Spouse has never acknowledged the autism diagnosis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

If you want to keep your tinfoil hat on fine. But your paranoid comments about the “autism industry” are ludicrous. The rates of autism around the world are generally highest where there’s nationalized health system. There’s not a conspiracy, Mulder.

DP but no one is saying autism doesn't exist. There is an autism industry. The worst of them are the anti vaxx, feeding kids bleach people. But there are lots of unproven therapies to take advantage of parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

Again, its fine to have a diagnosis for interventions. The issue is when parents are convinced to spend time and money on unproven interventions. You can avoid this by not using the word autism.

Language delay? Visual sensory issues? Toilet training? You can describe what the kid needs.

My kid w "autism" is very social and makes excellent eye contact and highly verbal. Many people view her as normal. Until you find out she has such severe sensory issues she cannot eat, sleep, feel her own pee, sit still for a second, hugs every stranger she sees, often refuses to wear clothes...

Her needs are very very different from a child who is non verbal and can dress themselves but cant make eye contact or friends. It is not useful to tell people she is autistic. I do tell people she is special needs and that's enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What many people here don't realize is how wide of a spectrum the term "autism" covers.
I prefer the term "Neuro diverse". You really know nothing about someone by knowing they are labeled autistic

Neuro diverse is even less descriptive that autistic. Knowing someone is autistic does give you some clues as to what you might expect. Doesn't mean you know everything, but you know to look out for certain things.

Getting a differential diagnosis is nothing about labels though.

A neuropsychological evaluation can give you not only information about strengths and weaknesses but really detailed information about how your kid brain processes information. It may be used for an iep, help plan for future needs both in daily life and academically. It’s also sensible to do one every several years as a child ages.

None of us knows what tomorrow holds for any of us. A smart, well adjusted child may develop depression or have some other kind of setback. It’s helpful to have baseline testing.

Agrre. I'm against labels but very strongly pro detailed testing for strengths and weaknesses.

I want my child to think "how can I use my strengths and weaknesses to be a productive member of society" rather than "I'm autistic/downs/ and/ fragile X, I better join social groups of people like me and withdraw from society".

Saying "I have autism/fragile X etc. doesn't mean you have join a social group or withdraw fromsociety. Why would you even think that? I have high blood pressure. All it means is I take pills and need to lose weight.

All the diagnosis means is that you certain criteria. What you do with this information is up to you, but avoiding the label doesn't mean you don't fit the criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

Again, its fine to have a diagnosis for interventions. The issue is when parents are convinced to spend time and money on unproven interventions. You can avoid this by not using the word autism.

Language delay? Visual sensory issues? Toilet training? You can describe what the kid needs.

My kid w "autism" is very social and makes excellent eye contact and highly verbal. Many people view her as normal. Until you find out she has such severe sensory issues she cannot eat, sleep, feel her own pee, sit still for a second, hugs every stranger she sees, often refuses to wear clothes...

Her needs are very very different from a child who is non verbal and can dress themselves but cant make eye contact or friends. It is not useful to tell people she is autistic. I do tell people she is special needs and that's enough.

Avoiding the label doesn't protect you from charlatans. Only doing your homework does that.

What you tell "people" is another matter. I don't tell "people" a lot of things. Why do you think accepting the diagnosis means you walk around with a scarlet A on your forehead?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, you see it all the time. Kids who get known as having autism get boxed in by other people in a way that kids with language disorder or sensory issues don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What many people here don't realize is how wide of a spectrum the term "autism" covers.
I prefer the term "Neuro diverse". You really know nothing about someone by knowing they are labeled autistic

Neuro diverse is even less descriptive that autistic. Knowing someone is autistic does give you some clues as to what you might expect. Doesn't mean you know everything, but you know to look out for certain things.

Getting a differential diagnosis is nothing about labels though.

A neuropsychological evaluation can give you not only information about strengths and weaknesses but really detailed information about how your kid brain processes information. It may be used for an iep, help plan for future needs both in daily life and academically. It’s also sensible to do one every several years as a child ages.

None of us knows what tomorrow holds for any of us. A smart, well adjusted child may develop depression or have some other kind of setback. It’s helpful to have baseline testing.

Agrre. I'm against labels but very strongly pro detailed testing for strengths and weaknesses.

I want my child to think "how can I use my strengths and weaknesses to be a productive member of society" rather than "I'm autistic/downs/ and/ fragile X, I better join social groups of people like me and withdraw from society".

Saying "I have autism/fragile X etc. doesn't mean you have join a social group or withdraw fromsociety. Why would you even think that? I have high blood pressure. All it means is I take pills and need to lose weight.

All the diagnosis means is that you certain criteria. What you do with this information is up to you, but avoiding the label doesn't mean you don't fit the criteria.

Exactly.

It’s really sad how much prejudice there is against people with autism. People are rationalizing not having additional information in such weird ways.

[Anonymous]

At this point you need to focus on how your child is doing. If they are doing ok, then having a new evaluation/ASD diagnosis doesn't really matter. If insurance is paying for therapies and child is getting supports they need, its fine.

You can stop expecting your wife to do everything and step up and arrange and take your child for an evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, you see it all the time. Kids who get known as having autism get boxed in by other people in a way that kids with language disorder or sensory issues don't.

Kids who have language disorders get accused of having ASD or something else and people don't really understand them. Sensory issues generally are something else as well and over diagnosed via OTs who do money grabs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

Again, its fine to have a diagnosis for interventions. The issue is when parents are convinced to spend time and money on unproven interventions. You can avoid this by not using the word autism.

Language delay? Visual sensory issues? Toilet training? You can describe what the kid needs.

My kid w "autism" is very social and makes excellent eye contact and highly verbal. Many people view her as normal. Until you find out she has such severe sensory issues she cannot eat, sleep, feel her own pee, sit still for a second, hugs every stranger she sees, often refuses to wear clothes...

Her needs are very very different from a child who is non verbal and can dress themselves but cant make eye contact or friends. It is not useful to tell people she is autistic. I do tell people she is special needs and that's enough.

Avoiding the label doesn't protect you from charlatans. Only doing your homework does that.

What you tell "people" is another matter. I don't tell "people" a lot of things. Why do you think accepting the diagnosis means you walk around with a scarlet A on your forehead?

DO. It means for some children that they will walk around with a scarlet A on their forehead. We think that children are too young to hear their IQ score, whether low or high, because it boxes them in. The same rationale applies for other labels, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, you see it all the time. Kids who get known as having autism get boxed in by other people in a way that kids with language disorder or sensory issues don't.

I've asked this question at least 4 different times on this thread and so far nobody has answered. WHO ARE YOU TELLING? If you are telling someone who doesn't need to know, that's on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, you see it all the time. Kids who get known as having autism get boxed in by other people in a way that kids with language disorder or sensory issues don't.

I've asked this question at least 4 different times on this thread and so far nobody has answered. WHO ARE YOU TELLING? If you are telling someone who doesn't need to know, that's on you.

Spouse is upset their partner won't accept the label of autism although the kid is getting needed services.

Why does s/he need the label? Because she wants to be identified as the autism box. It's not about helping the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

Again, its fine to have a diagnosis for interventions. The issue is when parents are convinced to spend time and money on unproven interventions. You can avoid this by not using the word autism.

Language delay? Visual sensory issues? Toilet training? You can describe what the kid needs.

My kid w "autism" is very social and makes excellent eye contact and highly verbal. Many people view her as normal. Until you find out she has such severe sensory issues she cannot eat, sleep, feel her own pee, sit still for a second, hugs every stranger she sees, often refuses to wear clothes...

Her needs are very very different from a child who is non verbal and can dress themselves but cant make eye contact or friends. It is not useful to tell people she is autistic. I do tell people she is special needs and that's enough.

Avoiding the label doesn't protect you from charlatans. Only doing your homework does that.

What you tell "people" is another matter. I don't tell "people" a lot of things. Why do you think accepting the diagnosis means you walk around with a scarlet A on your forehead?

DO. It means for some children that they will walk around with a scarlet A on their forehead. We think that children are too young to hear their IQ score, whether low or high, because it boxes them in. The same rationale applies for other labels, too.

Good analogy to IQ. I also don't share my kids IQ with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, you see it all the time. Kids who get known as having autism get boxed in by other people in a way that kids with language disorder or sensory issues don't.

Kids who have language disorders get accused of having ASD or something else and people don't really understand them. Sensory issues generally are something else as well and over diagnosed via OTs who do money grabs.

It’s not a crime to have autism. There are similarities between kids with autism and kids with language disorders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never accepted the autism diagnoses either.

Best thing we ever did. Kept us far away from the autism industrial complex.

so what happens when you say "My kid has autism?" Does the NSA call the autism industrial complex which sends goons to drag you to therapy?

Again, its fine to have a diagnosis for interventions. The issue is when parents are convinced to spend time and money on unproven interventions. You can avoid this by not using the word autism.

Language delay? Visual sensory issues? Toilet training? You can describe what the kid needs.

My kid w "autism" is very social and makes excellent eye contact and highly verbal. Many people view her as normal. Until you find out she has such severe sensory issues she cannot eat, sleep, feel her own pee, sit still for a second, hugs every stranger she sees, often refuses to wear clothes...

Her needs are very very different from a child who is non verbal and can dress themselves but cant make eye contact or friends. It is not useful to tell people she is autistic. I do tell people she is special needs and that's enough.

Avoiding the label doesn't protect you from charlatans. Only doing your homework does that.

What you tell "people" is another matter. I don't tell "people" a lot of things. Why do you think accepting the diagnosis means you walk around with a scarlet A on your forehead?

DO. It means for some children that they will walk around with a scarlet A on their forehead. We think that children are too young to hear their IQ score, whether low or high, because it boxes them in. The same rationale applies for other labels, too.

You are talking about two different things. One is about you yourself accepting a diagnostic label. The other is about what health information your child is mature enough to handle.