is autism overdiagnosed?

Question

Answer 1

It can be: I have several kids in my practice that carried the ASD (autism spectrum disorder) label while young were really just late talkers and have gone on to function well. Part of the difficulty is created by the lack of a definitive test (like a broken leg on x ray) and the need schools have to label a child in some way to justify the special tutoring or instruction they receive.

Answer 2

Not at all: Most recent published data 1/88 kids 1/254 girls 1/54 boys.

Answer 3

In the middle: By definition, symptoms of autism appear before age 3. Some toddlers with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or with mood/behavior problems & strong family history of bipolar disorder exhibit autistic behaviors at that age that do not persist.I've also seen older children previously diagnosed with asperger's syndrome who actually have primary mental illness. Monitoring development over time is key.

Answer 4

ILL vs error?: The facts are that autism diagnosis is up 78 percent from 2002 and 23 percent from 2006 - a very big deal. However, lets think about whether this is because we can detect more kids with autism or whether more illness exists today. Highly recommend the article below on this question. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2012/autism-prevalence-more-affected-or-more-detected.shtml.

Answer 5

Yes and no: We are better able to recognize it earlier on and so the numbers are on the rise. Here is an overview of one version of the spectrum. http://youtu.be/xg1ngp1ngds.

Answer 6

Autism: No! it's underdiagnosed. Find a psychologist who knows the ados and can complete a thorough developmental evaluation. Here is dr. Barcott who does these early evals. http://youtu.be/yclcpo-siis.

Answer 7

Socially impaired: Autism is a communication disorder that impairs language and social developement. When a baby is not meeting developemental milestones, does not seem to react socially with smiling, showing pleasure and recognition when seeing a parent, not showing affection, and not clearly recognizing his/her name by a year of age , autism might be suspected and referral to a specialist is warranted.

Answer 8

Communication probs: Children with autism typically have difficulty communicating with others in a socially appropriate and effective manner. Some may be severely speech delayed. Others may be able to talk but may lack the appropriate social skills to maintain a normal conversation and interact with others. Autistic children may also have difficulty sustaining eye contact & playing with others/toys in a typical manner.

Answer 9

Socially Impaired: Early signs of autism are no social smile at six months, lack of gesturing and pointing by 12 months, poor eye contact, lack of pretend play by 18 months, it is a social and communication disorder, and we pediatricians are looking for these developmental milestones carefully during checkups!

Answer 10

Multiple: The hallmarks are speech delay, decreased social interactions, limited areas of interest, limited imaginative play and certain stereotypical movements like hand flapping.

Answer 11

Social/Speech delays: The three key features of autism are 1) delay in language development, 2) poor social interactions, and 3) obsessional or repetitive behaviors. New screening tests are used by medical providers to screen for these features starting at 18months old, and there are some studies on tests to detect autism even earlier. As always, if you have a concern, it's best to see your provider.

Answer 12

Autism: Autism is not a disease, it is a disorder, and as such the symptoms could vary in severity and presentation.Diagnostic criteria includes impairement in social skills, language/communication and a rigid behavior.If your child exhibits a behavior that appears odd or different to you seek help early.Pediatricians routinely should screen at well visits.A standarized screener such as the mchat is a valid.

Answer 13

Autism Spectrum DO: It is classified as pervasive developmental disorder, and includes Asperger syndrome, autism, childhood disintegrative disorder & rett syndrome. It is characterized by social deficits, communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors or interests & sometimes cognitive delays.

Answer 14

ASD: Due to wide range of symptoms, in 2013 , it is called autism spectrum disorder. Early diagnosis is important. It can help make gains in language and social skills. ASD affects mainly 3 different areas. Social interaction, communication (verbal and nonverbal), behaviors and interests. Please see a good child developmental pediatric specialist.

Answer 15

The symptoms of Autism include:: Delayed language, Enlarged head, Feeding difficulties, Impaired social skills, Ritualistic behavior, Language impairment.

Answer 16

Possibly: There is biomedical treatment for autism that should be supervised by a physician with specialized training. Search for a physician in your area who has this specialization and they can suggest a treatment protocol based on the specific needs of your child.

Answer 17

No: There are no "natural" herbs or supplements that help with autism. See nimh for best information. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. This website outlines appropriate treatments. Many parents, distraught with their child's autism, clutch at the straws of unproven, untested, or downright appalling treatments.

Answer 18

Not Really: Altho many will try to sell these things, nothing has been consistantly proven to help in solid scientific research.

Answer 19

No: Many autistic patients have above average intelligence where as mentally retarded people have below normal intelligence. This lower intelligence will prevent savant like behavior. That does not mean that mr patients cannot make a meaningful contribution to society.

Answer 20

Definitions change: The original term was "idiot savant." the reason these rare individuals are of such interest is that often their overall capabilities, what most of us would think of as intelligence, is quite low, and yet in one or two specific areas, they have skills vastly superior to the average population. The term "autistic savant" is now preferred, but mental retardation usually is a part of the picture.

Answer 21

The current term is : Intellectual disability. Cognitive abilities, both verbal and non-verbal, are fairly evenly below 70, with concomitant social/adaptive delays ; onset before age 18. There are different levels of id; e.g., an iq of 55-69 is the "mildly handicapped" range. 45-65% of people with autistic spectrum disorder also have id. " spikes" in certain areas of ability can be seen in those who have both.

Answer 22

No: Autism has a world wide prevalence of 2-4%. This is true for industrialized countries as well as developing societies. There is a genetic component as well as an environmental one. Even in africa, the incidence is about the same as in europe or us. Iceland has a remarkably increased incidence, the audie of which is not yet clearly understood.

Answer 23

NO: Of course not.Dr. Enriquez's answer sums up the facts. The difference is that the 1st world nations generally gives people more access to health care systems, so there is more involvement in diagnosis.

Answer 24

It just seems that : Way. In fact many children with it remain undiagnosed. Things are improving on the diagnosis front as diagnostic tools and criteria are refined. I live with a 6 year old autistic grandson. I am grateful that he was diagnosed at age 2, but it remains a rough gig.

is autism overdiagnosed?

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