Autism and Overdiagnosis: Rampant, in psychologist's opinion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

[Anonymous]

She is complaining about the stigma of having an ASD education label. To parents of kids with ASD who have an IEP under autism. The lifelong stigma it will carry and how autism in general is overdiagnosed. Like it is a choice....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

That I had to fight so frickin' hard. And that kids all over the U.S. are still being screwed over with autism misdiagnosis.

The word needs to get out. And the psychologist in the OP does a great job of making the case.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

These labels carry throughout kids school careers so potentially it can impact future academics and even college admissions. It is a big deal. Look at the school person who posted before saying how she treats all Merld assuming the worst in their functioning when that may not be the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

That I had to fight so frickin' hard. And that kids all over the U.S. are still being screwed over with autism misdiagnosis.

The word needs to get out. And the psychologist in the OP does a great job of making the case.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

You are missing the entire point of the thread. She is showing why the issue for concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the trend in "overdiagnosing" or labeling kids on the mild end of the Autism spectrum has truly hurt the kids with "classic autism". I hate to think that it has been reduced to a zero sum game that there is a limited supply of money available and to feel jealous not more money goes to the kids and families with severe needs. It is hard to see so many posters talk about their kid or family member with Autism who is so social, gifted, academically advanced (ex. the poster who wrote my father has autism and went on to have a great, high paying job, a loving wife, and kids, and is humorous; or my kid is in a gifted program and has all of these supports) when you have a family member with Autism who can only say a few words and will need care the rest of his life. How can these people be lumped together? Sorry, it hasn't been a good day today.

Agreed. Hate it called a spectrum. It really confuses people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

That I had to fight so frickin' hard. And that kids all over the U.S. are still being screwed over with autism misdiagnosis.

The word needs to get out. And the psychologist in the OP does a great job of making the case.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

There are only 13 categories and most schools care more about services and the delivery of those services than the actual category under which your child will receive services. Again, it is an "educational label" not a medical misdiagnosis to fit every child with SN under one of these categories for an .iEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is complaining about the stigma of having an ASD education label. To parents of kids with ASD who have an IEP under autism. The lifelong stigma it will carry and how autism in general is overdiagnosed. Like it is a choice....

If that's how you took it, that's too bad. What I'm actually saying is parents having their kid evaluated need to do their homework: select an evaluator who knows what they are doing, who has an impeccable track record and training. Got to a research hospital, a university, somewhere where they know what they are doing. Don't accept the word of every Tom, Dick & Harry evaluator -- because they might not have any idea what they are doing. Hint: If they don't know what a differential diagnosis is, they have no business diagnosing anybody with anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

That I had to fight so frickin' hard. And that kids all over the U.S. are still being screwed over with autism misdiagnosis.

The word needs to get out. And the psychologist in the OP does a great job of making the case.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

There are only 13 categories and most schools care more about services and the delivery of those services than the actual category under which your child will receive services. Again, it is an "educational label" not a medical misdiagnosis to fit every child with SN under one of these categories for an .iEP.

This isn't true. Labels drive services much too often in schools, even though they aren't supposed to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the trend in "overdiagnosing" or labeling kids on the mild end of the Autism spectrum has truly hurt the kids with "classic autism". I hate to think that it has been reduced to a zero sum game that there is a limited supply of money available and to feel jealous not more money goes to the kids and families with severe needs. It is hard to see so many posters talk about their kid or family member with Autism who is so social, gifted, academically advanced (ex. the poster who wrote my father has autism and went on to have a great, high paying job, a loving wife, and kids, and is humorous; or my kid is in a gifted program and has all of these supports) when you have a family member with Autism who can only say a few words and will need care the rest of his life. How can these people be lumped together? Sorry, it hasn't been a good day today.

Agreed. Hate it called a spectrum. It really confuses people.

Yep. Worst decision ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

These labels carry throughout kids school careers so potentially it can impact future academics and even college admissions. It is a big deal. Look at the school person who posted before saying how she treats all Merld assuming the worst in their functioning when that may not be the case.

I would worry more about the kid's grades, SAT scores, etc rather than their educational label in regards to their future college admissions and careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP does not have a child diagnosed with autism but feels the need to tell the rest of us who do have a child diagnosed with autism that our kid is probably misdiagnosed and will suffer a lifetime of stigma from having ASD.

Gee, thanks.

Actually, the OP has a child the schools tried their damnedest to label with "educational autism." The six medical professionals who saw him all gave him a language disorder diagnosis and said it was not autism.

There are only 13 education categories under which someone can get an IEP so the school is not looking for an exact diagnosis but the category that best matches the types of services the child needs. So the OP is getting the services needed under educational "autism" but still feels the need to complain to parents whose kids have an autism diagnosis about how autism is over diagnosed which makes absolutely no sense. An educational autism diagnosis does not equal a medical diagnosis and if you have so much issue with how their kid does not have autism but got categorized in their IEP then adk for another education label:

http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/13-categories-of-special-education.html

Although I don't know why you would waste your time about semantics when you are getting the services you need. Sigh.

That I had to fight so frickin' hard. And that kids all over the U.S. are still being screwed over with autism misdiagnosis.

The word needs to get out. And the psychologist in the OP does a great job of making the case.

I am the OP. I refused the educational autism label because it was inaccurate. The school threatened, they bribed, they harassed us to try and get us to take the autism label -- and ultimately gave DS all the services under the speech and language label, where a MERLD child belongs.

Good for you! So what are you complaining about?

There are only 13 categories and most schools care more about services and the delivery of those services than the actual category under which your child will receive services. Again, it is an "educational label" not a medical misdiagnosis to fit every child with SN under one of these categories for an .iEP.

This isn't true. Labels drive services much too often in schools, even though they aren't supposed to.

Not in our experience and I have a kid with ASD/ADHD. Not sure how a label would drive services since all services/supports has to be agreed on by the IEP team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is complaining about the stigma of having an ASD education label. To parents of kids with ASD who have an IEP under autism. The lifelong stigma it will carry and how autism in general is overdiagnosed. Like it is a choice....

If that's how you took it, that's too bad. What I'm actually saying is parents having their kid evaluated need to do their homework: select an evaluator who knows what they are doing, who has an impeccable track record and training. Got to a research hospital, a university, somewhere where they know what they are doing. Don't accept the word of every Tom, Dick & Harry evaluator -- because they might not have any idea what they are doing. Hint: If they don't know what a differential diagnosis is, they have no business diagnosing anybody with anything.

if you could be any less patronizing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the trend in "overdiagnosing" or labeling kids on the mild end of the Autism spectrum has truly hurt the kids with "classic autism". I hate to think that it has been reduced to a zero sum game that there is a limited supply of money available and to feel jealous not more money goes to the kids and families with severe needs. It is hard to see so many posters talk about their kid or family member with Autism who is so social, gifted, academically advanced (ex. the poster who wrote my father has autism and went on to have a great, high paying job, a loving wife, and kids, and is humorous; or my kid is in a gifted program and has all of these supports) when you have a family member with Autism who can only say a few words and will need care the rest of his life. How can these people be lumped together? Sorry, it hasn't been a good day today.

Agreed. Hate it called a spectrum. It really confuses people.

Yep. Worst decision ever.

Yep. It makes the word totally meaningless. Also, it means that some people with HFA are under-estimated because people assume, when they hear the diagnosis, that they have "classic autism," or it means that kids with lower-functioning autism aren't given the support they need (see, e.g., the controversy about autism speaks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the trend in "overdiagnosing" or labeling kids on the mild end of the Autism spectrum has truly hurt the kids with "classic autism". I hate to think that it has been reduced to a zero sum game that there is a limited supply of money available and to feel jealous not more money goes to the kids and families with severe needs. It is hard to see so many posters talk about their kid or family member with Autism who is so social, gifted, academically advanced (ex. the poster who wrote my father has autism and went on to have a great, high paying job, a loving wife, and kids, and is humorous; or my kid is in a gifted program and has all of these supports) when you have a family member with Autism who can only say a few words and will need care the rest of his life. How can these people be lumped together? Sorry, it hasn't been a good day today.

I agree with this. I spoke with a researcher who said even government-funded clinical studies were starting to be skewed, because there's a tendency to only want to research HFA.

Sorry it's been a rough day!