Re: Autism Cures? Sowell

[Guest guest]

H. H.Fudenberg, M.D.,DDG.IOMInman, SC 29349Website nitrf.org

To: EOHarm From: mkeller@...Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:52:20 +0000Subject: Autism Cures? Sowell

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/autism_cures.htmlJuly 15, 2008 Autism Cures?By Sowell"New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier" read a recent headline in the Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the diagnosis will turn out to be correct.My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of autism grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking children that I formed back in 1993.A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been false, as most of these children have not only begun talking but have developed socially.Some parents have even said, "Now I wish he would shut up."I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any treatment, even though many parents wanted such advice.As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or advice. I declined every time.Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success in "curing" autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success rate would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted in the media.If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything will "cure" him with the passage of time.My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata of Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and the kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in ways spelled out in my book "The Einstein Syndrome."The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too has expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that he has encountered.What Camarata has also encountered is something that I encountered in my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their child to be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for government money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or whatever other treatment the child might need.How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on the number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobodyknows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.Another factor in the great increase in the number of children diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to children as being on "the autistic spectrum."In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a number of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem with this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have characteristics that are common among autistic children.For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen Winner of Boston College found these children to have "obsessive interests" and "often play alone and enjoy solitude," as well as being children who "seem to march to their own drummer" and have "prodigious memories." Many of the children in my group and in Professor Camarata's group have these characteristics.Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist of "symptoms" can find many apparently "autistic" children or children on "the autism spectrum."Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses and children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false diagnoses. Yet the "autism spectrum" concept provides lots of wiggle room for those who are making false diagnoses.Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a gullible media helps them get that money. Are you aware ocd the fantsastic resUlts Obtabed with the antigen-sprvific Cell Mediated IMMUNTY INDUCERS MADE IN FRANCE?

HHF

The i’m Talkaton. Can 30-days of conversation change the world? Find out now.

[Guest guest]

I have been fascinated by Sowell's and Camarata's actions regarding

late talking children. Sowell's books contend that latetalkers have

delayed speech (expressive language) but strong understanding

(receptive language). However, the majority of parents on the

listserv following (and many visiting) Camarata have children with

significant deficits in both expressive AND receptive language. This

is very different from Sowell's latetalker - yet these parents cling

to their child being " not autistic, only a latetalker, " as if this is

an either/or. The truth is that receptive language issues can be

quite impairing in the ability to learn, and can lead missed windows

for social development that can be difficult to overcome.

Sowell and Camarata often talk about schools (and medical

professionals) bullying parents to label children autistic, but on

many other listservs I hear from parents who beg doctors to take them

seriously and beg schools to recognize a disability as such, rather

than a discipline problem. The federal government has severely

underfunded special education. School-level staff are overloaded

with special education students. At my own daughter's last IEP, I

was told the school had a mandate to reduce accommodations. In

Virginia, the Dept. of Education is trying to change the rules so

that children can be released from all special education services

without a parent's consent. Children with an autism label can get

full-day ABA preschool, vs. a speech-language delayed child that gets

a part-day class with a higher student:teacher ratio. I see no

incentive there for pushing for an autism label.

I predict that there will be a lot of parent regret that they wasted

time that could have been used for early intervention.

R

>

> http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/autism_cures.html

>

> July 15, 2008

> Autism Cures?

> By Sowell

>

> " New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier " read a recent headline in the

> Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose

> anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the

> diagnosis will turn out to be correct.

>

> My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of

autism

> grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking

> children that I formed back in 1993.

>

> A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the

> passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been false,

as

> most of these children have not only begun talking but have

developed

> socially.

>

> Some parents have even said, " Now I wish he would shut up. "

>

> I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I

> refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any

treatment,

> even though many parents wanted such advice.

>

> As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if

> they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or advice.

I

> declined every time.

>

> Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and

> treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success

> in " curing " autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success rate

> would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted

in

> the media.

>

> If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything

will " cure "

> him with the passage of time.

>

> My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata of

> Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-

> talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.

>

> Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-

> talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the

> several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and

the

> kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in ways

> spelled out in my book " The Einstein Syndrome. "

>

> The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a

> dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too has

> expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that he

> has encountered.

>

> What Camarata has also encountered is something that I encountered

in

> my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their child

to

> be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for

government

> money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or

> whatever other treatment the child might need.

>

> How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on the

> number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody

> knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.

>

> Another factor in the great increase in the number of children

> diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to

children

> as being on " the autistic spectrum. "

>

> In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a

number

> of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem with

> this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have

> characteristics that are common among autistic children.

>

> For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen Winner

of

> Boston College found these children to have " obsessive interests "

> and " often play alone and enjoy solitude, " as well as being

children

> who " seem to march to their own drummer " and have " prodigious

> memories. " Many of the children in my group and in Professor

> Camarata's group have these characteristics.

>

> Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist

of " symptoms "

> can find many apparently " autistic " children or children on " the

> autism spectrum. "

>

> Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses

and

> children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false

> diagnoses. Yet the " autism spectrum " concept provides lots of

wiggle

> room for those who are making false diagnoses.

>

> Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that

> money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But

> money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a

> gullible media helps them get that money.

>

[Guest guest]

write a comment. I just did.

Subject: Re: Autism Cures? SowellTo: EOHarm Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 9:58 AM

I have been fascinated by Sowell's and Camarata's actions regarding late talking children. Sowell's books contend that latetalkers have delayed speech (expressive language) but strong understanding (receptive language). However, the majority of parents on the listserv following (and many visiting) Camarata have children with significant deficits in both expressive AND receptive language. This is very different from Sowell's latetalker - yet these parents cling to their child being "not autistic, only a latetalker," as if this is an either/or. The truth is that receptive language issues can be quite impairing in the ability to learn, and can lead missed windows for social development that can be difficult to overcome. Sowell and Camarata often talk about schools (and medical professionals) bullying parents to label children autistic, but on many other listservs I hear from parents who beg doctors

to take them seriously and beg schools to recognize a disability as such, rather than a discipline problem. The federal government has severely underfunded special education. School-level staff are overloaded with special education students. At my own daughter's last IEP, I was told the school had a mandate to reduce accommodations. In Virginia, the Dept. of Education is trying to change the rules so that children can be released from all special education services without a parent's consent. Children with an autism label can get full-day ABA preschool, vs. a speech-language delayed child that gets a part-day class with a higher student:teacher ratio. I see no incentive there for pushing for an autism label.I predict that there will be a lot of parent regret that they wasted time that could have been used for early intervention. R>> http://www.realclea rpolitics. com/articles/ 2008/07/autism_ cures.html> > July 15, 2008 > Autism Cures?> By Sowell> > "New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier" read a recent headline in the > Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose > anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the > diagnosis will turn out to be correct.> > My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of autism > grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking > children that I formed back in 1993.> > A number of those children were diagnosed as

autistic. But the > passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been false, as > most of these children have not only begun talking but have developed > socially.> > Some parents have even said, "Now I wish he would shut up."> > I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I > refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any treatment, > even though many parents wanted such advice.> > As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if > they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or advice. I > declined every time.> > Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and > treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success > in "curing" autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success rate > would be as high as that

claimed by various programs being touted in > the media.> > If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything will "cure" > him with the passage of time.> > My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata of > Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-> talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.> > Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-> talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the > several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and the > kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in ways > spelled out in my book "The Einstein Syndrome."> > The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a > dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too has >

expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that he > has encountered.> > What Camarata has also encountered is something that I encountered in > my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their child to > be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for government > money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or > whatever other treatment the child might need.> > How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on the > number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody> knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.> > Another factor in the great increase in the number of children > diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to children > as being on "the autistic spectrum."> > In other words, a child may not

actually be autistic but has a number > of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem with > this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have > characteristics that are common among autistic children.> > For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen Winner of > Boston College found these children to have "obsessive interests" > and "often play alone and enjoy solitude," as well as being children > who "seem to march to their own drummer" and have "prodigious > memories." Many of the children in my group and in Professor > Camarata's group have these characteristics.> > Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist of "symptoms" > can find many apparently "autistic" children or children on "the > autism spectrum."> > Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false

diagnoses and > children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false > diagnoses. Yet the "autism spectrum" concept provides lots of wiggle > room for those who are making false diagnoses.> > Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that > money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But > money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a > gullible media helps them get that money.>

[Guest guest]

Okay, screw it, I'm letting the chips fall. Here's a little " consider

the source " : Camarata evaluated my kids. He did have some good advice

on language enrichment initially, but he was absolutely rigid in

theories, published reports of how vaccines were not a culprit,

looked down his nose at children who developed autism (subtle but

clear) even for all his supposed humane views on ways to treat

effected children.

He pressured us to " confess " that our son showed signs of rigidity

(still isn't rigid) and had " always " been the way he was at the time

of evaluation. We couldn't truthfully " admit " this because our son

had always been the more socially connected of our twins and had only

just lost eye contact and had only begun repetitive behavior.

Camarata also told us our daughter had something akin to

the " Einstein syndrome " and was not on the spectrum. This turned out

to be bs, unless there's such a thing as a " chemically induced

Einstein syndrome " . Of course, as it turns out, our daughter has the

same labs as our son, the same metal toxicity and is plagued by

worse tell-tale behavior in some ways, even for all her gifts. We

both remember distinctly how the doc was clearly much more positive

and admiring of our daughter than of our son. So he wasn't " ND " but

kind of an anti-ND: same basic biases but with a different value

system.

When we tried to convince the doc that our son had regressed after

having once been quite normal, he seemed to reluctantly relent that

it's possible that autism is an " autoimmune condition " . Then he

dumped our kids as patients after promising to do a long process of

follow-up for speech therapy. He refused to answer calls or emails or

answer any questions. He obviously didn't want us to be part of

his " late-talking parents " group, rocking the boat with all this talk

about regression. That's how much the guy cares about children. But

he was a late talker himself and his lack of tact and empathy is

very, um, interesting.

As far as the late-talking parents group, the one that existed at the

time was a defensive bunch led by some nasty moderators. It was

verboten to mention thimerosal or GF/CF and anyone crossing that line

could be gang-banged behind the scenes. Half the kids were showing

signs of visual stimming and other symptoms. Some parents were

drugging them to sleep and to suppress behavior in order to get the

kids to fit into regular school programs in the hopes of avoiding the

ASD diagnosis. Some kids simply had language delay but frequently had

sleep problems as well.

I don't think Sowell is a liar, just not objective (just bear in mind

that Sowell is Clarence ' favorite economist). Some of his

research is even very valuable to our movement, although it's

inadvertant on Sowell's part. There is a kid in our town who did

spontaneously " grow out of " what appeared to be classic autism.

Sowell would claim that she never had it but only because he never

saw the child. Her parents know nothing about diet, serve Coolwhip

and Betty Crocker. The child went from displaying echolalia, toe-

walking, horrific tantrums, OCD, visual stims, vocal tics and

language delay to being in regular class with " only " a dx of ADHD.

The only thing I can figure is that the child is female and her brain

may have somehow compensated for early damage to repair methylation

to some degree. But the girl shows signs of past encephalitis: her

skull is distorted, her forehead domed and the outside corners of her

eyes pulled down unevenly. I'm sure this isn't the only child who

just somehow bounced back. I'm sure many teeter on the brink, though

most probably end up with lifelong health problems or issues which

show up later in life. There's no way of getting off totally scott

free from that kind of injury.

Which doesn't seem to concern Sowell at all as long as he can claim

his own " late-talking " son (now an adult) is a misunderstood genius.

Never mind about agonizing GI disturbances, mito dysfunction,

peripheral neuropathy, death from seizures, elevated rates of cancer

and tubular sclerosis-- just like with the ND, those things aren't

convenient to the " Einstein Syndrome " theory and could shed doubt

that these " natural late talkers " are anything but superior beings.

This is true for Camarata as well who has a son who " spoke late " .

Camarata very insensitively told the story of how a psychiatrist

dared to diagnose his toddler son as " mentally retarded " . Camarata

scoffed at the idea that anyone could think that HIS son was, tsk,

retarded-- while sitting in a room in front of parents who had no way

of knowing whether this would be true of their own son.

Taste-free. It's kind of funny in retrospect and we're very, very

glad that this doc betrayed us because the next lap we landed in was

that of an anti-thimerosal activist who became our kids'

altmed " angel " , which is how we ended up reading EOH. Both kids began

recovering within days of starting that silly GF/CF diet. I guess

there wasn't much wrong with them to begin with, making Camarata

incompetent according to his own ally, Sowell.

>

> http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/autism_cures.html

>

> July 15, 2008

> Autism Cures?

> By Sowell

>

> " New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier " read a recent headline in the

> Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose

> anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the

> diagnosis will turn out to be correct.

>

> My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of

autism

> grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking

> children that I formed back in 1993.

>

> A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the

> passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been false,

as

> most of these children have not only begun talking but have

developed

> socially.

>

> Some parents have even said, " Now I wish he would shut up. "

>

> I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I

> refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any

treatment,

> even though many parents wanted such advice.

>

> As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if

> they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or advice.

I

> declined every time.

>

> Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and

> treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success

> in " curing " autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success rate

> would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted

in

> the media.

>

> If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything

will " cure "

> him with the passage of time.

>

> My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata of

> Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-

> talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.

>

> Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-

> talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the

> several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and

the

> kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in ways

> spelled out in my book " The Einstein Syndrome. "

>

> The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a

> dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too has

> expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that he

> has encountered.

>

> What Camarata has also encountered is something that I encountered

in

> my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their child

to

> be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for

government

> money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or

> whatever other treatment the child might need.

>

> How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on the

> number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody

> knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.

>

> Another factor in the great increase in the number of children

> diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to

children

> as being on " the autistic spectrum. "

>

> In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a

number

> of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem with

> this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have

> characteristics that are common among autistic children.

>

> For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen Winner

of

> Boston College found these children to have " obsessive interests "

> and " often play alone and enjoy solitude, " as well as being

children

> who " seem to march to their own drummer " and have " prodigious

> memories. " Many of the children in my group and in Professor

> Camarata's group have these characteristics.

>

> Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist

of " symptoms "

> can find many apparently " autistic " children or children on " the

> autism spectrum. "

>

> Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses

and

> children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false

> diagnoses. Yet the " autism spectrum " concept provides lots of

wiggle

> room for those who are making false diagnoses.

>

> Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that

> money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But

> money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a

> gullible media helps them get that money.

>

[Guest guest]

Count me among the parents with huge regrets! Sowell had just come

out with his Late Talking Children book when my ds wasn't talking

(had lost lang.). This book and Dobson's The Strong Willed

Child gave me a false sense of security that all was well. And my

ds did have fairly good receptive lang. Ds did begin talking again

on his own at 3.5yo, but he still struggles in putting lang.

together smoothly at 13yo.

It wasn't until he was 6yo (and we got the internet) that I finallly

realized the behavior and lang. were connected - and my gosh! my

child has autism! A year later (very long waiting list) he was

officially dx by TEACCH. No one was pressuring to dx him, that's

for sure!!

What a LOT of wasted time...

Sally

> >

> >

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/autism_cures.html

> >

> > July 15, 2008

> > Autism Cures?

> > By Sowell

> >

> > " New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier " read a recent headline in

the

> > Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose

> > anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the

> > diagnosis will turn out to be correct.

> >

> > My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of

> autism

> > grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking

> > children that I formed back in 1993.

> >

> > A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the

> > passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been

false,

> as

> > most of these children have not only begun talking but have

> developed

> > socially.

> >

> > Some parents have even said, " Now I wish he would shut up. "

> >

> > I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman,

I

> > refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any

> treatment,

> > even though many parents wanted such advice.

> >

> > As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask

if

> > they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or

advice.

> I

> > declined every time.

> >

> > Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and

> > treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of

success

> > in " curing " autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success

rate

> > would be as high as that claimed by various programs being

touted

> in

> > the media.

> >

> > If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything

> will " cure "

> > him with the passage of time.

> >

> > My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata

of

> > Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-

> > talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.

> >

> > Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of

late-

> > talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to

the

> > several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children

and

> the

> > kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in

ways

> > spelled out in my book " The Einstein Syndrome. "

> >

> > The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a

> > dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too

has

> > expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that

he

> > has encountered.

> >

> > What Camarata has also encountered is something that I

encountered

> in

> > my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their

child

> to

> > be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for

> government

> > money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or

> > whatever other treatment the child might need.

> >

> > How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on

the

> > number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody

> > knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.

> >

> > Another factor in the great increase in the number of children

> > diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to

> children

> > as being on " the autistic spectrum. "

> >

> > In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a

> number

> > of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem

with

> > this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have

> > characteristics that are common among autistic children.

> >

> > For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen

Winner

> of

> > Boston College found these children to have " obsessive

interests "

> > and " often play alone and enjoy solitude, " as well as being

> children

> > who " seem to march to their own drummer " and have " prodigious

> > memories. " Many of the children in my group and in Professor

> > Camarata's group have these characteristics.

> >

> > Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist

> of " symptoms "

> > can find many apparently " autistic " children or children on " the

> > autism spectrum. "

> >

> > Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false

diagnoses

> and

> > children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow

false

> > diagnoses. Yet the " autism spectrum " concept provides lots of

> wiggle

> > room for those who are making false diagnoses.

> >

> > Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of

that

> > money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic.

But

> > money is money to those who are running research projects-- and

a

> > gullible media helps them get that money.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Oh my goodness...those EXACT same two books lulled me into thinking it was okay too! I think I was looking for what I wanted to hear.

Subject: Re: Autism Cures? SowellTo: EOHarm Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 10:28 AM

Count me among the parents with huge regrets! Sowell had just come out with his Late Talking Children book when my ds wasn't talking (had lost lang.). This book and Dobson's The Strong Willed Child gave me a false sense of security that all was well. And my ds did have fairly good receptive lang. Ds did begin talking again on his own at 3.5yo, but he still struggles in putting lang. together smoothly at 13yo.It wasn't until he was 6yo (and we got the internet) that I finallly realized the behavior and lang. were connected - and my gosh! my child has autism! A year later (very long waiting list) he was officially dx by TEACCH. No one was pressuring to dx him, that's for sure!!What a LOT of wasted time...Sally> >> > http://www.realclea rpolitics. com/articles/ 2008/07/autism_ cures.html> > > > July 15, 2008 > > Autism Cures?> > By Sowell> > > > "New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier" read a recent headline in the > > Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose > > anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the > > diagnosis will turn out to be correct.> > > > My own awareness of how

easy it is to make false diagnoses of > autism > > grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking > > children that I formed back in 1993.> > > > A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the > > passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been false, > as > > most of these children have not only begun talking but have > developed > > socially.> > > > Some parents have even said, "Now I wish he would shut up."> > > > I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I > > refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any > treatment, > > even though many parents wanted such advice.> > > > As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if > > they could bring their child to me

to seek my impression or advice. > I > > declined every time.> > > > Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and > > treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success > > in "curing" autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success rate > > would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted > in > > the media.> > > > If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything > will "cure" > > him with the passage of time.> > > > My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata of > > Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-> > talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.> > > > Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of

late-> > talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the > > several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and > the > > kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in ways > > spelled out in my book "The Einstein Syndrome."> > > > The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a > > dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too has > > expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that he > > has encountered.> > > > What Camarata has also encountered is something that I encountered > in > > my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their child > to > > be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for > government > > money that is

available, and can be used for speech therapy or > > whatever other treatment the child might need.> > > > How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on the > > number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody> > knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.> > > > Another factor in the great increase in the number of children > > diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to > children > > as being on "the autistic spectrum."> > > > In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a > number > > of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem with > > this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have > > characteristics that are common among autistic children.> > > >

For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen Winner > of > > Boston College found these children to have "obsessive interests" > > and "often play alone and enjoy solitude," as well as being > children > > who "seem to march to their own drummer" and have "prodigious > > memories." Many of the children in my group and in Professor > > Camarata's group have these characteristics.> > > > Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist > of "symptoms" > > can find many apparently "autistic" children or children on "the > > autism spectrum."> > > > Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses > and > > children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false > > diagnoses. Yet the "autism spectrum" concept provides lots of >

wiggle > > room for those who are making false diagnoses.> > > > Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that > > money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But > > money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a > > gullible media helps them get that money.> >>

[Guest guest]

We went to Camarata too - got the typical receptive/expressive

disorder thing from him (I wish they'd banish that from the DSM -

it's a description, not a diagnosis).

That listserv made me so anxious that I had to stop posting. It was

like seeing children drowning and not being able to get into the pool.

R

> >

> >

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/autism_cures.html

> >

> > July 15, 2008

> > Autism Cures?

> > By Sowell

> >

> > " New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier " read a recent headline in

the

> > Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose

> > anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the

> > diagnosis will turn out to be correct.

> >

> > My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of

> autism

> > grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking

> > children that I formed back in 1993.

> >

> > A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the

> > passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been

false,

> as

> > most of these children have not only begun talking but have

> developed

> > socially.

> >

> > Some parents have even said, " Now I wish he would shut up. "

> >

> > I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I

> > refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any

> treatment,

> > even though many parents wanted such advice.

> >

> > As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if

> > they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or

advice.

> I

> > declined every time.

> >

> > Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and

> > treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success

> > in " curing " autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success

rate

> > would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted

> in

> > the media.

> >

> > If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything

> will " cure "

> > him with the passage of time.

> >

> > My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata

of

> > Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-

> > talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.

> >

> > Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-

> > talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the

> > several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and

> the

> > kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in

ways

> > spelled out in my book " The Einstein Syndrome. "

> >

> > The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a

> > dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too

has

> > expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that

he

> > has encountered.

> >

> > What Camarata has also encountered is something that I

encountered

> in

> > my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their

child

> to

> > be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for

> government

> > money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or

> > whatever other treatment the child might need.

> >

> > How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on

the

> > number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody

> > knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.

> >

> > Another factor in the great increase in the number of children

> > diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to

> children

> > as being on " the autistic spectrum. "

> >

> > In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a

> number

> > of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem

with

> > this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have

> > characteristics that are common among autistic children.

> >

> > For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen

Winner

> of

> > Boston College found these children to have " obsessive interests "

> > and " often play alone and enjoy solitude, " as well as being

> children

> > who " seem to march to their own drummer " and have " prodigious

> > memories. " Many of the children in my group and in Professor

> > Camarata's group have these characteristics.

> >

> > Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist

> of " symptoms "

> > can find many apparently " autistic " children or children on " the

> > autism spectrum. "

> >

> > Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses

> and

> > children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false

> > diagnoses. Yet the " autism spectrum " concept provides lots of

> wiggle

> > room for those who are making false diagnoses.

> >

> > Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that

> > money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But

> > money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a

> > gullible media helps them get that money.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I did - I wrote exactly this - they took it off. Weird - I'll try

again.

> >

> > http://www.realclea rpolitics. com/articles/ 2008/07/autism_

cures.html

> >

> > July 15, 2008

> > Autism Cures?

> > By Sowell

> >

> > " New Ways to Diagnose Autism Earlier " read a recent headline in

the

> > Wall Street Journal. There is no question that you can diagnose

> > anything as early as you want. The real question is whether the

> > diagnosis will turn out to be correct.

> >

> > My own awareness of how easy it is to make false diagnoses of

> autism

> > grew out of experiences with a group of parents of late-talking

> > children that I formed back in 1993.

> >

> > A number of those children were diagnosed as autistic. But the

> > passing years have shown most of the diagnoses to have been

false,

> as

> > most of these children have not only begun talking but have

> developed

> > socially.

> >

> > Some parents have even said, " Now I wish he would shut up. "

> >

> > I did absolutely nothing to produce these results. As a layman, I

> > refused to diagnose these children, much less suggest any

> treatment,

> > even though many parents wanted such advice.

> >

> > As word of my group spread, various parents would write to ask if

> > they could bring their child to me to seek my impression or

advice.

> I

> > declined every time.

> >

> > Yet, if I had concocted some half-baked method of diagnosing and

> > treating these children, I could now claim a high rate of success

> > in " curing " autism, based on case studies. Perhaps my success

rate

> > would be as high as that claimed by various programs being touted

> in

> > the media.

> >

> > If a child is not autistic to begin with, almost anything

> will " cure "

> > him with the passage of time.

> >

> > My work brought me into contact with Professor Camarata

of

> > Vanderbilt University, who has specialized in the study of late-

> > talking children-- and who is qualified to diagnose autism.

> >

> > Professor Camarata has organized his own group of parents of late-

> > talking children, which has grown to hundreds, as compared to the

> > several dozen children in my group. Yet the kinds of children and

> the

> > kinds of families are remarkably similar in the two groups, in

ways

> > spelled out in my book " The Einstein Syndrome. "

> >

> > The difference is that Professor Camarata is not a layman but a

> > dedicated professional, with decades of experience-- and he too

has

> > expressed dismay at the number of false diagnoses of autism that

he

> > has encountered.

> >

> > What Camarata has also encountered is something that I

encountered

> in

> > my smaller group-- parents who have been told to allow their

child

> to

> > be diagnosed as autistic, in order to become eligible for

> government

> > money that is available, and can be used for speech therapy or

> > whatever other treatment the child might need.

> >

> > How much this may have contributed to the soaring statistics on

the

> > number of children diagnosed as autistic is something that nobody

> > knows-- and apparently not many people are talking about it.

> >

> > Another factor in the great increase in the number of children

> > diagnosed as autistic is a growing practice of referring to

> children

> > as being on " the autistic spectrum. "

> >

> > In other words, a child may not actually be autistic but has a

> number

> > of characteristics common among autistic children. The problem

with

> > this approach is that lots of children who are not autistic have

> > characteristics that are common among autistic children.

> >

> > For example, a study of high-IQ children by Professor Ellen

Winner

> of

> > Boston College found these children to have " obsessive interests "

> > and " often play alone and enjoy solitude, " as well as being

> children

> > who " seem to march to their own drummer " and have " prodigious

> > memories. " Many of the children in my group and in Professor

> > Camarata's group have these characteristics.

> >

> > Those who diagnose children by running down a checklist

> of " symptoms "

> > can find many apparently " autistic " children or children on " the

> > autism spectrum. "

> >

> > Parents need to be spared the emotional trauma of false diagnoses

> and

> > children need to be spared stressful treatments that follow false

> > diagnoses. Yet the " autism spectrum " concept provides lots of

> wiggle

> > room for those who are making false diagnoses.

> >

> > Real autism may not get as much money as it needs if much of that

> > money is dissipated on children who are not in fact autistic. But

> > money is money to those who are running research projects-- and a

> > gullible media helps them get that money.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My first introduction to Sowell's opinion on late-talkers was shortly after my

own son was diagnosed in 1998. I confess that I have not read his book on the

topic, but I have read several of his essays that he has run in his syndicated

column. I agree with many of his opinions on various topics economic and

social, but I do disagree to some extent on his ideas on this topic.

Many people may not realize that Mr. Sowell was himself a rather late talker,

and perhaps part of his concern over false diagnosis is the belief that were he

born 40 years later he would have been labeled autistic and stymied in his

future opportunities. My own family's experience likewise would seem to align

with this theorm - of four kids, three were late-talkers, and although my

youngest is also autistic, neither of his late-talking siblings show any sign of

autism.

Where I believe Mr. Sowell is primarily erring is in his belief that a

significant portion of the children diagnosed as autistic over the last are

simply late-bloomers. Certainly it could and almost assuredly has happened,

that a child was diagnosed initially as autistic by a pediatrician or other

professional who lacks the depth of experience to properly use DSM-IV (or

DSM-IIIR before that or DSM-III before that). However, m experience has been

that if anything autism is even today being under-diagnosed, most especially for

educational purposes, thereby denying these kids their best opportunity for

maxiamum remediation.

Still, I do think that as we push for younger and younger diagnosis, we will

probably see a reduction in diagnostic accuracy. It is my opinion that this

situation is probably best addressed by ensuring that all children suspected of

a DD be seen ASAP by diagnostic teams who are fully trained and well-experienced

to ensure that we get things right the first time.

Of course I am also of the opinion that ALL children with full-blown autism

should be enrolled in proper ABA-DTT programs to maximize their recovery, and

that more pediatricians need to think outside the box and work with parents to

see if any bio-medical interventions can alleivate some of their symptoms.

So obviously, I am simply a nutjob. Just as Fombonne, Laidler of (Pr)Offit...