The Problem with Autism Speaks

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by naraht

Homosexuality

Do you consider this a disease, disorder, or condition?

[33girl]

Too many posts to quote, but maybe the problem is that nowadays the word autism simply covers too much. I'm in my 40s and have always heard of people being autistic, but for the majority of my life it was only applied to those in the lower functioning end of the spectrum. Until it's ascertained how it occurs, perhaps it would be beneficial to have more names for gradations of the spectrum (like Asperger's).

[naraht]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Too many posts to quote, but maybe the problem is that nowadays the word autism simply covers too much. I'm in my 40s and have always heard of people being autistic, but for the majority of my life it was only applied to those in the lower functioning end of the spectrum. Until it's ascertained how it occurs, perhaps it would be beneficial to have more names for gradations of the spectrum (like Asperger's).

Autism today *certainly* covers a wider range of neurodiversity. What's still unclear to me is that is whether the percentage of those who are autistic still increases if viewed with a constant definition of who is autistic.

High Functioning and Low Functioning are used in diagnoses, but again, trying to draw a bright line between them is difficult.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Homosexuality - Do you consider this a disease, disorder, or condition?

Certainly *not* a disease, *perhaps* a disorder only in some technical medical definition that covers considerably more than the average layman would expect and I have no idea what a condition would cover.

And only "treatable" in ways that rip gigantic bleeding gashes in the psyche and the soul.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by naraht

Certainly *not* a disease, *perhaps* a disorder only in some technical medical definition that covers considerably more than the average layman would expect and I have no idea what a condition would cover.

And only "treatable" in ways that rip gigantic bleeding gashes in the psyche and the soul.

Really? Interesting.