I have letters after my name ....

[B_NineInchCock_160IQ]

A 10 year old child was on the television last night reeling off a list of medical conditions as an explanation for his bad behaviour.
He proudly commented on his ADHD, dyslexia, dysphraxia, anger-management issues, low IQ with the panache of a Harley Street specialist .
Some explanation perhaps for his breaking of windows, shoplifting, verbal abuse and attacking other children ?

For the love of God would you please stop with the giant boldface type all the time? I can never make it all the way through any of your posts. It overpowers anything you ever have to say.

 

[DC_DEEP]

Whilst in some cases sure, there may well be a link, but when you see them kicking and punching the mother because they want chocolate, and the mother explains that they have (add letters for something random) then proceed to buy them the chocolate, you've got to wonder just how much of it is the illness/condition and how much is the mother not caring as long as she doesn't have to deal with the kid herself.

Anything for an easy life eh?

I often wonder "is it the condition, or the conditioning?"

Not always, but often, you can tell the difference. Sometimes, it is blatantly obvious that the child's bad behavior is controllable, but mom takes the easy way out, and the child never learns any self control.

Kot, you never cease to amaze me.

 

[snoozan]

Just want to point out there is no link between vaccinations and Autism. The association is due to the fact that children begin showing signs of autism around the same time a bunch of vaccinations are given but the two are not related.

I'm glad you pointed this out because there are a lot of misconceptions on the causes of autism which aren't known all that well. What we do know is that it's not the shots and it's probably not mercury levels.

Also, Autism is amazingly treatable with proper intervention the problem is its very intense, very expensive and strong family support is necessary beyond what most can handle

Treatment and cures for autism are hotly debated in some circles, particularly among adult autistics who feel that autism is something that should be accepted as a way of being rather than an illness. I think Temple Grandin is a wonderful example of an autistic person who has used her autism to make herself very successful where she would not have been without it.

Most treatment of autism centers around teaching people with autism to deal with the world of us "NTs" (which means neurotypical and is a slightly derogatory term for those not on the autistic spectrum). There's no real cure for autism and arguably no treatment that actually lessens or ameliorates the autism-- it just teaches some coping mechanisms and life skills.

There are some fantastic resources out there about autism by autistics that take the approach that autism is not a disease or disorder that needs to be fixed. It's really fascinating and, I think, a wonderful alterative way of thinking that really empowers and gives confidence to people with autism.

 

[AlteredEgo]

I have several autistic friends who function just fine. One is even in the military! I can't imagine the autistic children I knew in elementary school who screamed and had violent reactions to everything growing into these calm, completely functional adults that are friends with me today. But I hope wherever the ones I saw in elementarty school are, they are leading happy, fulfilling lives, just like my friends. Actually, I met one of my friends in the sixth grade, and never knew she was autistic until I showed up at her house one day and found her wrapped up in the futon matress, her husband sitting on her. Apparently, being in a "clausterphobic situation" calms her down. Wow.

My significant other has a really, really bad case of ADHD. It took me months to notice. In fact, I wasn't sure, and had to ask. One day I noticed that wherever my S.O. was, all the electronics would be on, several mangas and novels would be out, and of course, we'd be talking. That's when I finally asked and found out what their childhood was like, and how drug therapy was extremely helpful and got my S.O. through his schooling, but that now my S.O. just kind of gives into it and plays two video games, watches TV, reads two or three things, chats online, on the phone and with me pretty seamlessly. I asked if the ADHD interferes at work (my S.O. is in the military) and the answer was that it can be hard to concentrate some days, and others it is easier to control.

Apparently, drugs were an immediate help, but martial arts training was a more permanent solution.