CNN report -- Autism: Could high U.S. rate be due to over-diagnosis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That link is to a blog by some mom in New Zealand written in 2011. Not sure how that is relevant to the number of autism diagnosed in the U.S.

It's not. But, someone brought up the point that some parents try to get this diagnosis just for extra services, which may or may not be because of autism. My point was that, much like redshirting, it's the parents with the financial resources that can push for some kind of diagnosis to get extra services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This? This right here is why 1 in 68 kids have "autism" now in the US. But not in Canada or Germany or any other industrialized wealthy nation.

I could care less if ASD is over diagnosed as long as these kids are getting the help they need.

Maybe because the USA has a higher standard for children.

You think we have more higher standards than most of Western Europe and Canada and Australia? No. If we did, we'd have way more social services. We do, however, have a system where a parent can sue the school district to push for services. In some ways, that's a good thing, obviously. But, certainly, there are wealthy parents that have the means to abuse the system.

You think there is an epidemic of wealthy parents suing the school systems to get their non-autistic children autism services?

I didn't say there was an epidemic of it, but wealthy parents do have the means and sometimes will abuse the system.

The ones I know with the means to sue, don't. They go private instead. Very few suits are filed.

I thought most private schools didn't have great autism services.

There are private school specifically for high functioning autism -which is what we are talking about. The increase in autism diagnoses is at the HFA/mild end of the spectrum. Plus, many HFA students simply do better in private schools because of the smaller classes.

[Anonymous]

If people are trying to get kids diagnosed with autism just for the so-called wonderful services, they'd be better off pursuing. Some other strategy! The services for high functioning kids are abysmal and are very hard to get. If you like spending money on advocates and outside evaluators who don't take insurance just to game the system, you are wacked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That link is to a blog by some mom in New Zealand written in 2011. Not sure how that is relevant to the number of autism diagnosed in the U.S.

It's not. But, someone brought up the point that some parents try to get this diagnosis just for extra services, which may or may not be because of autism. My point was that, much like redshirting, it's the parents with the financial resources that can push for some kind of diagnosis to get extra services.

The blogger lives in New Zealand: https://autismandoughtisms.wordpress.com/about/

Yes, I agree with you that parents with the financial resources can get their kids the extra services but even in those cases, the kid probably needs the services - otherwise it will be a waste of money and makes no sense to seek services the kid does not need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That link is to a blog by some mom in New Zealand written in 2011. Not sure how that is relevant to the number of autism diagnosed in the U.S.

It's not. But, someone brought up the point that some parents try to get this diagnosis just for extra services, which may or may not be because of autism. My point was that, much like redshirting, it's the parents with the financial resources that can push for some kind of diagnosis to get extra services.

Where are these people? Every parent of a child diagnosed with autism that I know was not looking for that diagnosis. In fact, many were reluctant to take it at first. You can not push for services simply with a diagnosis. You must show clear educational impact to qualify. BTDTGTTS There are no "extra services".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That link is to a blog by some mom in New Zealand written in 2011. Not sure how that is relevant to the number of autism diagnosed in the U.S.

It's not. But, someone brought up the point that some parents try to get this diagnosis just for extra services, which may or may not be because of autism. My point was that, much like redshirting, it's the parents with the financial resources that can push for some kind of diagnosis to get extra services.

The blogger lives in New Zealand: https://autismandoughtisms.wordpress.com/about/

Yes, I agree with you that parents with the financial resources can get their kids the extra services but even in those cases, the kid probably needs the services - otherwise it will be a waste of money and makes no sense to seek services the kid does not need.

There are only 14 educational categories in which a kid can get an IEP - so it makes sense to try to fit into one of those categories if your kid needs an IEP and services/supports even if it is not an exact match to their medical diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This? This right here is why 1 in 68 kids have "autism" now in the US. But not in Canada or Germany or any other industrialized wealthy nation.

I could care less if ASD is over diagnosed as long as these kids are getting the help they need.

Maybe because the USA has a higher standard for children.

You think we have more higher standards than most of Western Europe and Canada and Australia? No. If we did, we'd have way more social services. We do, however, have a system where a parent can sue the school district to push for services. In some ways, that's a good thing, obviously. But, certainly, there are wealthy parents that have the means to abuse the system.

You think there is an epidemic of wealthy parents suing the school systems to get their non-autistic children autism services?

I didn't say there was an epidemic of it, but wealthy parents do have the means and sometimes will abuse the system.

The ones I know with the means to sue, don't. They go private instead. Very few suits are filed.

I thought most private schools didn't have great autism services.

There are private school specifically for high functioning autism -which is what we are talking about. The increase in autism diagnoses is at the HFA/mild end of the spectrum. Plus, many HFA students simply do better in private schools because of the smaller classes.

You can only get public funding for private SPECIAL NEEDS schools. The academics are generally much better at public schools and mainstream privates. You should visit the SN schools you are talking about. Most do not take public funding and we prefer that our kid with HFA stays at his public school with IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That link is to a blog by some mom in New Zealand written in 2011. Not sure how that is relevant to the number of autism diagnosed in the U.S.

It's not. But, someone brought up the point that some parents try to get this diagnosis just for extra services, which may or may not be because of autism. My point was that, much like redshirting, it's the parents with the financial resources that can push for some kind of diagnosis to get extra services.

Where are these people? Every parent of a child diagnosed with autism that I know was not looking for that diagnosis. In fact, many were reluctant to take it at first. You can not push for services simply with a diagnosis. You must show clear educational impact to qualify. BTDTGTTS There are no "extra services".

I have a friend who had a child with some brain damage. She clearly needed some kind of extra help in school. She had to push for an autism diagnosis to get something. I don't begrudge her for trying to get something for her child. But, it is gaming the system to try to get services that wasn't meant for the child. Yes, it sucks that schools may not be able to provide services for other needs.

If someone tries to game the system to put their child in a different school district because their home school district is terrible, that's gaming the system, too, right? We see that here on this forum, and how some people are so angered by it. The child needs to be in a better school district (well, all should have that) because the child is really smart, let's say, and the home district can't provide the right amount of challenge for that child. But, if the parent states that the child's grandparent provides after care to get the COLA, which is not true, then that is gaming the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If people are trying to get kids diagnosed with autism just for the so-called wonderful services, they'd be better off pursuing. Some other strategy! The services for high functioning kids are abysmal and are very hard to get. If you like spending money on advocates and outside evaluators who don't take insurance just to game the system, you are wacked!

Exactly. You can't get much without spending a fortune on advocates and outside evaluators - none of whom takes insurance... and we have a school that has been very accommodating and nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This? This right here is why 1 in 68 kids have "autism" now in the US. But not in Canada or Germany or any other industrialized wealthy nation.

I could care less if ASD is over diagnosed as long as these kids are getting the help they need.

Maybe because the USA has a higher standard for children.

You think we have more higher standards than most of Western Europe and Canada and Australia? No. If we did, we'd have way more social services. We do, however, have a system where a parent can sue the school district to push for services. In some ways, that's a good thing, obviously. But, certainly, there are wealthy parents that have the means to abuse the system.

You think there is an epidemic of wealthy parents suing the school systems to get their non-autistic children autism services?

I didn't say there was an epidemic of it, but wealthy parents do have the means and sometimes will abuse the system.

The ones I know with the means to sue, don't. They go private instead. Very few suits are filed.

I thought most private schools didn't have great autism services.

There are private school specifically for high functioning autism -which is what we are talking about. The increase in autism diagnoses is at the HFA/mild end of the spectrum. Plus, many HFA students simply do better in private schools because of the smaller classes.

You can only get public funding for private SPECIAL NEEDS schools. The academics are generally much better at public schools and mainstream privates. You should visit the SN schools you are talking about. Most do not take public funding and we prefer that our kid with HFA stays at his public school with IEP.

Public funding for private school is very very very rare and only for extreme cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This? This right here is why 1 in 68 kids have "autism" now in the US. But not in Canada or Germany or any other industrialized wealthy nation.

I could care less if ASD is over diagnosed as long as these kids are getting the help they need.

Maybe because the USA has a higher standard for children.

You think we have more higher standards than most of Western Europe and Canada and Australia? No. If we did, we'd have way more social services. We do, however, have a system where a parent can sue the school district to push for services. In some ways, that's a good thing, obviously. But, certainly, there are wealthy parents that have the means to abuse the system.

You think there is an epidemic of wealthy parents suing the school systems to get their non-autistic children autism services?

I didn't say there was an epidemic of it, but wealthy parents do have the means and sometimes will abuse the system.

The ones I know with the means to sue, don't. They go private instead. Very few suits are filed.

I thought most private schools didn't have great autism services.

There are private school specifically for high functioning autism -which is what we are talking about. The increase in autism diagnoses is at the HFA/mild end of the spectrum. Plus, many HFA students simply do better in private schools because of the smaller classes.

You can only get public funding for private SPECIAL NEEDS schools. The academics are generally much better at public schools and mainstream privates. You should visit the SN schools you are talking about. Most do not take public funding and we prefer that our kid with HFA stays at his public school with IEP.

Its near impossible in less your child is very severe. We are at a tiny private/no IEP with small classes that work for our kid. I'd love to go public but my kid would not do well in a large classroom and get lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If people are trying to get kids diagnosed with autism just for the so-called wonderful services, they'd be better off pursuing. Some other strategy! The services for high functioning kids are abysmal and are very hard to get. If you like spending money on advocates and outside evaluators who don't take insurance just to game the system, you are wacked!

Exactly. You can't get much without spending a fortune on advocates and outside evaluators - none of whom takes insurance... and we have a school that has been very accommodating and nice!

Which is why I said it's only those with money that can afford to try to get the diagnosis if it's not apparent just to get additional services. Like the PP said, some school districts limit what types of SN get services, so some parents may try to force the diagnosis to one that the school will provide services for. And as pp noted, private schools aren't known for their great services to SN kids.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who had a child with some brain damage. She clearly needed some kind of extra help in school. She had to push for an autism diagnosis to get something. I don't begrudge her for trying to get something for her child. But, it is gaming the system to try to get services that wasn't meant for the child. Yes, it sucks that schools may not be able to provide services for other needs.

Wait, are you saying there is no help or support in public school for a child with "some brain damage" unless they essentially fake an autism diagnosis?
That just doesn't sound right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have a friend who had a child with some brain damage. She clearly needed some kind of extra help in school. She had to push for an autism diagnosis to get something. I don't begrudge her for trying to get something for her child. But, it is gaming the system to try to get services that wasn't meant for the child. Yes, it sucks that schools may not be able to provide services for other needs.

Wait, are you saying there is no help or support in public school for a child with "some brain damage" unless they essentially fake an autism diagnosis?
That just doesn't sound right.

Sorry, wasn't clear. The brain damage diagnosis wasn't obvious. It took a few years to figure it out. In the meantime, she had to get some diagnosis to get him some services. They are not from around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If people are trying to get kids diagnosed with autism just for the so-called wonderful services, they'd be better off pursuing. Some other strategy! The services for high functioning kids are abysmal and are very hard to get. If you like spending money on advocates and outside evaluators who don't take insurance just to game the system, you are wacked!

Exactly. You can't get much without spending a fortune on advocates and outside evaluators - none of whom takes insurance... and we have a school that has been very accommodating and nice!

Which is why I said it's only those with money that can afford to try to get the diagnosis if it's not apparent just to get additional services. Like the PP said, some school districts limit what types of SN get services, so some parents may try to force the diagnosis to one that the school will provide services for. And as pp noted, private schools aren't known for their great services to SN kids.

By the time you pay for the evaluations, attorney and advocate you might as well pay for private services and school and save the fight (like we did). Most privates are not welcoming but a few are.