Maybe It's Not Autism

Maybe It's Not Autism?more manageable, like a nonverbal learning disability.
Most would agree that public awareness and accessMore than once, I have encountered a child who
to medical information is critical to public health.seemed locked in his own thoughts, unwilling or
Destigmatizing mental illness and focusing attention onunable to join the social world around him. But not
under-diagnosed problems has been a particularlyevery case was an autism-spectrum disorder--a
important stride of the past 30 years. Yetthorough evaluation can reveal a wide range of
sometimes, publicity leads to anxiety. As anpotential causes for lack of social interest and
acquaintance said, ?if the disease-of-the-weekcommunication skills.
doesn?t kill me, the worry will.?The good news is that with time, relationship, and
Recently, a parent contacted me with concernsstrategic encouragement, the great majority of kids
about his 7 year-old son, who was quiet, introverted,can learn to connect with others, and even enjoy it!
and highly focused on a few hobbies. "Could he beFinding the key that unlocks a child's mind and heart
autistic?," he asked. While the boy did not meet therequires patience and a steadfast belief in the power
diagnostic criteria for autism, or an autism- spectrumof your own love and concern. And of course, one
disorder, his father was voicing a concernpractical expression of that concern is to strive to
psychologists and pediatricians are hearing moreget an accurate assessment of the challenges your
commonly these days. News of the nation's autismchild faces, so your interventions will help.
epidemic is everywhere. On a recent drive, I notedI believe the autism epidemic is real and deserves the
almost as many ?Autism-Awareness? auto decals asanalysis of the country's best medical minds. Children
those saying, ?Support Our Troops.?who have autism or a related problem benefit from
Don?t get me wrong?I?m glad that there is increasedearly professional diagnosis and intensive intervention.
public awareness about autism and there is indeedYet I also believe that the constant buzz about
cause for concern. In some states, there are severalautism has led to many of us being hypersensitized
times more children being diagnosed with autismabout whether our child "has it." Just as an energetic
spectrum disorders than just a decade ago.5 year-old may be misconstrued as hyperactive, a
Asperger's Syndrome (sometimes known asstoic 7 year-old may be thought of as having some
high-functioning autism) seems to be particularlyvariant of autism. Yet stoic boys are no more a new
prevalent, with estimates of its occurrence rangingphenomenon than energetic pre-schoolers.
from 1 in every 166 to 500 births. Although there areAs our world changes, so do our expectations of
several theories as to why we are seeing such anchildren. The problem is people take longer to change
epidemic, as of yet, no single theory has achievedand evolve than society. That difference in tempo
scientific consensus among researchers.should not be the reason for a neurological diagnosis.
Lack of social communication skills is a core trait of allIt's a little like getting mad at a computer that
types of autism. However, I wonder if we are toodoesn't run fast enough to operate new software.
quick to assign communication problems such seriousThe computer is running as fast as it can ? as fast as
diagnostic labels. A brief checklist of theit was made to do ? yet software is evolving too
communication problems common to boys includedquickly for the computer's capabilities.
on my website and in my recent book Boys of FewFor more information about autism and Asperger's
Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate andsyndrome, you might want to contact The Autism
Connect may help you decide if your son is simplySociety of America, The National Institute of Mental
struggling with the kinds of expressive challengesHealth, or check my website's Resources section for
found among many different types of boys.links to these and other organizations that can
By all means have your child professionally evaluatedprovide more information about Autism, Asperger's
if you have serious concerns. But make sure theSyndrome, and other child development concerns. If
professional you visit understands the psychology ofyou have questions about a child, please seek
boys, and can tell the difference between aqualified professional advice. Help begins with accurate
syndrome like high-functioning autism and somethingdiagnosis and early intervention.