Do you feel doctors over label children with 'Autism' disorder when they can't pinpoint a problem?

Question

I have recently been noticing the influx of case studies with children with 'Autism Disorder', a lot of which where Aspergers Syndrome was the diagnosis. When I think of Autism, I think "Rainmain" w/ Dustin Hoffman. But that could be also known as Savant Syndrome. Anyway, do you think a lot of children are getting labeled with 'Autism' when in fact it could be somthing else, such as ADD, or ADHD? There is a child that I know that has a nervous twitch, the twitch is that he constantly is moving his leg and the doctors diagnosed the boy with "Aspergers", the mother of the boy is very upset, and feels it is misdiagnosed, and is going for a second opinion at a University Hospital. I too, am a mother of a special needs child, and I find the influx in Autism diagnosis' alarming. What do you think. Please advise your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_diag.jsp?pid=1072

My perception of the increase in diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders has more to do with the reshuffling of certain social, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics that were previously being catergorized as other disorders. Basically this means that kids who would have gotten diagnoses of mental retardation, ADD, ADHD, ODD, or many other disorders 10 years ago are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. The link I have included talks a little bit about what is included in autism spectrum disorders for anyone who is curious about this group of disorders that affects 1 in 150 children in the USA. :)

Answer 2

Is it possible that some of the diagnosis of autism are mistaken? Of course. Autism is a tough thing to pinpoint, especially in cases where the symptomology and impact is less severe and the child is high functioning. Autism has such a wide range of symptoms, that for many years, only the children with the most severe form of the disorder were diagnoses and even then it was rarely before the child began school. It is has been my experience that it is nearly always better for the child to get a diagnosis...any diagnosis..and then seek second and even third opinios. The reason for that is that even if the diagnosis is later revised or even romoved, the child will have begun to recieve services much quicker than if the "wait and give it time" approach that was the norm for so long is used. As we now know, the key to helping children with autistic spectrum disorders (including Aspergers and PDD) is getting them into intensive therapy as soon as possilbe. A child who, after a period of time and additional testing, is found to not meet the diagnosis is rarely harmed by some sessions with a speech therapist and occupational specialists, but an undiagnosed child who goes without intervention is facing an even more challanging road. This is, I believe, one of the reasons doctors are diagnosising more and more children with autism...they need the diagnosis to get the services needed and waiting can prove to have signifigant, negative effects on the overall treatment of the child.

That being said, I also do feel we are seeing more children with spectrum disorders. Why is hard to say. Certainly the fact that more and more professionals are awared of these issues and more services are available has led to an increased awareness and more diagnosis at a much earlier age than we have seen in the generation prior. I also think there may be other factors involved, but what is hard to say. Many think innoculations for MMR are the key. I tend to disagree with that thought, but do think there are some external factors coupled with a genetic predisposition that effect both the occurance and severity of autism. I would like to see studies done on the use of antibiotics in the mother and father, as well as exsposure to other pollutants. The generation of parents of the children in this new wave of autism were often given high and frequesnt doses of antibiotics as there was no understanding that they were often ineffective and/or could build up in the system, We are also the generation exsposed to high levels of CO2 (economy cars came in as we left high school and college), smoking was the norm and there was little awareness of greenhouse gases and the effects of other enviromental factors. It is possible that all of that, tied into a genetic code we have yet to find, could be the cause. Of course, it could just be that as we evolve as humans, we will see the rise and fall of other disorders and diseases.

At this point, the simple truth is we don't really know what has caused such a huge jump in the number of children diagnosed with autism. What we do know is that the diagnosis is no longer one of hopelessness and limited opportunities that the word autism would have connotated 15 years ago. We know what strategies can work, we know that the key is intervention as soon as possilbe. We know what educational models work well for our kids and that even a child who does not speak is often as mentally aware and capable as the normal child sitting next to him. And what we know is being spread throughout the parenting community, so parents no longer feel alone or isolated. Treatements, behavioral plans and just good ideas can be shared at the push of a key on a computer keyboard. All of this means that while there may be more kids with the diagnosis of autism, in 20 years there will be even more adults, living a full and meaningful life because of all that has been and will be done.

Answer 3

Currently there are roughly 250 variances on the autism specrum. And yes, "Rainman" had autism, but the movie's theme was that he was an idiot savant as well. Not all autists are savants and they are not all like Rainman. In fact, each autistic person is different. The "Rainman" generalization is a very common and frustrated comparison for those of us deal with autism on a daily basis.

Many Autists actually have ADD or ADHD AS WELL as autism, but again, not all Autists.

Do I think autism is being overdiagnosed? Absolutely not. I do believe doctors are getting better at diagnosing it. The new CDC (Centers of Disease Control) numbers are 1 in 150 children have a form of autism. The numbers are not on the rise from misdiagnosis, but from whatever it is (scientists and medical professionals are feverently looking for the causes and cure), causing autism.

If your friend, or anyone else for that matter, has the slightest doubt in a doctor's diagnosis the right choice is always (in my opinion) getting a second opinion.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

first of all hollywood has brainwashed America with that rainman crap. Kim who rainman was based off was an idiot savant with a touch of autism, BIG DIFFERENCE. The mother should join a support group to help her grieve but aspergers is nothing to compare to the other spectrums ( not down playing her pain) she should be proud, her child is going to do amazing things other kids cant

I think the fact the rate has risen is that we know more now, before they just labeled kids as problematic or behavior problems which was worse and some were locked away in instituitions. There is alot of research going on right now about teh foods autistics eat that might trigger the autistic beahvior in some.

My son is high functioning autism, yes it was devastating to hear but I knew it in my heart before he was diagnosed and hey how many 3.5 yr olds do you know that can type and spell their own name, know their left from their right, add to 25, knows all shapes including trapezoid, hexagon and so forth, has a memory to die for !~
My son is amazing BUT that mother will go thru a greiving period, we all do!

I donot believe immunizations cause autism, my son has never had a shot with mercury in it and he has it

PS IF you want to watch a good movie about autism, watch mozart and the whale! great movie

Answer 5

I am more concerned by the signs. there are several disorders that share symptoms. I think that if a child needs help it should be given to them whether or not they are diagnosed as autistic or not. For example, the schools system does not recognize my son as being on the autism spectrum even though he was diagnosed by a Psychologist. they will agree that he has major problems as far as social skills are concerned. Why not just help him?

Answer 6

Is there a possibility of over diagnosis? Sure. However, diagnosis may also be a result of symptom awareness from parents who question developmental delays in their child. When diagnosis is provided to the child and parents, it is usually to assist the family in receiving adequate support services which will enhance the child's overall development.

Answer 7

I've observed this "re-labelling" phenomena as well and so perfectly agree with you. I also think, from the other end of the spectrum, kids who used to be labeled "mentally retarded" are now being labelled "autistic" because it's easier for parents to hear that their child is autistic as opposed to mentally retarded. However, even in past years, the term "autism" covered a large spectrum of behavior, which has recently expanded even further.

Answer 8

well hold on now, don't jump all over ADD and ADHD, because that is just as loosely diagnosed, if not more. I was on that medication for years until they told me I never really had it, same thing for a lot of my friends and their children.

I think they misdiagnose children a lot for behavioral problems, because parents want an answer, but it's usually really just kids being themselves.

Answer 9

ADD, ADHD, 'Autism Disorder', and Aspergers Syndrome are all overly diagnosed in my opinion. My nephew was diagnosed with Aspergers. It's clear he has issues, but it seems that more and more kids are given shut-up drugs so that society and parents can handle them without spending time with them or trying to help them. These kids end up on these drugs for their entire lives. We don't know the long term effects of many of them.

Answer 10

I don't know anything about doctors.