A quick tour of how a few recent news articles are defining autism:
- “Autism is an impairment which has a very high hereditary contribution, over 90%.” (Wouter Stahl, Rudolf Magnus Institute)
- “Autism is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severely impaired social, communicative, and behavioral functions.” (Science Daily)
- “Autism — the fastest-growing disability among the state’s schoolchildren…..” (Mail Tribune (southern Oregon) )
- “Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country and many families in our state [North Carolina] struggle with the disorder.” (News 14 Carolina)
- “Autism (pronounced aw’tizm) is classified by the World Health Organization and American Psychological Association as a developmental disability that results from a disorder of the human central nervous system.” (Citizendium)
So autism is an “impairment” that is “common” and “the fastest growing,” and a “developmental disability” resulting from a “disorder of the human central nervous system.”
Contradictions are apparent among these definitions—autism is said to be “growing at some very fast rate” (language suggestive of an epidemic, of some new thing that is causing so much autism). Being “common” is to say that autism is not rare, as it was once thought to be. I do think of autism as “neurodevelopmental” (and certainly not as a mental health disorder, as it was once thought to be); I prefer not to say that it is an “impairment.” (My son does have certain challenges due to his neurological wiring, such as his hand-and-eye coordination; after trying for five years, he just learned how to use the computer mouse).
These are just some of the “changing definitions of what autism is, and is not” (Roy Richard Grinker in the April Smithsonian; he also says that autism is “probably many different, highly variable disorders caused by multiple genes interacting in complicated ways”). I would not be surprised if more emerge as some assumptions about autism — such as whether autistic persons can read facial expressions — are questioned and evaluated anew.
Tobey’s become obsessed with Blue’s Clues online games. And, because he’s using the mouse so often, I think it’s helping his fine motor skills to some extent. I can see a big difference in his handwriting since September, and I think the computer time has something to do with it.
Karen, I have tried typing on the computer like that for Charlie—so far, this has not held his attention. But now that he is much more interested in the computer (via doin online puzzles), I think it may be time to try again!
What games does Charlie play on the computer? Have you tried opening up a Word document and typing to him?
I look forward to your book—-thanks for the link, Natalia.
Sometimes I just like to say, “Charlie.”
Whoops I should have (should’ve) read that Panda book more thoroughly for elsewise there is some corner of a foreign bug that is forever Birmingham.
Grinker doesn’t know what it is either, he repeats numerous of what are commonly called “howlers” Nazeer doesn’t know what it is either, he accepts “hand me down” descriptions as avidly Grinker.
Only I know what it is, and you will all share that benefit soon, if you continue to read, for it is, as Humpty Dumpty would surely say, “whatever you want it to be”
Indeed I offer no further proof than this abstemious blog.
Now I shall go off (as eggs are wont to do) and die quietly in a corner of a bug I picked up at Birmingham the other day
I like a new ‘definition’ that I have just learned: “Beautiful Behavioural Mutations” (http://www.donnawilliams.net/music.0.html – second album)
Hi Kristina
I agree totally in seeing ASD as a polygenic disorder, and even more as a syndrome of a very individualized presentation.
I have posted something related in my blog.
I have never had problems with the words syndrome or disorder to mention ASD related to my son; because I do think that these words- in proper context AND intention- are not relating to the person he is, but the physiology/metabolism/biochemistry/different neurology and probably brain structure he has. My son has demonstrated to have a lot of concomitant medical problems (CMP) to the diagnosis. However, even when I think these CMP affects/affected his development/mood/behavior, they didnot affect the required/needed /deserved consideration to the human being he is or my love for him.
In the search of the equilibrium to face the diagnosis, to give him what he needs/needed ( emotionally, phsycologically, medically, educationally) I have evolved a lot since 3 years ago. For me , it all depends of the intention and the context of what is said and how is said.
To see words like “disorder” or “syndrome” as a tool to obtain political points in a game of controversies (epidemics vs not epidemic; genetic vs adquired and so on) is different to see as a challenge- individually- and to learn how to help with the challenges that the condition bring to him- besides the needed advocacy for accomodation and acceptation.