The schizophrenia diagnosis and autism have been lumped together and unlumped together since the beginning. We are still infants when trying to untangle how things work and are wired in our brains. Whether a person actually becomes a different person if not taught to communicate, or function in this world…I think that answer is clear.

I had a discussion on the topic with someone else today who thinks early intervention is fine when handled properly …. I guess those three words are the key. I thought it was odd when this person referred to it being schizophrenia if a person is diagnosed too late. I don’t get that.

I still worry that the govt. and others might have a predisposition to diagnose autism in borderline cases.

I truly think Mr. Sowell has made deductions on too few resources to comment about autism and diagnosis. I still can understand where he is coming from and respect his opinion (and yours too).

However, if the concerns are based on diagnosis and the wallet, then he needs more information. The only type of therapy that would come from his/our wallet would be ABA (I’m not a fan of that for the most part) which is already in some public school systems. Mainstreaming of high functioning autistics is in the public school systems and has been since we entered the world seven years ago. Of course indirectly we all pay for any type of therapy via insurance. However anything out of the mainstream for autism isn’t covered under insurance and the cost comes directly from the parent.

There are so many “therapies” running around out there it reminds one of the snake oil offered for dieters during late night TV. In desperation perfectly intelligent people will try anything to help their child become “normal” instead of patience and acceptance with room for growth over time. Autism isn’t something you can pop a pill for and you’re done. So in answer to those concerns from a monetary point of view, the burden is on the parent because insurance won’t pay for those types of “therapies.”

Can some therapies be harmful to a child? Absolutely! So can a vast number of things in this world. Mainstream therapy for a child misdiagnosed at 3 would include teaching the child sign language or physical therapy to improve motor skills. But I’m not the one to ask, the professionals are the ones to ask. If autism is suspected then the child is referred to a certified doctor of neurology or a neurological developmentalist to determine further diagnosis. These are the experts, not the family doctor or my friend Flicka or me or anyone so highly unqualified.

Here is the last paragraph of Mr. Sowell’s article (II):

“Parents whose children are late in talking or have other troubling problems would do well to seek diagnoses from the most highly qualified professionals they can find — but not rely on the facile checklists being promoted in the current crusade for universal diagnosis of infants and toddlers for autism, without facing the question whether or not there are enough people qualified to make such diagnoses.”

I’m all for sharing and debate; after all we need each other. We need people at each end pulling and tugging at one another so that we all can make sound decisions about our own, unique circumstances after learning the facts. Awareness and education is the key! The “checklist” is a place to start, just like developmental charts have been used to gauge developmental problems for years.

Thanks again for allowing me to share information!

What are your responses to his claim that little can be done if it’s serious autism, but lots of harm can be done with the premature autism stigma?

The characteristics of autism:
1. difficulty with social interaction or speech
2. problems with verbal and nonverbal communication
3. repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests

#4 “Where’s the crisis in waiting until age 3 or 4 in a lot of these cases to make a definitive determination?”

I could speak volumes to the crisis of waiting…waiting for what? Waiting until the child in complete frustration resorts to aggressive behaviors for lack of connecting and communicating with others? Two or three years of that pattern in development and later they might be saying, “Book ‘em Dano” or mourning another suicide.

Only qualified doctors can make a diagnosis. Will there be some premature, incorrect diagnosis? Absolutely. Doctors are in “practice.” However, a diagnosis can be changed and services removed. In the meantime we are talking about two or three years of HUGE developmental stages in shaping lives, personalities, habits and understanding the world.

There’s not a darn thing wrong with awareness. There’s a lot wrong with premature diagnosis. Sowell is unimpressed with what “early intervention can accomplish. Where’s the crisis in waiting until age 3 or 4 in a lot of these cases to make a definitive determination?

As for getting services for my child, you better believe I’d “label” him anything if he needed the service (dare I say most parents would). When he wasn’t talking at the age of three and needed speech therapy, I let them call it whatever it took to get the help he needed. After four years of therapy and lots of hard work he is doing well.

If autism awareness is the lesson for the day then I’m waving the flag. Early intervention can help thousands lead productive, independent lives and that helps no matter where the pendulum happens to be.