So Goeth the Autism Epidemic
The autism epidemic commeth — or, more accurately, it goeth. The threat of such a terrible scourge—–lots of children with autism—is behind the calls for “safer vaccines” and “change the schedule!” by anti/pro-safe vaccine rallyers at Wednesday’s Green Our Vaccines (which acronyms nicely into GOV) rally. Get out those toxins, change that schedule, flush that mercury out of those shots and don’t let it get into our kids’ bodies: If we don’t do this, we’re doomed, untold numbers of still-normal toddlers and yet-to-be-born (and even conceived) children could become……..autistic…….if we don’t so something about those shots, and then we’ll have more autism than anyone can handle or pay for…….
This is apocalyptic and scaremongering language typical of arguments for a link between vaccines and autism. Yes, there are more children diagnosed with autism and states and school districts report big increases—-but these increases in the prevalence rate of autism always need to be considered in view of the changes in the very definition and in people’s understanding of what autism is. The diagnostic criteria for “autistic disorder” were significantly broadened with a revision of the DSM-IV in 1984. The rates of autism diagnosis increased from 1994-2003—and, as Professor Paul Shattuck has found, the rates of diagnoses of mental retardation and learning disabilities decreased in the same time period.
Claims of an autism epidemic are based very much on what people feel: Because they’re hearing more about autism, and because more people are talking about autism, and because more children are being diagnosed with autism, people have been saying “epidemic!”. Clinicians, educators, and parents have a better understanding of autism and are better able to detect it and, while some bystanders can get that nervous look when you say your child is autistic, the shame and stigma that parents used to experience when it was believed that they caused autism—the refrigerator mother theory—-has lessened.
There is, one could say, an epidemic going on—-a figurative “epidemic” of understanding and awareness about autism. I’m not so sure my own son would have been diagnosed with autism in previous generations; he would probably have received a diagnosis of “mental retardation” and “emotional/behavioral disorder.” But now I can say he has “classic autism” and people know what I mean. How can you measure a change in knowledge?
And so goeth the claims of an epidemic of autism—the June 6th Times (UK) has an article entitled “The autism epidemic commeth, which heralds the publication of a book entitled Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism by anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker, who is also the father of a teenage girl with autism, Isabel. The book was published in January 2007 here in the US and started off something of a storm of discussion about whether or not there is an autism epidemic. Prof. Grinker says no, as noted in this January 2007 interview in Time magazine.
But that’s only some of what Unstrange Minds is about: Prof. Grinker looks at autism at other times, carefully tracing the evolution of “autism” in the DSM, and in other places (India, South Korea, and South Africa). The book provides much needed historical and cultural background and context behind the current interest—some might say fascination—-with autism.
Personally, the main reason I like the book (I’ve referred to it here from time to time, and first reviewed it here) is for the story of the diagnosis, education, and growing up of Prof. Grinker’s daughter, Isabel, and for his own account of the effect of all this on himself and his family. Much as I strive to know as much as I can about research, treatments, and the latest issues regarding autism, it’s the personal stories of autistic individuals, parents, teachers, and others that I’m most drawn in by. Whatever you might think about the “autism epidemic” and about vaccines, Prof. Grinker’s account of his daughter is more than worth reading.
Theories commeth and goeth, and good stories about great kids growing up endure.
Tags: asd, Asia, asperger, autism, Diagnosis, Epidemic, father, grinker, Health, India, pdd-nos, Psychiatry, south africa, south koreaRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Asia, Books, Epidemic, Psychiatry
15 opinions for So Goeth the Autism Epidemic
sharon
Jun 8, 2008 at 6:44 am
I tend to agree. If I were born a few years ago, I might be diagnosed with aspergers. And if my second son was born 20 years ago, he would just be labelled as a trouble maker. ;)
But maybe it’s good that people call it an epidemic. Aside from the scary “cures” and treatments, officials are looking at the problems and trying to get help where it is needed.
Daisy
Jun 8, 2008 at 8:06 am
I liked Professor Grinker’s explanation of the increasing number of diagnoses. He made it easy to understand, and at the same time very detailed.
Morgan
Jun 8, 2008 at 9:23 am
“There is, one could say, an epidemic going on—-a figurative “epidemic” of understanding and awareness about autism.”
Well, in that case . . . bring it . . . . Please.
María Luján
Jun 8, 2008 at 11:03 am
Even when I am trying toi get the book, I also consider that his view is only a part of the big picture- and only from the diagnosis point of view. The problem of the confirmation or not of a true increase of ADS- beyond awareness and diagnostic criteria changes- is still being discussed.
H6
Jun 8, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Maybe the question needs to be changed. Rather than asking if autism is an epidemic, we need to determine if the increase in cases of autism are part of the HHV-6 epidemic or what could be called the HHV-6 spectrum. Is the autism spectrum on the HHV-6 spectrum?
To paraphrase the popular mantra, when you’ve met one person on the autism spectrum, you may have met one person on the HHV-6 spectrum.
A quote from Kent Heckenlively’s column on Age of Autism: “About six weeks back I was given the name of a woman who had approached Generation Rescue. She has a foundation which is working on the theory that the Human Herpes Virus #6 (HHV-6) is the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. This woman’s foundation often talked with the world’s top virologists who privately tell her their belief that HHV-6 is also implicated in multiple sclerosis, autism, and seizures. She didn’t have time to pursue HHV-6 in regards to autism, but thought we should be made aware of the theory.”
It may turn out that virologists working on HHV-6 can do more to help in the battle against autism than anthropologists or anti-vaxers or pro-vaxers, or the diagnostic substitution lobby.
Wouldn’t it be a tragedy if people with autism improved as a result of treatments for HHV-6 but close-minded parents refused to even research HHV-6 for ideological reasons?
HHV-6 links autism to a wide array of other growing medical problems. The time for ending HHV-6 denialism and raising awareness about the relationship between HHV-6 and autism seems to have “commeth.” It’s an issue that won’t “goeth” away.
CS
Jun 8, 2008 at 12:33 pm
“the diagnostic substitution lobby”
That line made me laugh. Certain people can see conspiracy in everything. I think there should be a study specifically aimed at parents of autistics that view the world in conspiracies. I think we would find there is a connection somewhere along the way in the systemic belief in conspiracies and the likelyhood of having an autistic child. My own mother believes in all types of conspiracies from a government coverup of UFO’s and 9/11 being a plot by the government. There are 3 diagnosed autistics, another bi-polar (also AS but undiagnosed) that have sprung both directly and indirectly from her womb by way of grandchildren.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 8, 2008 at 12:38 pm
@CS, That sounds like a much-needed study……
H6
Jun 8, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Maybe “diagnostic substitution militia” would be more in keeping with the lexicon.
Karin
Jun 8, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Prof. Grinker’s book is excellent. Very nice to read a well-thought out, well-researched piece of work.
As he states, there are probably many reasons for the ‘epidemic.’ Better reporting. Broader diagnostic criteria. Better recognition of a child being on the spectrum rather than ‘just’ retarded. AND, I think it’s important to look at - the very real possibility that there are more AS kids being born - because there are more AS parents having kids. When computer technology became a major industry, it gave a lot of Asperger’s and HFA people a place to work and be successful. With that success came increased success in the social sphere, which led to a probable increase in marriages and offspring, including marriages between two AS people. As Tony Attwood has said, what is NASA and Silicon Valley but a gathering of Asperger’s guys? :-)
Emily
Jun 8, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Karin, interesting point.
Emily
Jun 8, 2008 at 9:53 pm
And I just remembered that I had myself posited the entrance of women into professions that historically had not had many women–science, computer science, engineering, doctorates in medicine, etc–as another mechanism for any “increase.” Men are now meeting women in graduate school and in the workplace who might be “like that,” too, and…viola…children of the same. I know that’s exactly what my husband and I have done, a computer programmer and a biologist, respectively. Geeks reproducing with geeks in ever-increasing numbers means…more geeks.
liquid zeolite
Jun 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Here’s a different theory. This one has to do with money.
What if the gov knows that mercury pollution from coal burning plants, manufacturing facilities, etc as well as immune system and digestive system damaging practices such as vaccinations, fluoride in water, artificial flavors-colors,etc, and a chemical assault in general is causing the increase in disease and disorders over the last 30 years BY DESIGN for political (google: new world order agenda) or financial (so drug companies can sell us 101 cures and rake in billions) or both?
When we allow people with a certain world view to “drive the bus” we shouldn’t be surprised when our journey isn’t what we expected it would be. When the government allows the drug companies to fund research and set policy, we shouldn’t be surprised if the drugs being made simply manage rather than cure conditions …with side effects that necessitate other more and more drugs.
Rather than buy into the herd mentality that this or that causes autism or that this or that doesn’t cause autism shouldn’t we all be looking at the big picture and demand change?
Tsu Dho Nimh
Jun 9, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Claims of an autism epidemic are based very much on what people feel: Because they’re hearing more about autism, and because more people are talking about autism, and because more children are being diagnosed with autism, people have been saying “epidemic!”.
Don’t forget those who stand to profit from the perception of an epidemic pumping up the volume and pimping for their product.
I saw a perceptual epidemic of congenital Toxoplasma gondii get started in the 1970s - apparently deliberately started by a company who had a diagnostic test that wasn’t selling very well.
First there were a series of articles in women’s magazines about it and the threat to pregnant women and their babies - all slightly different slant, all by the same man, all published within a couple of months. A month or so later the lab I worked for got a BIG, glossy advertising brochure for the diagnostic test … citing that man as the “expert and author”, and with quotes from some of the articles.
Only later, after I had learned about advertising and lead times, did I realize that the brochure was probably in production before the articles were on the newstands … and he was a shill.
Our pathologist didn’t buy the testing materials, nor did any lab I was aware of, because we didn’t have the volume necessary to get good and stay good.
So Goeth the Autism Epidemic « What Sorts of People
Jun 10, 2008 at 1:29 am
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