Autism, how come it seems so common, is there another explanation

[mamadadawahwah]

Now that I am researching autism, and speaking to friends neighbours etc, it is all too common. It seems every 2nd person i know has someone belonging to them with asd. Is ASD a symptom of our "times", too much pollution, not enough focus on our children, what?? What is making our kids go inside of themselves and not want anything to do with the outside world, thats the way i see it presently anyway.

Is it really a well researched condition or are the medical professionals just winging it? I have read numerous reports of many behavioural methods in which to deal with it. The best are very expensive, the worst are downright laughable.

Are we approaching autism in the wrong way because we are missing the link it has with today's society? I had my child late and maybe my toxin ridden body caused this to happen. I dont know. All i do know is that is far more prevalent than what we would expect and it often runs in two per family. What gives.

Does anyone know of any new research/approach to this condition. I have heard of bio - feedback which allegedly has made some inroads.

Maddiemo, that's so interesting - what did she mean he looked autistic, did she explain? My ds certainly has the dark shadows under his eyes that people describe.

Also really interesting to know that there are parents who have chosen not to have a dx - I have been feeling weird about even considering this avenue. Where do you live?

I know of an autistic child in my area. He looks as though he could be ds1's slightly older brother!

Ds1 also has the dark bits under his eyes. Both ds1 and ds have very long eyelashes too.

She did not explain. He is very small, pale with the black eyes.

I am in Bromley. Are you in lewisham?

I am! But how did you know?

I don't know!!!!!!

I am sure that I read on another sn thread that you were in SE london, but I don't know what made me think of the right borough.

Maybe your psychic!!!!!!! Welcome to the twilight zone...do do do do....do do do do!!!!!!

I could quite fancy being able to read a few minds

Spooky spooky...... I am right on the border with Bromley too, in fact the soft play thing in Beckenham in almost my second home these days!

There's a theory that the shadows under the eyes are linked to a sulphation problem (I think?) - I keep meaning to try epsom salts baths but haven't got round to it yet.

I have not tried Epsom Salts. Dark circles did improve on gf diet. They seem to be stress related in ds case as they can suddenly appear when he is under pressure.

Is it the soft play at the leisure centre? DS won't go there as its a bit dark for him.

Yes, in the leisure centre. I try to go during school hours, it gets really hectic after 3.30pm.

I would doubt that pollution was responsible for the increase in autism. Pollution was much worse in earlier generations. Ditto pesticide use.

ds has fair hair and long eyelashes but brown eyes, almost black in fact. Actually the incidence of autism is practically the same worldwide so obviously the blond hair/blue eye thing isn't anything to do with autism.

However I've read that autistic children do tend to be good looking which is why it doesn't help with people believing you that they have a disability. I also read that they do tend to have similar features - low ears I think - I wish I could remember where I saw this.

Eulalia, isn't there a journalist in the Gardian who has two sons with autism? She his written a few times about how beautiful they are. I am reminded of Olivers Sack's descriptions of the 'other worldly' beauty of some of his patients. It is almost as if being 'detatched' imparts a level of serene attractivness to a person (sorry is this sounds like a bag of crap....I just can't put my thoughts nto words very well....it isn't mant to detract from the difficulties caused by ASD in any way)

Just been reading a book about autistic kids and it says they are often "good" looking whatever that means. However, it says they often have an "ethereal" look about them. Further if they have low muscle tone in their faces, they tend to look "babyish" at an older age, compared to other kids. I have to say my ds is blonde blue eyed, with very long eyelashes and looks still looks very babyish even though he is two. Mind you my moms family all have long eyelashes and we are all blonde. Defo irish, as my son is 3/4 irish.

Dont really like getting into the "looks" thing cause I know kids who are very dark who have autism. But not being able to do a study on the "white" or black population, its hard to make any comparison. I know that MS affects the northern hemisphere more than the south so you would get more "white" people getting it. Same as sickle celled anaemia affects the black pop. But autism covers all races.

Interesting about the low ears though. And I think the "ethereal" look, the book i read talked about may be "innocence", i.e. very little face expression and a look untouched by life, if you know what i mean. If you look at my grandmother who worked a farm and had 10 kids and you look at me at the same age, there is definitely a difference. Ones life experiences can change how you look. IN babies, however, dont know if this is true. We would have to compare notes on how our kids look, and i for one wouldnt want to go down that road.

Becca, going back on this thread a bit now! I mean you won't be able to get a statement without dx and I don't think you could say you have a dx if its not in writing. If you DO have a dx why wouldn't you get it in writing? What's the difference?
I think the coeliac thing and Ireland is to do with it being a country where it is known when wheat started to be consumed and therefore the effects can be more easily identified.
As for the good looking thing, I don't believe that its to do with "innocence" etc, possibly lack of expression although DS makes some terrible/weird faces that mark him out, he didn't when he was younger. At DS's school there is no noticeable "look" or colouring, all sorts.

Well I'm REALLY concerned now, lol. My son has very long eyelashes, low ears, often has the dark circles under his eyes, and is blonde with blue eyes. I recently posted another thread regarding his sensitivity to a variety of things, one of them being loud noises. I wonder what am I to make of this..? Just before my ds had his tonsils out last year, a doctor told me that the dark circles under his eyes were most likely due to allergy. How would this explain the long eyelashes though, as he was born with them..? He is a good looking boy and people comment all the time on his lashes. There seem to be a LOT of similarities between ds and the physical descriptions of autistic kids here.

Apart from all this though (particularly his sensitivity to things), he seems 'normal' in most ways and according to the CHAT test I did a year or two ago, he isn't at any risk of being autistic. I wonder if many of these traits are to do with allergy or other related problems..? Not really sure what to think as there does seem to be some correlation with the physical attributes of these children.

nic04- long eyelashes are found in children with eczema etc as well- meant to be a sign of allergies - lots of autistic children are allergic though.

I posted on your sensitivity thread- just to reassure- its perfectly possible to be oversensitive without being autistic- its just that autistics pretty much always have some sensory issues.

I think the good looking thing is a bit of a red herring. I just think that people expect people who are "mentally retarded" (as my son would have been described in the past) to look different, and when they don't they think oh they're so good looking (element of surprise iyswim). Like Davros he's standing out more as he gets older as well as he does weird grimaces and his tics becme more obvious.

Yes, I think a "delicate" look is more to do with being sensitive/allergic which includes many children with ASD.
Do you mean MY grimaces or DS's?

Well - my little brother has THE longest eyelashes in the world imo - and was only slightly allergic to cats when younger - Now nothing as far as I know.

rofl davros- i have a fine repertoire of grimaces now (and mutterings)

tracyk- ds2 has great long eyelases as well- and ds3- neither allwergic yet..

Hi Nic, re your thread ". My son has very long eyelashes, low ears, often has the dark circles under his eyes, and is blonde with blue eyes. I recently posted another thread regarding his sensitivity to a variety of things, one of them being loud noises." I am NOT autistic, but am allergic to milk, but have all the above traits.
Dont think its wise to get too caught up in the "look" of autism.

I have developed completely involuntary tic where my arm automatically lifts wine glass to my mouth.

Although my ds has dark rings under his eyes, he definitely doesn't look delicate, he's a great big sturdy thing.

Davros, I think that's exactly my question, what IS the difference? As I understand it, I should be able to get a statement without a dx - how realistic this is I don't know. But if it is possible, is there any other way in which a written dx would benefit ds? If there is, then I'll go for it. I just worry that a written dx will not be to his advantage in adulthood.

Hope I'm not making people mutter under their breath here, I know how hard it has been for some parents to get a dx for their child.

Ring up your LEA and check that they would do a statement if necessary without a dx. Mine does as a statement is need based rather than dx.

I thinkb a dx can be removed.

a dx can help with getting dla, (although supposedly not needed) and also with acess to things like holiday playschemes. I'd take it because it can easily be dropped (if you stop referring to it for example!)

Thanks Maddiemo, good idea, I'm going to try that.

I know of a child who has recently had his dx removed, but I wonder if he is really 'recovered' or if years of intensive therapy have helped him to disguise his underlying problems more effectively.