Is it ASD that frequently?

[EverybodyWakeUp]

And if so, why is this the case? It seems that in modern society we're heading towards so many diagnosis of ASD, that we might have to change our thinking and perhaps being neurotypical is not necessarily the norm?

Are there other things that explain traits/symptoms more accurately, like the way our society is, our education system, life pressures, etc?

I hope I am not offending, truly not my intention. I really want to understand more. I am a true supporter of diversity but I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability.

If my post offends it truly is because I haven't explained myself properly and I apologise in advance. Any good articles/websites/books on this would be welcome.

@SquirrelSoShiny

yet again, you use the word “shrieked”

no-one is “shrieking”-‘ it is insulting and offensive to continually imply they are.

as others have calmly pointed out, autism is a recognised disability. It certainly is a disability for me but if another autistic individual feels it is not for them, then that’s great. But it doesn’t change the fact it’s a recognised disability and many, many people do struggle (and note that less than 20% of autistic people have regular work or employment).

so again, have some dignity and decency and stop using inflammatory and patronising language.

@RevisionSurgeryQ

Please see my updated post

This. My son has Aspergers, and the worst thing about it is that he looks fine. But the reality is so different. It's a invisible disability - please don't assume that it shouldn't be classed as a disability when you have no idea what goes on inside someone.

can someone please explain something about ASD to me? I’ve tried to Google it many times over the years but no clear answer.

If someone has ASD but is also non-verbal, double incontinent and requires 24/7care, then another person has ASD but has a degree, married, 2 kids and a full time job.. what scientifically speaking is it that makes them both have ASD?

Just using a PP analogy, two people have cancer but 1 has it terminally to the point they’re on constant morphine and bed bound and the other has it in one place that hasn’t spread and causes minimum discomfort. You can see by a CT scan the mass/tumour on both people. You can biopsy them both and see it. So although different symptoms and outcomes, it is the same thing.

With ASD what is it that makes both the profound and non-verbal person and the ‘HFA’ have the same thing? What assessment is it that lets the doctors know they both have the same diagnosis?

Sorry if I’m not asking my question clearly. I really don’t mean to offend and would like to educate myself on this as that’s the one thing I really do not understand and need to be educated on.

They both meet the diagnostic criteria.

www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

@SunshinePlease101

There are a triad of impairments that are required for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Social Communication
Social Interaction
Repetitive or restrictive behaviours

Obviously these look different in different people and can present in a multitude of ways.

Hopefully that explains it a bit.

That's out of date. It's a dyad now.

The autism society website has the two main frameworks that are used for diagnosis.

If you take one criteria which is "persistant difficulties with social communication and social interaction that limit and impair everday functioning" this would cover anything from non verbal, to talking excessively but irrevelant to the conversation, to just not 'getting' things that other imply, so you struggle with social communication.

A restricted or repetative behaviour and interest that limit or impair everyday functioning is also broad. You might not notice someone who has socially acceptable restricted interests, whose sensory behaviour was avoiding noisy events and their repetitiveness was a very clear routine. You'd probably notice if there interest was opening and closing doors and their repetition was banging their head and their sensory thing was was smearning poo.

@AntlerRose That makes so much sense how you’ve explained it. Thank you so much.

So if someone is non-verbal, doubly incontinent and requires care can it be purely down to ASD? Or if they have that level of need there must comorbidities accompanying the ASD?

So back to the cancer analogy (sorry it’s easier for me to ask the question). If someone has limited mobility they can say it’s due to the cancer on the spine or they can say that an entirely separate diagnosis unrelated.

So then relating that back to ASD, would a doctor say the double incontinence is due to the ASD or a separate diagnosis altogether?

sorry for all the questions but you’ve explained it really well to me so far in a manner I can actually digest/understand.

My son was diagnosed in 1997 on what was the cusp of the explosion of cases. The team that diagnosed ds (this was the pre school team so under 5s) said that in previous years they would see and diagnose 4 children a month. In 1997 they were diagnosing 4 children a week. I imagine numbers now are very much higher. Don't know whether that is down to a huge increase in cases or more awareness and so more parents pursuing a diagnosis though.

I cant answer all your question in terms of why, but yes some people will be non verbal and incontinent and their only diagnosis will be autism.

Autistic people usually have sensory issues.

There are the five well known senses but there are also two others: interoception and proprioception.

Interoception is the feeling of what's going on inside the body, and proprioception is the feeling of where you are in the world around you.

Interoception can relate to things like your heart rate, bowel and bladder needs, thirst, hunger etc. For some people they don't know when they need to go to the toilet. For others they may not feel hungry or know when they are full.
So this can explain why someone might be doubly incontinent.

"I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability."
I find this comment particularly offensive tbh. What is it you find so puzzling about it?

My child is verbal, autistic and of average acadenic ability. He is hugely, hugely disabled by his autism at the moment. I really hope and pray that one day he will have learnt enough strategies to live a more or less normal life but it’s very likely he will never leave home. The level you are impacted by senory issues, issues with social understanding and emotional regulation don’t always relate to academic ability/vocabulary

@incognitocheeto thank you so much, I didn’t know that.

Good question op:
My ds has Aspergers, as it was called when he was diagnosed. I’m very grateful the school picked up on his challenges and issues and enabled us to get a diagnosis. The diagnosis helped us get appropriate supports in place in school, go to social groups, communication courses and speech and language in place for him ( mostly private and costly I’m afraid ).

In the past, my ds may have been dismissed as lazy, uninterested, rude and labelled stupid or dumb. I remember kids in my day, with similar issues to my ds, undiagnosed and made to feel inferior and stupid. So sad looking back.

I believe the rise in numbers is due to better diagnosis, detection and understanding.

When my ds was younger, his Aspergers was definitely a disability. It made life more challenging for him and he had to work very hard to ‘fit in’ and navigate a school system not accommodating his way of learning.

He’s 17 now and I don’t feel his Aspergers is holding him back anymore. He has a unique personality and is navigating the world very well. For that reason, he does not claim any disability services/allowances. He attends college, has a part time job, plenty of friends and a girlfriend. He is living a typical teenage life.
I did claim allowances when he was younger to help pay for therapies that got him where he is today.
without that allowance, we couldn’t have afforded the interventions and he wouldn’t be as independent as he is today.

In my eyes, that allowance at that time was necessary because he had a disability that meant he needed therapy and service that a typical child does not need.

Thankfully, he is now doing very well and no longer requires these allowances etc but for many that is not the case. If the challenges persist, then yes, they will require state assistance, as they have a disability.

There are ASD diagnosis because of helicopter shit parenting

Really? I don't think that's in the diagnostic criteria.

There are some ASD diagnosis that are unsubstantiated

Evidence please?

Wait, are you saying people with ASD shouldn't get support?

And no, your child wouldn't be diagnosed just for being quirky.

Pmk

@Dontaskdontget
Im a bit confused by your 1950s woman compared to your 2022 woman.

• You said 1950s women were not expected to work, but most of them were and in physically demanding jobs. (Working class?)

• You said 1950s women had better diets with fresh fruit and veg, but we still had rationing, and food was a much higher % of a family’s income so how?

• You said 1950s women had plenty of fresh air and low exposure to pollution, but pollution in all forms (air, water, soil, food chain) was actually much higher in the 1950s than now. Especially in London, they still had pea soup fogs which killed people as they were literally toxic pollution clouds that sat for days and made noon as dark as midnight. No wonder what with leaded petrol fumes, coal fires, factories. Huge parts of the country didn’t even have safe drinking water. Not to mention no real health and safety in terms of pregnant women being exposed to stuff harmful to their baby in the workplace. I could go on.

The only thing that is correct is that 1950s women did have their children at a younger average age.

I have two DC diagnosed with ASD. I’m on a wait list to be assessed as a psychologist picked up on it and referred me to be assessed when I was getting PTSD therapy. So probably from me/me too. It would explain a lot.

Yes, it’s a disability and disabling. I don’t think it’s a spectrum though. I reject the idea ASD is a linear progression from mild to severe, or low to high functioning or has subcategories/types.

After thinking about my DCs and myself and the people I know who also have ASD, I think of it as a mosaic. So there are known autistic traits and people with autism can have any number & combination of these traits in differing strengths. When the sum of these reaches a threshold of impairment, then that’s when you are diagnosed as ASD. So it’s like the Spirograph arts and craft toy if anyone knows what I mean. 24 different sized cogs, all the colours of the rainbow to show strength, but an infinite number of beautiful unique patterns that all = ASD.

That’s why the conversation on the thread of “my ASD” vs “anyone else’s ASD”- because it’s unique to each person.

Being quirky doesn’t equal autism.
Helicopter parenting doesn’t equal autism.
You sound very ill informed and have just undermined and insulted a whole community.
You have dismissed peoples challenges and questioned diagnosis criteria as well as insulting parents….very 1950’s…. It’s the mothers fault !

If your child has undiagnosed autism, I feel very sorry for them with a parent who lacks understanding and insight into autism. If a child truly has autism, yes, some can push through but the masking required for this, without the right supports in place can have long lasting, detrimental effects.
I really hope your child is just ‘quirky’ and not on the spectrum.
By the way, diagnosis criteria requires substantial challenges in 3 areas (triad of symptoms), it’s not just being quirky!

Gosh this thread is really interesting. I'm autistic, as is my son (although currently he is undiagnosed). Me and dh joke that autistic people will take over the world.

My life is set up for me as an autistic person. I'm self employed. I pick the sensory input which is acceptable to me. If I know I will find the input of the supermarket difficult, I order. For me, it's about doing what I need and want to give myself a good life. Therefore for me it isn't a disability.

Currently my son really suffers and I hate it. He is at school and it just doesn't suit him. Unfortunately he has no choice currently due to finances. But I will teach him as he grows how to adapt his world so that he can do anything he wants.

In our house it's far from a disability. I don't think op was being offensive