Adam Lanza, Aspergers and the press-here we go again

[Anonymous]

I am glad the father is speaking, but once again Aspergers gets mentioned over and over and not once have I heard someone from the press add a disclaimer that MOST kids with Aspergers are not violent at all. I know years ago when the press would refer to kids with Aspergers as "little professor" types, etc some people on here felt it trivialized things too much, but I'd rather that image be in the press because it doesn't evoke fear and horror. IMO ignorant people are going to be more judgmental of kids with Aspergers the more they here Aspergers mentioned with Lanza and no disclaimer.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. I get the sense this father had a pretty distant relationship with his son, so I don't think his vague comments are particularly helpful.

They keep saying that the kid was seeing "professionals". If that is true, I think it would be helpful if he allow the patient confidentiality to be lifted so they could speak more about what they saw. Could be helpful for others looking for actual warning signs. Vague father-speak about Aspergers is not helpful.

Also can't believe he doesn't see the disconnect between saying things were "wrong" but defending wife for keeping all those guns.

[Anonymous]

I have read the original piece in the NYer yet but the summary I read indicated that Lanza's father made exactly the kind of disclaimer the OP wishes for - that violence isnt typical of Asperger's and that he probably had some kind of additional disorder, maybe schizophrenia. I'm glad he's speaking out finally - he seems to want to provoke other parents to think carefully about how to help their troubled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read the original piece in the NYer yet but the summary I read indicated that Lanza's father made exactly the kind of disclaimer the OP wishes for - that violence isnt typical of Asperger's and that he probably had some kind of additional disorder, maybe schizophrenia. I'm glad he's speaking out finally - he seems to want to provoke other parents to think carefully about how to help their troubled kids.

Morning news shows have left out the disclaimer. The problem is when the story gets a 3-5 spot, Asperger's gets mentioned several times, but they don't mention that these kids are unlikely to be violent.

[Anonymous]

Adam Lanza was an adult; would his father even have the authority to release his doctor-patient confidentiality after his death?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adam Lanza was an adult; would his father even have the authority to release his doctor-patient confidentiality after his death?

I believe that when a patient is dead, his or her personal representative can authorize disclosure of confidential information. Adam Lanza's father would surely be that person, right?

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/rpt/2013-R-0124.htm

Just as an aside, I a strong proponent of medical confidentiality. In the event of a mass murder, however, don't you think there's a lot to be learned from trying to determine what went wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have read the original piece in the NYer yet but the summary I read indicated that Lanza's father made exactly the kind of disclaimer the OP wishes for - that violence isnt typical of Asperger's and that he probably had some kind of additional disorder, maybe schizophrenia. I'm glad he's speaking out finally - he seems to want to provoke other parents to think carefully about how to help their troubled kids.

Morning news shows have left out the disclaimer. The problem is when the story gets a 3-5 spot, [b]Asperger's gets mentioned several times, but they don't mention that these kids are unlikely to be violent.[b]

Exactly- less likely than the rest of the population. It goes against everything I know about ASD and Asperger's and makes me think there were other co-morbid issues that were difficult to tease out.

[Anonymous]

I saw this on the news this AM. I agree. Our kids are usually the victims!!! I would venture to guess that Adam also had co-morbid mental health conditions. Our kids are so sweet and misunderstood. I wish the negative association in the press would stop.

[Anonymous]

I just read the New Yorker article. It is excellent, and heart-breaking, and raises many of the issues I struggle with as a parent, and particularly as a parent of a child with some special needs -- when to give in to the child's idiosynchracies, which professionals to listen to, when to seek out more professional help or try to manage things at home, when to push child more...
The father does say that he thinks the Asperger's diagnosis masked a psychotic break... because the child was already not neuro-typical, the professionals and mother missed the warning signs that might have been obvious in a NT youth.

[Anonymous]

The Today show piece this morning mentioned the Asperger's likely masked another issue, and stated that Asperger's wasn't a cause of violent behavior.

[Anonymous]

Read the New Yorker piece. It's eye opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am glad the father is speaking, but once again Aspergers gets mentioned over and over and not once have I heard someone from the press add a disclaimer that MOST kids with Aspergers are not violent at all. I know years ago when the press would refer to kids with Aspergers as "little professor" types, etc some people on here felt it trivialized things too much, but I'd rather that image be in the press because it doesn't evoke fear and horror. IMO ignorant people are going to be more judgmental of kids with Aspergers the more they here Aspergers mentioned with Lanza and no disclaimer.

I've heard it repeatedly. I just saw the MSN article and it was front and center in that article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adam Lanza was an adult; would his father even have the authority to release his doctor-patient confidentiality after his death?

Yes. His father and brother have the right to see his medical records after his death. They can do whatever they want with those medical records. If they wanted to wallpaper a bus stop with them, that would be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am glad the father is speaking, but once again Aspergers gets mentioned over and over and not once have I heard someone from the press add a disclaimer that MOST kids with Aspergers are not violent at all. I know years ago when the press would refer to kids with Aspergers as "little professor" types, etc some people on here felt it trivialized things too much, but I'd rather that image be in the press because it doesn't evoke fear and horror. IMO ignorant people are going to be more judgmental of kids with Aspergers the more they here Aspergers mentioned with Lanza and no disclaimer.

I've heard it repeatedly. I just saw the MSN article and it was front and center in that article.

CNN had a psychologist (who said her daughter has Asperger's) say the same when she talked about Peter Lanza's interview. Most of the news media seems to be really making an effort to say most kids with Asperger's are NOT violent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the New Yorker piece. It's eye opening.

+1 I recommend people read the entire article before commenting on it.