Let's try figure out what we are talking about...
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision 2000 (DSM IV-TR) is a publication of the American Psychiatric Association and contains the most widely used definition of autism. It defines autism entirely in terms of behaviors and abilities. Here is the full definition courtesy of the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autistic Disorder
What a mouthful!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wikipedia
When researching a topic one of the first things I like to do is take a look at Wikipedia. There is a lot of stuff there and lots of links. When a topic is riddled with controversy, like autism is, Wikipedia provides differing points of view. Going deeper in the "discussion" page one can see further opinions, discussions, arguments. Then I follow the links and related topics.
All this is useful even when I am quite familiar with the topic, like with autism. I frequently find things I am not aware of, but also, more importantly, I find well documented arguments pro and con and get to challenge my own prejudice and preconception.
So here it is...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
All this is useful even when I am quite familiar with the topic, like with autism. I frequently find things I am not aware of, but also, more importantly, I find well documented arguments pro and con and get to challenge my own prejudice and preconception.
So here it is...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
Autism
Everyone with even marginal experience knows that facing autism can be quite frustrating. There are some daily challenges when caring for a loved one whose primary interests appear to be focused on discovering novel methods to stir trouble. Spilling oil on the carpet, flooding the kitchen, breaking glass and furniture, tearing books and documents, screaming and kicking the walls in ungodly hours... Are you keeping your cool? Where is your sense of humor?
This may seem like plenty, but there is a much bigger mess that needs to be sorted out, a mess bigger than anything our beloved can create, one that extends well beyond our human understanding. Yes, I am talking about autism research. Thousands of frustrated parents each with their own theory about autism etiology and threatment, high profile government researchers proclaiming autism an idiopathy and refusing to listen to anyone who claims to know anything, chelation, genetic links, vaccinations, swimming with dolphins, mercury, applied behavioral analysis (ABA), gluten free/casein free/specific carbohydrate diet, enzymes, supplements, speech therapy, special masters, expert witnesses, water filters, safe rooms, B-12 shots, calcium, tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), mitochondria, 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS)...
So where do we start?
This may seem like plenty, but there is a much bigger mess that needs to be sorted out, a mess bigger than anything our beloved can create, one that extends well beyond our human understanding. Yes, I am talking about autism research. Thousands of frustrated parents each with their own theory about autism etiology and threatment, high profile government researchers proclaiming autism an idiopathy and refusing to listen to anyone who claims to know anything, chelation, genetic links, vaccinations, swimming with dolphins, mercury, applied behavioral analysis (ABA), gluten free/casein free/specific carbohydrate diet, enzymes, supplements, speech therapy, special masters, expert witnesses, water filters, safe rooms, B-12 shots, calcium, tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), mitochondria, 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS)...
So where do we start?
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