I’ve been hearing lately that Sensory Integration Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are now being included in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
I don’t know who would make such a decision, and the CDC’s Web site says nothing of the kind, but I certainly hope it isn’t true.
While many children with autism also have ADHD and/or Sensory Integration Disorder, that doesn’t mean children with these disorders also have autism. If it rains, the ground gets wet. But if the ground is wet, that doesn’t mean it has rained. A sprinkler could have caused it.
It is quite possible that children who don’t have ASD are being diagnosed with it. People are misdiagnosed all the time. But if the definition of autism keeps getting broader, confusion will cause these misdiagnoses to increase.
There is enough of a backlash against autism as it is. While people are’t actually saying autism is caused by bad parenting, they may be thinking is it bad parenting instead of autism. That’s because they see kids with an autism diagnosis who don’t behave as if they have autism, they just don’t behave. So they think parents are using the diagnosis to explain away bad behavior.
Perhaps some are. These parents may well be victims, too. If a doctor tells you your child has autism, wouldn’t you then stop trying to correct some behaviors because you think the child won’t understand or can’t help it?
Broadening the definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder will just make the situation worse.
Actually this theory is not new – it’s been around quite a while – & includes other neurological issues like dyslexia as well as bipolar disorder.
My understanding is that ADD & ADHD are not being considered part of autism – rather all of these are on a spectrum or range of neurological disorders or impairments.
We’ve discussed this in my local support group before & we noticed that to a large extent – extroverted kids tend to be on the ADD/ADHD side of things & the introverted kids tend to be more autistic. Then there are those like my 3rd child who is only a little introverted – and is one of the most outgoing autistic kids you’ll meet BUT has little interest in developing close friendships.
At any rate, the conversation has been around quite a while and doesn’t seem to have been particularly detrimental – if true, it is another puzzle piece in our search for answers (& help)!
Johanna Eubank writes about the joys and trials of having an adult child with autism.
About Johanna Eubank
Johanna Eubank is a news and research assistant for the Arizona Daily Star and online content producer for StarNet. She and her husband Dave have two sons, 23-year-old David, who has autism, and 20-year-old Rob, who is studying to be an aerospace engineer.
Email: jeubank@azstarnet.com
Actually this theory is not new – it’s been around quite a while – & includes other neurological issues like dyslexia as well as bipolar disorder.
My understanding is that ADD & ADHD are not being considered part of autism – rather all of these are on a spectrum or range of neurological disorders or impairments.
We’ve discussed this in my local support group before & we noticed that to a large extent – extroverted kids tend to be on the ADD/ADHD side of things & the introverted kids tend to be more autistic. Then there are those like my 3rd child who is only a little introverted – and is one of the most outgoing autistic kids you’ll meet BUT has little interest in developing close friendships.
At any rate, the conversation has been around quite a while and doesn’t seem to have been particularly detrimental – if true, it is another puzzle piece in our search for answers (& help)!
— Grace 11/20/2008 11:31 PM #