The Autism Explosion

Autism 'Epidemic' Largely Fueled By Special Ed Funding, Shift In Diagnosing

(AP)  A few decades ago, people probably would have said kids like Ryan Massey and Eddie Scheuplein were just odd. Or difficult.

Both boys are bright. But Ryan, 11, is hyper and prone to angry outbursts, sometimes trying to strangle another kid in his class who annoys him. Eddie, 7, has a strange habit of sticking his shirt in his mouth and sucking on it.

Both were diagnosed with a form of autism. And it's partly because of children like them that autism appears to be skyrocketing: In the latest estimate, as many as one in 150 children have some form of this disorder. Groups advocating more research money call autism "the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States."

Indeed, doctors are concerned there are even more cases out there, unrecognized: The American Academy of Pediatrics last week stressed the importance of screening every kid - twice - for autism by age 2.

But many experts believe these unsociable behaviors were just about as common 30 or 40 years ago. The recent explosion of cases appears to be mostly caused by a surge in special education services for autistic children, and by a corresponding shift in what doctors call autism.

Autism has always been diagnosed by making judgments about a child's behavior; there are no blood or biologic tests. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe language and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors.

Many children with severe autism hit themselves or others, don't speak and don't make eye contact.

Blake Dees, a 19-year-old from Suwanee, Ga., falls into that group. For the past eight years, he has been in a day program with intense services, but he still doesn't talk, he's not toilet-trained, and he has a history of trying to eat anything - even broken glass.

But he's not a typical case.

In the 1990s, the autism umbrella expanded, and autism is now shorthand for a group of milder, related conditions, known as "autism spectrum disorders."

The spectrum includes Asperger's syndrome and something called PDD-NOS (for Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). Some support groups report more than half of their families fall into these categories, but there is no commonly accepted scientific breakdown.

Gradually, there have been changes in parents' own perception of autism, the autism services schools provide, and the care that insurers pay for, experts say.

Eddie, of Buford, Ga., was initially diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other conditions. But the services he got in school were not very helpful.

His mother, Michelle, said a diagnosis of autism brought occupational therapy and other, better services.

"I do have to admit I almost like the idea of having the autistic label, at least over the other labels, because there's more help out there for you," said Scheuplein.

"The truth is there's a powerful incentive for physicians and schools to classify children in a way that gets services," said Dr. Edwin Trevathan of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[teeus]

From what I''''ve read about kids with autisim, I''''ve been very concerned for my grandson. Of course, my grandson is in my prayers every day. How concerned should I be?
Posted by Doshia

Well, that all depends on what youre concerned about.

If youre worried that your grandson will catch autism, I wouldnt worry too much.

If youre worried that your grandson may learn tolerance and acceptance of other children and learn how to communicate with a sibling who is hard to reach...yes, Id say that is quite likely to happen.

He isnt going to cook him and eat him. What ARE you worried about?

[doshiam]

My daughter and my 2 1/2 year old grandson live with her boyfriend, as of the last about three months. The boyfriend has a 4 year old boy who is autistic. My grandson has to share a bedroom with this boy as well as another child who''s two years old. From what I''ve read about kids with autisim, I''ve been very concerned for my grandson. Of course, my grandson is in my prayers every day. How concerned should I be? He hasn''t been very well, cold symptoms, since he had to move in there.

[dickfauth]

One last comment and i will shut up- I think the article and Anne 56 can both be right. Some of the numbers are likely due to a chnge in diagnostic criteria. However, this does not explain anywhere near all of it. It is also possible that some children with behavior problems are being labled with Aspergers in order to get into a special ed class. However, so "far as i can see" this is a rare exception and certainly not the rule. To be diagnosed by a Doctor as Having an asd the child would have to have deficits in all three areas:communication, social skills; and behavior. The behaviors are not "bad" behaviors as many of you are thinking but odd behaviors like self stimming. Their is also a huge difference between being an introvert and never making eye contact with humans... and many levels in between. Also, my chilld was diagnosed at 18 months with the typical lack of communication the original clue. Despite 3 years of therapies he still does not really speak- however, to say he is not much better is not true. It is a slow arduous journey that none of you would ever want. Some days i think I am in pergutory as I know that hell could not have the loving child that I have but what my wife and i deal with is pure hell.

[dickfauth]

Sorry teeus i shouldnt have grouped you with the other two-i just didnt like the Susan Susan susan thing. I also do not agree with your opinon about vaccines but respect your right to this opinion. The trouble with the vaccine theory is that it has been tested and tested and tested while literally nothing else has. MurilT is dead on- Grabbing on to some theory that you, i, or some guy who wrote a book isnt going stop this epidemic- Only real funding and science will. Meanwhile for those of you who think that children are being dignosed so that they can get special ed... Does it occur to you that this label will stick to the child forever? And you think this is a good thing and a waste of money that could better be used for your normally developing child''s needs? Perhaps we should call for a bill labled "every child except mine can be left behind".

[dickfauth]

For the record Enriquecallie-my wife niether smoked, drank,took drugs or suffered any trauma whatsoever. Susan Helit- if you would like to expand past "what you can see" you are welcome to visit anytime and see what what it is like to deal 24/7 with a child with an ASD. Better- come to any of the 25 hours worth of therapy which my wife and son endure weekly and see not just him, but the other children that make up the 1 in 150. My child was diagnosed on the day he recieved the MMR vaccine (minutes before) and to my knowledge has never had Thimerisol. You may deny all you want that Autism, (and the numbers behind it) isn''t real but i believe at the current rate of 1 in every 150, you are sure to know someone with this disorder- soon. Meanwhile a paltry 4 million per year is all that Autism speaks can come up with to find what is causing the problem- do the math. My wife and I spent $30,000 last year for mainstream medical prescribed therapies with no reimbursement-So if you are planning on chidren-check your employer sponsored health plan as it is likely to say "autism is not covered".

[dickfauth]

As the father of a four year old diagnosed with an ASD I believe that i have the right to tell eggy, gaye and teeus that you have no clue what you are talking about. Please refrain from your venomous opinionating so that people who have legitimate opinions concerning this very serious matter may have a reasonable discourse. As for the article itself, I take issue with the statement "Gradually, there have been changes in parents'' own perception of autism, the autism services schools provide, and the care that insurers pay for, experts say". While i agree that parents and schools perceptions are changing the insurance industry continues to do everything they can to avoid paying anything whatsoever for treating autistic children. Over 90% of employer sponsored plans pay little or nothing for ASD benefits. There reasoning simply will not pass the slightest test of logic or smell test. Denying benefits for the treatments reccomended by mainstream medicine simply because of an ASD diagnoses is blatent discrimination. It is just plain unconscionable behavior. Autism is a medical problem not an educational one.

[eggy1620]

I encourage all parents who question the safety of vaccines to avoid them. That way, my kids possibly won%u2019t have to compete against your kids for college slots, jobs, spouses, etc.

[gaye5]

I was told that many vaccines are now given at birth so that if there is any mental problems it cannot be traced to, or blamed on immunizations, then the parents don''t have any proof that the child was ok before the immunization, thus the companies will not get sued,, where as if a child is developing normally as many of these cased do, then after immunization they deteriorate into a life of hell it is then very obvious what caused it..
But, we continue to pump these poisons into our children and expect their undeveloped immune systems to cope with the many diseases and poisons that are injected all at the same time.. even a healthy immune system of an older child didn''t have to cope with more than one disease at a time, let alone many at once...A baby does not have its immune system up and running until a year old, it relies on the mothers immunity through the breast milk..
I know of children who got measles and then came down with mumps and they became so sick with the second disease as they had not recuperated after the measles.. but we inject so many diseases into our babies all at one time, whether they be dead or inactive at the time of immunization, is it the right thing to do..

[gaye5]

MuriLT it does appear so many of the children who genuinely have autism get a very short time after their second immunization...
And from your argument then we can wonder as to why in many cases of early births or sickness or other things that girls are more likely to survive than boys...

You also say...I think that in the past this was undiagnosed and is one of the reasons that you see articles saying its an epidemic.

MuriLT, My husband has been a teacher and Principal of schools for 45 years and I can assure you that in all the thousands of children that he has taught he had not seen this problem up until one case 20 years ago, and yes there is far more now.. It is not hard to diagnose a child who has massive problems or as to whether it is just a naughty child.. An autistic child cant help it..

[gaye5]

NO A few decades ago, he would have just been given a jolly good smacking and been told to behave himself, and he would have...

In one of my husbands schools he had a child which was truthfully autistic, and he just used to draw dead flies all day.. but if kids played up they just got the strap and they stopped, but today it pays to be naughty as you get so much attention, you get to go to see the principal, then many other avenues of help and talking to just so many people, tests done, seeing Dr''s, and getting so many rewards if they behave themselves... They are not stupid, they start to play up again when the goodies slow down, and they realize that the good kids get NOTHING...

Notice that the article says that Autism has always been diagnosed by making judgments about a child''s behavior; there are no blood or biologic tests.
Of course about the same period of time that autism has increased is about the same period of time that the minority pushed to have smacking banned, and we the majority let it happen......
There are definitely some very genuine autistic children out there but their behaviors is described in this article...

[teeus]

"...How would it make sense that vaccines cause autism when it is much more prevelant in boys than girls? If it was the vaccines you would think equal amount of girls and boys would be autistic..."
Posted by MuriLT

The most prevelant theory is that there is a complex DNA mutation that causes the child body to not cleanse itself of mercury. The toxins build up for a number of reasons--vaccinations being only one of those reasons--until there is central nervous system damage.

So the real question is why is the DNA mutation more common in boys?

[murilt]

How would it make sense that vaccines cause autism when it is much more prevelant in boys than girls? If it was the vaccines you would think equal amount of girls and boys would be autistic.

I think that in the past this was undiagnosed and is one of the reasons that you see articles saying its an epidemic.

I have to say I have heard and read nothing that points to one reason for autisim or another and for people to just grab on to things like it was the mother, or it was TV or food, or it was vaccines makes little sense to me.

[teeus]

What needs to be done is a study of how the Mothers took care of themselves while carrying the child. Did they smoke, drink, use drugs, (legal or otherwise). Or suffer any kind of trauma.
Posted by enriquecalie

Now, why didnt I think of that?

Take it from me: there is no family history, didnt smoke, didnt drink, didnt use drugs (legal or otherwise), no trauma.

[teeus]

"...But every reputable study, whether by government, university, or other independent group, shows the vaccines arent causing autism..."
Posted by SusanHelit

Susan, Susan, Susan.

Actually, every reputable study shows that they cant prove vaccines causes autism. On the other hand, they cant prove it didnt, either.

And if theres so much $$ for schools for spec education, why are schools short of spec ed teachers, therapists, equipment, etc?

Send some of your schools $$ to mine. WE dont have enough to provide services.

[lloydbest1]

Posted by SusanHelit at 02:53 PM : Nov 05, 2007

There is a range of "disability" with this syndrome just as there is in any other. The ones lightly brushed with ASD have come to be labled "Asperger''s"; the ones at the more severe end of the spectrum are sometimes (rarely) labeled "Kanner''s". These children can be profoundly disabled.
One of the reasons we are seeing this explosive rise in Autism incidence is the far more generous guidelines used in arriving at a diagnosis. In 1951 when I was diagnosed, there weren''t the various flavors of Autism we have today and those who had the milder forms were dismissed by the professionals as having some kind of neurosis or other. Or maybe they were just considered a little odd. In any case they made up the majority of the cases of what would later be termed Pervasive Development Disorder. Incidence in 1951 was about 1 in 10000. I can not say for sure but I believe the incidence of severe, crippling autism; the kind I had as a child, is still about 1 in 10000.

[annes6]

There''s no way this epidemic is "Fueled By Special Ed Funding, Shift In Diagnosing". Where were all these kids years ago? When I was growing up 40 years ago, they didn''t exist. The rate of ASD in NJ is 1 in every 60 boys. Our town simply didn''t have ASD kids 40 years ago. If 1 in 60 men are ASD, then you would have heard about the institutions being overwhelmed 40 years ago - they weren''t.

[susanhelit]

eggy - not likely. Vaccinations happen from birth on. But every reputable study, whether by government, university, or other independent group, shows the vaccines aren''t causing autism.

But this sure explains that ridiculous 1 in 150 number - there''s money in labelling a kid ''autistic'' - for the parents, there is help with a difficult child, for the schools, special ed money for every child you can claim ASD. A ton of these kids are just normal kids with normal problems - being an introvert is labeled autism, so far as I can see.

[enriquecaliente]

What needs to be done is a study of how the Mothers took care of themselves while carrying the child. Did they smoke, drink, use drugs, (legal or otherwise). Or suffer any kind of trauma.

[eggy1620]

The autism screening guidelines issued recently are not an attempt to find a cause or a cure as much as they are a method to protect the immunization guidelines. By diagnosing at ever younger ages, pediatricians will be able to say that a kid exhibited autism symptoms before getting any vaccinations.