"Dr. Lynn Waterhouse @autismideasfail 6 Sep http://bit.ly/17WbZVi#autism gene AUTS2 tied to dyslexia ADHD epilepsy ID motor delay microcephaly MORE SYMPTOMS should be part of ASD DX"
The above Tweet by Dr. Lynn Waterhouse, author of Rethinking Autism: Variation and Complexity, who also worked with Dr. Lorna Wing on the APA DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for autism,should be read by any existing DSM5 committee members charged with developing modifications to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The DSM-5 has doubled down on the failed approach of simplifying autism contrary to solid evidence and research.
Dr Waterhouse's tweet comment on the study Function and Regulation of AUTS2, a Gene Implicated in Autism and Human Evolution suggests to this humble father of a son who suffers from severe Autistic Disorder (DSM-IV), profound Intellectual Disability and epileptic seizures, including two recent Grand Mal seizures, suggests as does her thorough, well researched Rethinking Autism text that the DSM-5 is taking autism disorders down the wrong path, a path that will cause serious harm to autistic children and adults and to the research necessary to develop successful evidence based interventions for autism symptoms and disorders.
Jonathan Mitchell does some Neurodiversity myth busting in his recent post More mythology from neurodiversity. Jonathan is commenting on the Dan Marino promoted video by Ari Ne'eman, a gentleman with Aspergers Disorder, and some other persons, at least one of whom is hard to believe has any type of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, and their creation of new Neurodiversity flavored autism myths.
Jonathan suffers from a mild autism spectrum disorder. While he and I do not agree on all autism related issues I have great respect for his honesty. Jonathan's honesty is not held in the same esteem though by Neurodiversity ideologues who are angry at him, as an autistic person, for refusing to drink the Neurodiversity Kool-Aid.
Jonathan addresses a number of ND Myths in this comment, including one of my often repeated criticism's: the insistence of someone like Ari Ne'eman, a very intelligent, highly articulate, high functioning individual, diagnosed at age 12 with Aspergers Disorder after initially being diagnosed with ADHD, to pretend to be able to speak on behalf of ALL persons on the autism spectrum of disorders even the most severely affected by Autistic Disorder. Ari Ne'eman uses the royal "we" to pretend to speak about autism disorders on behalf of people he has never met, with whom he has nothing in common and, as in the case of my son, with whom he does not have the same autism spectrum diagnosis.
My son Conor has Autistic Disorder, assessed with profound developmental delays. He has absolutely nothing in common with Ari Ne'eman, previously diagnosed with ADHD, and now diagnosed with Aspergers Disorder. Conor's Autistic Disorder deficits include limited communication and understanding of abstract concepts. He engages in self injurious and occasionally aggressive behavior and he will NOT, like Mr. Ne'eman, live an independent life, attend college and pose in numerous media interviews in which he purports to speak on behalf of anyone, including himself.
Read Jonathan Mitchell's More mythology from neurodiversity comment if you want an honest, informed analysis of Neurodiversity myth making nonsense.
ABC News has an interesting online feature The Answers to Autism May Be Inside the Mind in which neurologist Dr. Fernando Miranda argues that neurologists should be more involved in the diagnosis and treatment of autism disorders. The feature includes parent input, including an interview with Sarah Kavanaugh, whose son had been diagnosed with an autism disorder but who sought Dr. Miranda's assistance. An MRI disclosed that Beckett's corpus colusum, "the brain freeway that connects the two hemispheres, was a bit thin. That is crucial in any sort of diagnosis because it can affect language."
An EEG indicated signs of seizures which were not necessarily visible to observers. After more tests and a sleep EEG it was determined that her son did not in fact have an autism disorder. He " has a version of Landau Kleffner syndrome, a brain seizure disorder that can masquerade as autism." Since that diagnosis Kavanaugh's son has benefited substantially from anti-seizure medication.
The ABC feature also points out that it is not clear that all children would benefit from anti-seizure medication or that anti-seizure medication is always appropriate in cases where there are indications of limited seizure activity. Research is not currently advanced enough to indicate which children with seizure like symptoms might benefit from such medication. The drugs, in the view of some doctors, can be harmful. There is a risk that such medications could become over prescribed as some feel has happened with ADHD medications.
The children featured in this article benefited from the intervention of neurologists and ABC has done a service to children with autism and autism like conditions by highlighting that fact.
Autism rates have changed significantly since my son was diagnosed 10 years ago. At that time it was common to read estimates ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 1000. But the estimates started changing to 1 in 250, then 1 in 166 and now 1 in 150. In the UK the figure currently used is 1 in 100. There are many today who believe that changes in the definition of autism introduced in the DSM-IV combined with diagnostic substitution explain the dramatic increases in autism disorder diagnoses. But the advocates of this theory really have no solid studies providing precise measurements to substantiate the belief that the autism increases are all largely changes in how we view autism rather than actual increases in incidents of autism.
The definition change believers seem to be on solid ground to the extent that they argue that such change is a substantial contributing factor to the increases in autism diagnoses. They seem to stretch their belief beyond reason though when they assert dogmatically that the increases are due entirely to these social factors and rule out any environmental increases. The well known identical twins studies show that, in some cases, one identical twin will receive an autism diagnosis but the other will not, suggesting a role for environmental factors in autism causation.
In Neurodevelopmental Disorders in ChildrenAutism and ADHD Mona Sethi Gupta, Ph.D. examines environmental factors that may disrupt neurological development including lead, mercury, PCBs, dioxins, arsenic and toluene. Dr. Gupta discusses some studies suggesting environmental contributors to increasing neurodevelopment problems among children who are more sensitive to environmental toxins than adults and reminds us of the thalidomide tragedy. Dr. Gupta notes emphasizes the importance of taking action to protect children from environmental toxins:
"The impact of environmental toxins on children’s health has become a major focus in the federal government resulting in establishment of eight new research centers in children’s environmental health with joint funding from EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). "The brains of our children are our most precious economic resource, and we haven't recognized how vulnerable they are," says Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor at Harvard School of Public Health and the lead author of the study published in The Lancet . "We must make protection of the young brain a paramount goal of public health protection. You have only one chance to develop a brain.""
There are those who argue dogmatically that environmental factors are not involved in causing autism and that the startling autism increases are due entirely to definition change and diagnostic substitution. They may honestly believe their assertions or they may be tied to promotion of book royalties or blog site advertising but modern history, thalidomide, tobacco and cancer, suggest greater caution in ruling out all environmental contributors to autism and other developmental disorders. Our children deserve better than for society to rely on the faith and belief of dogmatists on such important issues.
Note:
dog·ma·tist
1. An arrogantly assertive person.
2. One who expresses or sets forth dogma.
Noun
1.
dogmatist - a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
Fans of Charles LeBlanc's blog site "Charles LeBlanc Political ADHD Activist" have been surprised to see a blank white page where Charles' blog used to be located.
Blogger has been having problems for the past 24 hours but Charles speculates that there may be more to it in the case of his blog site. Time will tell.
In the meantime anyone wanting to see Charles' pics, and read what he and his guests have to say, can still do so at Charles LeBlancs Other Blog.
Canada Day in Fredericton brought out all kinds of people to enjoy the festivities. It should come as no surprise that New Brunswick's most popular blogger, read by government, police, legal counsel and a legion of fans and malcontents, would be busy taking pics for his blog site. In this shot Charles LeBlanc, the ADHD Activist turned general pain in the ... neck and social conscience gets blogged while blogging. You are getting too old and slow on the draw Charles!
Charles is currently pitching in to help get signatures on our petition to the House of Commons to include autism treatment in Medicare coverage. Thanks for the help Charles!
Early this week I sat down for a coffee at the Second Cup with well known New Brunswick blogger, political activist and pain in the neck Charles LeBlanc. I arrived early and waited with my camera concealed below the table. As Charles approached I snapped the photo above. The Blogger has been blogged!!!
I met Charles a few years ago through my autism advocacy. Charles was already known as an ADHD activist who brought to public attention the issue of over prescription of Ritalin for New Brunswick school students. He also pitched in on behalf of autism, attending rallies, putting up posters and helping with our Christmas parade float on one cold, wet, windy day in Fredericton. His blogging is often over the top in style and substance and has been known to infuriate some. But Charles also raises issues that the main stream media are reluctant to feature. As CBC reporter Robert Jones pointed out in a segment which aired the night before commencement of Charles's trial on obstruction of justice charges arising out of the Atlantica conference protest, Charles blog site features pictures of the homeless and disadvantaged and brings their issues to public attention. Friends of mine in government tell me that many politicians and civil servants read Charles' blog site regularly. In Charles the poor and disadvantaged in New Brunswick have a voice by which they can speak to power and have their issues heard.
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