May 20 2008
The View
Caught the tail end of The View today and needless to say they were talking about the increase in autism diagnosis-es. I can’t remember the doctor’s name but I remember seeing her on Good Morning America. She was pushing her new book about Myths in Medicine. One interesting tidbit I caught is that she said they were finding that most families are now touched by autism in some way or another. Relatives are thinking back to Uncle Whatever and remembering odd behaviors that they might have done which are now recognized for being autistic behaviors. So here is my question; Is it more prevalent now or did it just go undiagnosed? Because of all the methods to treat fertility and technology giving us more accurate advise on when to conceive, more babies are being born. Is that what is increasing the incidence? I wonder.
3 Responses to “The View”
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This is really controversial but my personal opinion is that there is an increase in autism *diagnoses* but not an actual increase in autism. I had to write a paper on the subject for an English course I took and spent quite some time researching the topic. I believe that broader definitions and more experienced parents and professionals are really leading the surge in autism cases being diagnosed.
I know that in our family, genetics are most likely for hitting the autism lottery twice.
Good, food-for-thought question!
I think it was undiagnosed before. The more I learn about my son’s Asperger’s the more certain I am that I would have the same diagnosis if it had been more of an public issue back in the 1960s!
Both my husband and myself would have been diagnosed along the spectrum. I was diagnosed with adhd about ten years ago. We both had such a hard time in school. I am so glad that they are more aware now.