Over Diagnosing Autism

1675 Words7 Pages
Over Diagnosing Autism in American Children Autism is defined by the Autism Society of America (ASA) as a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. While once rare autism has reached epidemic proportion in the United States. The increase cannot be attributed to changes in diagnostic criteria which have actually become more restrictive or be linked to childhood…show more content…
There are times, however, when advocating for those with a disorder can spill over and promote the spread of the disorder to others who are mislabeled. The mental disorders all have unclear boundaries among themselves and with familiarity. Clinical experience and caution are necessary in distinguishing at the boundary who does and who does not meet the criteria for the diagnosis. Well informed self diagnosis or family diagnosis can play a screening role and is part of being a responsible caretaker. But self diagnosis is usually far too inclusive and requires validation by a precautious clinician. When it comes to self educating for autism it is not uncommon for caretakers to turn to the internet which can be a useful communication tool that provides an affluent amount of information and creates a social network of informed consumers. But it can also contribute to the spread of "epidemics". Disorder-focused web-sites (often run by patients and families) provide a powerfully attractive forum and support system that draws people who may inaccurately self over diagnose in order to be part of the internet community. Schechter R, et al. (2008.) The media also plays a large role in over diagnosing of autism because media feeds off and feeds the public interest in mental disorders. This happens in two ways. Periodically, the media becomes obsessed with one or another celebrity whose public meltdown seems related to a real or imagined mental disorder. The mental disorder is then endlessly commented on and dissected by the media. The latest example is the Tiger Woods media frenzy which will likely lead to an "epidemic" of "sexual addiction.” Factual representations of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) can be difficult because autism spectrum
Open Document