There are things in life that just, happen.
People get ill, they get better, or they don’t.
Obviously, this is but a small subset of what might happen in the life of any individual.
Sometimes, we can reduce, or even eliminate untoward things happening in our lives. Sometimes not.
This is true for health related concerns as much as any other.
Recently—at least here in the United States—people have become acutely aware of how maintaining good health through reasonable diet and exercise can mitigate any number of unfortunate things.
Added to this, is the idea that when others do things to potentially improve their well being, they can reduce the effect of illness on themselves, and in the process cause a minimization of resource used by society in support of the appropriate remedies to their various maladies.
About now, you’re likely asking, “What on Earth does this have to do with Autism?”
One of the foundational questions surrounding any condition is, “What causes this?”
You can be sure people are asking this question where Autism is concerned—as they ought.
But there’s an issue surrounding Autism.
I’ve said for quite a while now (probably at least the last ten years), that I don’t believe Autism is one thing.
To clarify, I believe a number of things have been “lumped under” a single label for the sake of convenience.
Does that sound unreasonable? In some senses it is, and in others, it’s not.
Allow me to elaborate.
There are a number of conditions that occur (most particularly in youth) that have similar symptomology, and more importantly, warrant similar treatments.
A number of these can be bundled under what is presently termed “Autism.”
This is often beneficial to both medical professionals and educators (among others).
On the not-so-good side are those who are actually dealing with Autism.
Somebody to whom I pay mind (not to say we by any means always agree) posited the idea that parents are “abandoning” their children to tablets and other such devices, rather than taking the time to interact with them.
He put forth the idea that such things might create a “false positive” identification of Autism.
Where I can’t say definitively, it’s entirely possible what this individual has come to believe has merit.
The point is, the folks “diagnosed with” Autism in such cases may not really be Autistic at all.
That said, the same sort of intervention used for (particularly Level 1 or Mild) Autism might be beneficial to such individuals.
As I’ve said on the not-so-good side though, is the consideration of those who actually are Autistic.
These folks will likely get “caught up in” a system that fails to recognize their issues are almost certainly going to be more pervasive (in fact, may be with them for the remainder of their time on the Planet) than those simply suffering the effects of “bad parenting.”
To be fair, since this “misdiagnosis” is most likely to present for Mildly Autistic folks, that may not be a terribly bad thing.
One reason “actual” Autism is counted to be “spectral,” is to “triage” those dealing with it.
At any given level, Autism may have different hallmarks. One Mildly Autistic person may present as ADHD in part, another not.
The point of the setting of levels (again, at least in part), is to decide how likely it is a given person will be able to fit into society.
People counted mild where Autism is concerned are likely to end up looking much like their peers in the course of time (typically by the time they’re ten or twelve, it’s hard to tell them from folks with no diagnosis).
Those in the Moderate cohort, are likely to need some assistance for the rest of their lives.
That doesn’t mean they cannot be productive members of society, just that they will almost certainly need “handlers” on some level or other to facilitate that process.
Typically it’s assumed those dealing with Severe Autism, will need support for the rest of their lives. Further, it’s generally true that such support will need to be constant, with the people providing it being ever vigilant of their charges.
Now comes the good news.
Though I can’t say with surety, I would bet the vast majority of those dealing with Autism, would be considered Mildly so.
If I had to guess, I would imagine the percentage to be at least 85.
That means that—where those so diagnosed will require additional tutelage and other aids of various types—almost all at that level will likely go on to live entirely normal lives.
I’ve long since “established my bona fides” by stating my son is in the Moderate (trending slightly towards Severe) class.
I bring that up here to make something plain.
Autists in “self contained” classrooms in the school system in which my young man finds himself are virtually never less than Moderately Autistic (and almost never Severely so).
In a school somewhere in the 250 to 500 range where students are concerned, there are maybe two classrooms with disabled people in general. In those classrooms, perhaps five are dealing with Autism.
It would be silliness to say I don’t desire to know why the folks so affected find themselves where they do. That said, I tend to believe there is no cure for their condition.
That doesn’t mean we cannot “fix” the situation before it occurs in many cases.
For those dealing with Autism though, I’m pretty sure they will just have to live with the hand they’re dealt.
Okay, coming back around to the primary subject of this article I’ll say this.
I do believe there are people presently being diagnosed with Autism who probably “don’t qualify.”
This is—in my mind—part of the reason diagnoses have increased.
I believe there has also been an increase in the number of valid diagnoses because the flags are being more readily seen.
With all this, I cannot say we’re not seeing an uptick in the rate of Autism overall. I believe it will be some time (if ever) before we can realistically conclude that is—or isn’t—the case.
I think I’ve put my ideas out there sufficiently cogently for you to understand how I view things.
Hope you’re doing well. If not here’s hoping you find yourself doing well in the near future.