Article: Evolving Definition Of Autism Prompts Questions About Prevalence

[Anonymous]

Seems like a nobrainer. I if you change the criteria, the number of people fitting the criteria will change. If you require a certain SAT score for a college and then you make that score higher and add other more stringent criteria, then fewer people get in.

Regardless, these are kids who need help. Contrary to what people are saying here often the help will not change whether they are not considered autistic or not. They will not suddenly be moved into a different social skills group if the current one is a match. Speech therapy goals will not suddenly change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, good - I hope they save the funding for the actual disabled people now.

The problem is without the ASD diagnosis many kids who need services, regardless of what it is, go without as their parents cannot afford that kind of private pay. So, in less insurance will pay for speech for a language disorder, or behavioral help for ADHD, often these kids are getting diagnosed as there aren't any other good options to get them the specialized help they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, good - I hope they save the funding for the actual disabled people now.

The problem is without the ASD diagnosis many kids who need services, regardless of what it is, go without as their parents cannot afford that kind of private pay. So, in less insurance will pay for speech for a language disorder, or behavioral help for ADHD, often these kids are getting diagnosed as there aren't any other good options to get them the specialized help they need.

+1 my son has a legit receptive/expressive language disorder. We can’t afford the $500 per month speech therapy without removing all of the other activityes he loves- so we made a hard choice to remove the therapy so he can take piano lessons and play his sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, good - I hope they save the funding for the actual disabled people now.

The problem is without the ASD diagnosis many kids who need services, regardless of what it is, go without as their parents cannot afford that kind of private pay. So, in less insurance will pay for speech for a language disorder, or behavioral help for ADHD, often these kids are getting diagnosed as there aren't any other good options to get them the specialized help they need.

+1 my son has a legit receptive/expressive language disorder. We can’t afford the $500 per month speech therapy without removing all of the other activityes he loves- so we made a hard choice to remove the therapy so he can take piano lessons and play his sport.

There are cheaper options at the local universities that are 1/2 the price and have sliding fee scales so it should not be one or the other. We found after a certain point, speech therapy wasn't helpful anymore which is why we dropped it.