(Untitled)

[gallian]

People with autism are still people, damn it!

I almost felt betrayed, like I didn't know this child standing in front of me. Everything I thought was cute was a sign of autism and I felt tricked. I guess the doctor sensed this from me because he turned my head back toward him and said, "He is still the same boy you came in here with

Comments

[batshua]

BAD PARENT! NO COOKIE!

*hugs you*

[prydera]

Ugh.

On the other hand, I'm impressed by the doctor who diagnosed Evan. I doubt that doctor's the "DAN doctor", though.

[seishonagon]

It seems to be one of those times when doctors are actually doing something useful, yes. I've seen a ton of kids who have tremendous trouble getting doctors to actually come out with a diagnosis - they hem and haw and make noises about other possibilities, without ever stating what those are, and refusing to actually come out with something - which of course means the kid can't get special ed services. *grr*

Kudos to this particular doctor.

[gallian]

I'm not as impressed personally.

The kid could have been developmentally delayed with autistic characteristics that he would grow out of. The doctor didn't do a full neuropsych eval, he based the dx on a short behavioral observation.

(I mean, I'm sure the eval came later, at least I would hope it did. That report, not the label would be the info that those working with him would really need to form a plan of action.)

Too many non-autistic kids *are* getting the label because parents push for it, are getting the services, getting "cured" and doing a great disservice to the children who really need those services.

But that, I suppose is another rant for another day.

[nightengalesknd]

I spent a month doing developmental medicine last year (and am embarking on another month of it starting tomorrow, actually.) Most of our patients were there to either rule out or rule in autisms