they're starting to get it! sort of...

[Guest guest]

Check out these articles!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050309151153.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070803151245.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070326095410.htm

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AND...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081001093758.htm

What Happens When We Ask Autistic Persons What Is Wrong With Them?

ScienceDaily (Oct. 1, 2008) — To date, few studies have focused on

the viewpoints of autistic persons themselves despite an increasing

number of published autobiographies. The aim of this study is to

highlight their personal experiences, and to compare them to

scientific and medical knowledge and representations.

Adopting an anthropological approach, the authors analyzed 16

autobiographical writings and 5 interviews with autistic persons.

The investigators systematically screened this material and explored

the writers' sociodemographic characteristics, cognitive skills and

interests with a focus on their sensory-perceptual experiences and

their representations of autism. The authors' ages (22-67 years),

their countries (n = 8) and backgrounds were varied, and most of them

were high-functioning individuals with autism or Asperger syndrome.

The most striking observations were that all of them pointed out that

unusual perceptions and information processing, as well as

impairments in emotional regulation, were the core symptoms of

autism, whereas the current classifications do not mention them.

The results of this study suggest that what has been selected as

major signs by psychiatric nosography is regarded as manifestations

induced by perceptive peculiarities and strong emotional reactions by

the autistic persons who expressed themselves.

These considerations deserve to be taken into account by

professionals to better understand the behavior and needs of autistic

persons. The Authors propose to include this point in the reflection

on the next psychiatric classifications.

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Journal reference:

Chamak et al. What Can We Learn about Autism from Autistic Persons?

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2008; 77 (5): 271 DOI:

10.1159/000140086

Adapted from materials provided by Journal of Psychotherapy and

Psychosomatics, via AlphaGalileo.

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But on the other hand......

From Florida Daily:

Nearly 1 in 4 Americans believes vaccines cause autism, even though

no scientific evidence supports such a link, a new national survey

suggests.

The survey -- commissioned by Florida Tech to measure the public's

knowledge and understanding of autism -- found that 24 percent of

respondents believe vaccines carry the blame for the wide range of

developmental delays, known as autism spectrum disorders, and as a

result, shy away from vaccinating their children. Another 19 percent

said they were unsure about vaccines' role.

Beth Kunkel, dean of Florida Tech's College of Psychology and

Liberal Arts, described the finding as a surprise given the number of

federal studies exonerating the mercury preservative thimerosal, once

used widely in children's vaccines, but rarely, if ever, included in

vaccines today.

On a positive note, however, Kunkel said, the survey found more than

80 percent of those polled recognized the importance of early

childhood interventions, especially behavioral therapies, to

maximizing autistic children's potential. Also, 83 percent said

understanding the cause -- not now known -- and finding a cure for

autism should be a national priority.

Results of the survey were released today to kick off Florida Tech's

two-day second annual autism conference, " The Many Faces of Autism. "

The conference title reflects the fact that some children diagnosed

with these disorders function at high levels, while others face

severe learning impediments, unable to interpret social cues and

prone to self-destructive behaviors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly

1 in 150 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism,

making it the second most serious developmental disability, after

mental retardation.

Kunkel said the school wanted a snapshot view of attitudes toward

autism prior to completion of the Center for Autism Treatment,

now under construction.

The $5 million project, which will serve children, adolescents and

adults with autism spectrum disorders in Central Florida, is expected

to open in late 2009 on Babcock Street, south of the school's College

of Business in Melbourne.

" We wanted to get a national read on where the country should go in

terms of research and treatment, " Kunkel said. " If it's not the first

national survey, it's certainly the most current. "

Conducted in August, the survey included telephone interviews with

1,000 randomly selected men and women across the country. Among its

other findings:

About 4 in 10 respondents said they knew a person with autism, giving

them a better understanding of these disorders. But a higher

percentage in this group -- 21 percent compared with 17 percent --

linked the disorder to vaccines.

Younger parents, between the ages of 19 and 28, were better informed

about autism than older parents, but were more prone to concerns

their children would be autistic.

And 6 in 10 of those polled said the presidential candidates should

include a plan for curing autism in their platforms.

Contact Jenks at 242-3657 or sjenks@....

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Sigh.

S.