their offspring inherits sickle cell genes from both parents, they develop the terribly painful sickle cell anemia. Perhaps this is what happens with the gift of Aspergers vs the burden of autism. My cousin was never able to locate the article again (pre-internet), but the concept makes perfect sense to me. The one continuum concept makes NO sense to me. I haved worked in special education, mental health and general education, and have been part of evaluation teams. In my experience, your experience is closest to reality.
Ah. My cousin's husband was a wonderfully brilliant physicist, as was their daughter who married a brilliant chemist. I fear that the "spectrum" catchall diagnosis is getting in the way of more helpful research path.
Yes, and all the "high achieving" parents who don't want to know it was their "defect" that gave their child "autism." You don't catch it, it doesn't happen from what you ate or anything you used, it's how your brain is wired, but never discount the otherwise-unemployables of the Ambulance-Chaser Corps from coming up with some new bullshit to hook the to-rich-to-know-they're-morons parents in for another lawsuit that proves nothing.
I AGREE 1000%:
"Aspergers and Autism are not the same thing and do not belong on the same “spectrrum” - further proof that the professional illiterates who wrote the current DSM-V have their heads up their ass, where 80% of that profession have kept theirs since birth."
My daughter (a voice actor) just recorded this letter to the editor from a parent for "Spectrum Autism Research":
"Families like mine who face profound autism have advocated for this distinction for quite some time. We strongly believe that the breadth of the autism spectrum has become unwieldy, and the phrase "autism spectrum disorder" has become such a big-tent term that the people under that tent often have little in common with one another. Autism can mean genius or an IQ below 30. Autism can mean highly verbal or nonverbal. It can mean graduating from Harvard Law School or exiting high school with a certificate of attendance. If we are going to be able to personalize our approach to care, as the Lancet Commission report suggested, we need terminology and language that are specific and meaningful, rather than terminology that lumps everyone together."
Right!
I started talking understandably at 11 months. That's Aspergers.
My brother didn't talk understandably until age 4. That's Autism.
There's a difference.
Ta Da!! I know some psychiatrists and PhDs who could use this explanation! My cousin also an RN, has 2 grandchildren with the same story. The first (early talker) is very bright and a gifted pianist. Her younger brother, on the other hand, didn't talk until he was 4 or 5, and has great difficulty connecting to people. My cousin saw one study that suggested there may be a genetic process with Aspergers and autism that is not unlike what happens with the sickle cell gene. If someone inherits one sickle cell trait gene, it is an evolutionary gift that protects the person from malaria. If both parents carry the sickle cell gene, and their offspring inherits sickle cell genes from both parents, they develop the terribly painful sickle cell anemia. Perhaps this is what happens with the gift of Aspergers vs the burden of autism. My cousin was never able to locate the article again (pre-internet), but the concept makes perfect sense to me. The one continuum concept makes NO sense to me. I haved worked in special education, mental health and general education, and have been part of evaluation teams. In my experience, your experience is closest to reality.
That could make sense, since the difference between my brother and I was similar to what you describe here.
Ah. My cousin's husband was a wonderfully brilliant physicist, as was their daughter who married a brilliant chemist. I fear that the "spectrum" catchall diagnosis is getting in the way of more helpful research path.
Yes, and all the "high achieving" parents who don't want to know it was their "defect" that gave their child "autism." You don't catch it, it doesn't happen from what you ate or anything you used, it's how your brain is wired, but never discount the otherwise-unemployables of the Ambulance-Chaser Corps from coming up with some new bullshit to hook the to-rich-to-know-they're-morons parents in for another lawsuit that proves nothing.
Yup.