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Three Reasons Not to Believe in,an Autism Epidemic
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/...m_epidemic.pdf
ABSTRACT—According to some lay groups, the nation is experiencing an autism epidemic—a rapid escalation in the prevalence of autism for unknown reasons. However, no sound scientific evidence indicates that the increasing number of diagnosed cases of autism arises from anything other than purposely broadened diagnostic criteria, coupled with deliberately greater public awareness and intentionally improved case finding. Why is the public perception so disconnected from the scientific evidence? In this article we review three primary sources of misunderstanding: lack of awareness about the changing diagnostic criteria, uncritical acceptance of a conclusion illogically drawn in a California-based study, and inattention to a crucial feature of the ‘‘child count’’ data reported annually by the U.S. Department of Education. [...] In this article we have detailed three reasons why some laypersons mistakenly believe that there is an autism epidemic. They are unaware of the purposeful broadening of diagnostic criteria, coupled with deliberately greater public awareness; they accept the unwarranted conclusions of the M.I.N.D. Institute study; and they fail to realize that autism was not even an IDEA reporting category until the early 1990s and incremental increases will most likely continue until the schools are identifying and serving the number of children identified in epidemiological studies. Apart from a desire to be aligned with scientific reasoning, there are other reasons not to believe in an autism epidemic. Epidemics solicit causes; false epidemics solicit false causes. Google autism and epidemic to witness the range of suspected causes of the mythical autism epidemic. Epidemics also connote danger. What message do we send autistic children and adults when we call their increasing number an epidemic? A pandemic? A scourge? Realizing that the increasing prevalence rates are most likely due to noncatastrophic mechanisms, such as purposely broader diagnostic criteria and greater public awareness, should not, however, diminish societal responsibility to support the increasing numbers of individuals being diagnosed with autism. Neither should enthusiasm for scientific inquiry into the variety and extent of human behavioral, neuroanatomical,and genotypic diversity in our population be dampened. |
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Three Reasons Not to Believe in,an Autism Epidemic
Mark Probert wrote: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/...m_epidemic.pdf ABSTRACT-According to some lay groups, the nation is experiencing an autism epidemic-a rapid escalation in the prevalence of autism for unknown reasons. However, no sound scientific evidence indicates that the increasing number of diagnosed cases of autism arises from anything other than purposely broadened diagnostic criteria, coupled with deliberately greater public awareness and intentionally improved case finding. Why is the public perception so disconnected from the scientific evidence? I am a substitute teacher, and when I have subbed for "autistic" children, I was amazed at how the catagory has broadened. I had very sweet and affectionate children who were supposedly autistic. I thought at the time that if those children were autistic, then the word had no meaning. me |
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Three Reasons Not to Believe in,an Autism Epidemic
me wrote:
Mark Probert wrote: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/...m_epidemic.pdf ABSTRACT-According to some lay groups, the nation is experiencing an autism epidemic-a rapid escalation in the prevalence of autism for unknown reasons. However, no sound scientific evidence indicates that the increasing number of diagnosed cases of autism arises from anything other than purposely broadened diagnostic criteria, coupled with deliberately greater public awareness and intentionally improved case finding. Why is the public perception so disconnected from the scientific evidence? I am a substitute teacher, and when I have subbed for "autistic" children, I was amazed at how the catagory has broadened. I had very sweet and affectionate children who were supposedly autistic. I thought at the time that if those children were autistic, then the word had no meaning. Well, it does have meaning, and those kids most likely had some degree of Autism. However, you are quite correct, the diagnosis has broadened considerably, and, the inclusion in special education criteria has even outstripped that. Thanks for your post. |
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Three Reasons Not to Believe in,an Autism Epidemic
"Mark Probert" wrote in message ... me wrote: Mark Probert wrote: Talking to yourself--again? HYPOCRITE! http://www.psychologicalscience.org/...m_epidemic.pdf ABSTRACT-According to some lay groups, the nation is experiencing an autism epidemic-a rapid escalation in the prevalence of autism for unknown reasons. However, no sound scientific evidence indicates that the increasing number of diagnosed cases of autism arises from anything other than purposely broadened diagnostic criteria, coupled with deliberately greater public awareness and intentionally improved case finding. Why is the public perception so disconnected from the scientific evidence? I am a substitute teacher, and when I have subbed for "autistic" children, I was amazed at how the catagory has broadened. I had very sweet and affectionate children who were supposedly autistic. I thought at the time that if those children were autistic, then the word had no meaning. Well, it does have meaning, and those kids most likely had some degree of Autism. However, you are quite correct, the diagnosis has broadened considerably, and, the inclusion in special education criteria has even outstripped that. Thanks for your post. |
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