Why autism get more attention than any other mental disabilities?

Question

what is the recent news about autism

Answer 1

I'm not so sure if Autism is getting so much more attention than other mental disabilities, but it is certainly getting more attention than it ever got before.

In the 6 years since my niece was diagnosed autistic, peoples reactions when I would tell them about her went from "Did you say artistic?" to "Do you ever take her to Las Vegas?" (Rainman was FICTION folks!) to "Oh! I heard about an autistic kid who made 20 points for his basketball team!"

As far as those "skyrocketing" rates:
I'm ADD, as was my mother (born 1932) and my grandmother (born 1902). Neither of them were diagnosed as children because the condition was not known until the 60's. So they would not be in any stats, as I would. There by creating the illusion that more kids are ADD today.

The same is the case with some forms of autsim. While some people believe autism rates have skyrocketted, others believe the rate of diagnosis is what has increased, not the actual incedence rate.

Given that Asperger's, the most common form of autism (62 - 86%), was not know to exist in America until 1990, it seems obvious that at least some of the increase is due to a better understanding & therefore a better diagnosis of Autism. People with Asperger's were always around, just labeled as "odd," "geeks," or "not quite right."

Then I have to wonder how many of the kids with the more severe forms were labeled brain damage, or just retarded. Remember, until recently, the common belief was that autsim was caused by unloving, neglectful mothers. If a doctor KNEW the mother was very loving & attentive, he would likely rule out a dianosis of autism, therefore resulting in the diagnosis rate being artificially low (back in the 80's & before).

Answer 2

You are so right about this. I have worked with children with autism for over 8 years, and although I am glad there is finbally so much research that's being done now, it's sad that other disabilities do not have as much attention. One thing is that the currect stats are that 1 in every 166 children will be diagnosed with autism. That's much higher than Downs Syndrome, or other disabilities. But still parents of children with autism, at least here in California, have their voice heard much more than other parents. They get programs that cost upwards of $100,000 a year that are paid for by both the local school districts and Regional Centers. These programs give these children 40 hrs/wk of 1:1 service in their home. The other children I works with, who have mental retardation, CP, Downs, etc... do not get services anywhere near that. I think another factor is that some children with Autism will have their diagnosis removed after successfully completeing these programs. A person with Downs doesn't get "cured" so they see autism as a diagnosis that there is much more hope in the future with.

Answer 3

Because in the last 10 years the rate of autism in the country has gone up 370%... 8 years ago(1998) when my son was diagnosed 1:750 children in the country were dxed with autism. NOW in 2006 the rate is 1:166. children. There are no answers to what is causing it.(everyone has an opinion) There are no clear ways to treat it ( everyone has an opinion.) The government is JUST starting a 5 year study into the causes of autism.

In the county I live in Wisconsin 375 children with autism are being serviced with things like speech , OT, hippotherapy(horsebackriding therapy), music therapy, school district programs, in home behavior programs, In home ABA programs to try to help them. That is just 1 county in 1 state. the #'s of children and families effected by this is astronomical.

Answer 4

I wish autism got more attention than it does. My 10 yr old son has a form of autism known as PDD-NOS, and he's always being defiant and busy and constantly moving. I haven't put him on any medication, because I'd rather have him getting on my nerves than being in a catatonic state.

I've checked out the website www.autism.org. You should check that one out for any recent news. I also have a book written by a woman named Dorothy Sage Wolfe, who is a person living with Asperger's Autism, which gives me hope that my son may have an opportunity to have a productive life. It's entitled Larger than Life, The Struggle to be Ten Feet Tall. She also has a website, www.worldwidefairplay.org. Check that one out too. You can order her book from there.

Answer 5

I think Aman means why do you hear so much about autism vs other illnesses. It's getting a lot of coverage right now because important info about it is coming out, like the fact that cases are skyrocketing and no one knows why. There is a lso a certain amount of trendiness in coverage. A few years ago schizophrenia was the hot mental disorder, before that sociopaths were the 'in' topic, before that multiple-personality disorder, etc...

Answer 6

Because it has a well funded grass roots group across the nation that has evolved as a major political force. Here in delaware the average spent on an autistic person in a group home is $126,000! If that same person had any other mental or developmental disability the State would be willing to pay not more than $60,000

Answer 7

I wasn't aware that it did? Autism is a very serious problem, though, and deserves attention, just the same as countless other unwelcome afflictions.....my boyfriend's 17 year old son has severe autism and I only wish they knew then what has been learned since his birth....and we can only pray that doctors and scientists continue to work towards one day eliminating all childhood afflictions!! Wouldn't that be wonderful???

Answer 8

You are incorrect, autism does not receive more attention than any other mental disorder; I believe that sociopaths and schizophrenics are addressed much more frequently than autistic individuals.

Answer 9

I have autism and no one treats me any differently. I'm basically like a normal kid on a ton of medicine and seeing a lot of doctors.