I think the government's response to COVID exposed cracks in the edifice of "scientific authority" that had built up over time.
I also think RFK Jr. is there because Trump is a master of exploiting divisions. "Public health" has become just another political football. I'll even bet a poll would show more and more people are opting out of official government positions on illness and disease. I for one plan to ignore RFK Jr.'s highly motivated report on autism when it comes out.
Off topic, Zaid: we're being told that autism rates are increasing. Is that true or is it just that tests for autism are becoming more sensitive?
Generally speaking it is believed that autism is diagnosed at higher rates because in the past they really didn't have an autism diagnosis, they would just say that a child was shy or awkward.
The “cracks” exposed by COVID are largely conspiracy theories. The kernel of truth about what could have been done better has been hijacked by MAGA cranks who have convinced the American public that the COVID vaccines are more lethal than the disease itself.
This is NUTS! The reality is that there have been a tiny number of serious side effects noted after over 8 BILLION DOSES given worldwide. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning.
As a physician, I’m utterly appalled by the unnecessary and dangerous lies being spread via online propaganda and unproven anecdotal reports.
This isn’t just the usual dangers of propaganda. The anti-science stance of MAGA in general and RFK Jr in particular is directly causing unnecessary deaths and suffering, as evidenced by the national decrease in all vaccinations and the current measles outbreak.
What’s next in this embrace of medieval ignorance? Bloodletting? Leeches? Eye of newt and toe of frog?
Suffice it to say that all RFK Jr’s children have been vaccinated. And the physicians of America will ignore RFK Jr’s “autism study” as more quackery.
As always, the victims will be the American people, who are now thoroughly confused and suspicious about all public health measures.
What about the connection between autism and gender dysphoria? Is it possible that the reason Lupron is being advocated for both cases (albeit, by different ends of the political spectrum) is because of a shared mechanism between both? Or perhaps Lupron is effective in gender dysphoric patients because they are in fact autistic? Obviously, clarifying research would be necessary, but it seems like plausible connection.
Lupron was originally used as an anti-cancer drug. It was later found to help with precocious puberty. It's over been authorized for taking away a single year of puberty, so you give it someone who starts at age 6 or something crazy.
Grier just wants it as chemical castration. You take away several years of the autistic boy's puberty and stunt their growth. Then they aren't as physically strong and for adult caregivers of the severely autistic they are easier to control as they grow.
So puberty blockers are child abuse when it comes to trans kids but fine when trying to eradicate an incurable and totally fine neurological condition. Erasure is the goal — of queer people, disabled people, etc etc etc.
For sure, I’m not suggesting there’s a mustache twirling contingency of evil mastermind(s) plotting the eradication of The Other (I don’t think RFK has the humility, self-reflective skills or number of brain cells to be hatching Plots™️) but the contradicting application of certain medical practices belies the hypocrisy and bigotry at the heart of American conservatism.
how is it possible that you can't see the reverse? the author highlights the medical fact that these drugs have negative risks, and somehow i just bet the author has written before on children medically transitioning and how any side effect concerns are just maga dog whistle genocide. smh...
In no way endorsing anything that is going on here from the MAGA loons (and whatever the hell RFK Jr. is) but to characterize autism as a totally fine neurological condition is absolutely bizarre. I know there is now what is referred to as a spectrum and that a large chunk of autistic people, yes, can function very well with perhaps little or no help. I'm sure we've all met some of them and maybe have some in our lives.
BUT, there does remain a certain percentage who are completely non verbal and even can barely move, living in a vegetative, diapered state for their entire lives. Perhaps we would have more clarity by having different terms to describe these very different sets of people, but it seems the former are overshadowing the latter.
I have reported a number of pieces about nonverbal autism and yes at that level it becomes highly impairing. However, I don't think that RFK Jr.'s dalliances on autism are limited to that and he does seem to have a real problem with just accepting people for who they are.
In one of my other pieces I noted that he kept referring to nonverbal people using Spelling 2 Communicate -- a fraudulent pseudoscience -- as how impressive they were now that they could do calculus, etc. He didn't find them impressive before because I think he does dehumanize autistic people.
I’m autistic and work in disability services with autistic clients and have a very strong bent towards the social model of disability, meaning that the autistic experience is mostly exacerbated by a societal bias against disability and lack of social infrastructure that would make it way easier for autistic folks (even/especially my nonverbal, mobility-restricted, incontinent, functionally dependent clients) to have a place in society. Obviously there are individual autistic people who might begrudge their disability or have co-morbidities like epilepsy that are difficult to live with — I won’t deny that. But in my personal experience the VAST majority of the discomfort, angst, disappointment, apathy, grief and anxiety about autism is projected onto autistics by non-autistics. Happy to speak more to this.
My experience is completely different than yours. As a parent of a non verbal autistic child who attends a (wonderful) charter school with 150 totally or partial non verbal children…many with associated physical and or behavioral issues…one of a dozen schools in my area catering solely to autistic children and almost all have a waiting list of students trying to get in. No social infrastructure will allow the majority of these children to ever function independently in society. The number of children who fall into this category is extremely alarming. Nearly 100% of these students are incapable of attending a standard school. Most will never be able to read your comment or write one on their own. There is a huge different between levels of autism.
The parents of these children - myself included - their major anxiety - what happens to their children when the parents are gone? It is terrifying to think about.
Based on the article—-I think the person who ran the trials Zaid mention certainly shouldn’t be involved nor in any government funded autism projects, at least in my opinion. But someone somewhere - be it RFK jr or someone else - needs to determine what, if anything, is causing my local population to go from a handful of autistic children in the 1980s (with maybe one totally non verbal child) to thousands of severely autistic non verbal children today in the same school system. That many groups call autism a super power vs investing in finding something to halt or improve these children’s lot in life….the status quo isn’t good enough.
Psychologist here. Our ability to assess and diagnose autism has developed, and there is a “gold standard” that does a very good job of accurately assessing patients. Further, new research shows that computer technologies (e.g., eye tracking, machine learning, computer vision) assess it quickly and without bias that can affect humans.
The rates of autism went up because the definition of autism expanded to include the "spectrum" of disorders that include Asperger's Syndrome, which wasn't identified until 1994 and was largely ignored due to the high functionality of people who have it. RFKJ is an idiot.
You are correct that they expanded the definition and that increased the number of people who fall under the autism umbrella. But as I mentioned in a prior comment…I have seen the explosion of SEVERE non verbal autistic children in my community since I attended schools here in the 1980s. I am the parent of a non verbal autisic child that attends a school with 150 mostly non verbal or partially non verbal children. We are fortunate to have two incredible public autism charter schools in are area (along with 8-10 private ones). There are so many parents trying to get into the schools there is an annual lottery system to gain acceptance as there is not enough spaces for all the children who need to attend. Parent have applied from Hawaii, Boston, and Japan trying to get in (the schools are that good).
When I attended this same school system we had ZERO schools dedicated to autism. There were a handful of children who would’ve been considered autistic back then, all of which were verbal except perhaps one. We now have like 1500 children in the schools dedicated solely to autistic children. And these are the severe cases. High functioning autistic children are usually placed in the standard public school system as every local district has designated autism friendly schools.
RKJ may be an idiot. Never met him so I don’t know. But to say the only reason the #s have gone up is due to an expanded definition is not factual at all. Sure, it impacts the numbers. As does a subset of parents who virtue signal victimhood or become an influencer -in taking their kids to ten doctors until one will diagnose their child as autistic (it happens more than you’d think).
I was born in the 1960s. I didn’t know a single person my entire life that was non verbal until my child. Now? Between the two schools she’s attended I now know more than two hundred and meet more every school year. The math of 0 non verbal humans over any denominator is zero % for adults in my area. Children? 1000/ any number is a higher percentage. It is shocking how prevalent it is when it at one time was not.
I think the government's response to COVID exposed cracks in the edifice of "scientific authority" that had built up over time.
I also think RFK Jr. is there because Trump is a master of exploiting divisions. "Public health" has become just another political football. I'll even bet a poll would show more and more people are opting out of official government positions on illness and disease. I for one plan to ignore RFK Jr.'s highly motivated report on autism when it comes out.
Off topic, Zaid: we're being told that autism rates are increasing. Is that true or is it just that tests for autism are becoming more sensitive?
Thanks
Generally speaking it is believed that autism is diagnosed at higher rates because in the past they really didn't have an autism diagnosis, they would just say that a child was shy or awkward.
The “cracks” exposed by COVID are largely conspiracy theories. The kernel of truth about what could have been done better has been hijacked by MAGA cranks who have convinced the American public that the COVID vaccines are more lethal than the disease itself.
This is NUTS! The reality is that there have been a tiny number of serious side effects noted after over 8 BILLION DOSES given worldwide. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning.
As a physician, I’m utterly appalled by the unnecessary and dangerous lies being spread via online propaganda and unproven anecdotal reports.
This isn’t just the usual dangers of propaganda. The anti-science stance of MAGA in general and RFK Jr in particular is directly causing unnecessary deaths and suffering, as evidenced by the national decrease in all vaccinations and the current measles outbreak.
What’s next in this embrace of medieval ignorance? Bloodletting? Leeches? Eye of newt and toe of frog?
Suffice it to say that all RFK Jr’s children have been vaccinated. And the physicians of America will ignore RFK Jr’s “autism study” as more quackery.
As always, the victims will be the American people, who are now thoroughly confused and suspicious about all public health measures.
"None so blind as them that will not see." Or, in this case, see what they want, oblivious to reality.
so the writer is all for dangerous medical treatments for children when it's to advance liberal quackery, but not conservative quackery...got it
What about the connection between autism and gender dysphoria? Is it possible that the reason Lupron is being advocated for both cases (albeit, by different ends of the political spectrum) is because of a shared mechanism between both? Or perhaps Lupron is effective in gender dysphoric patients because they are in fact autistic? Obviously, clarifying research would be necessary, but it seems like plausible connection.
Lupron was originally used as an anti-cancer drug. It was later found to help with precocious puberty. It's over been authorized for taking away a single year of puberty, so you give it someone who starts at age 6 or something crazy.
Grier just wants it as chemical castration. You take away several years of the autistic boy's puberty and stunt their growth. Then they aren't as physically strong and for adult caregivers of the severely autistic they are easier to control as they grow.
Maybe because autism is a real disease .
Suddenly puberty blockers are "potentially dangerous" after we have been told for years by trans activists that they are completely benign?
So puberty blockers are child abuse when it comes to trans kids but fine when trying to eradicate an incurable and totally fine neurological condition. Erasure is the goal — of queer people, disabled people, etc etc etc.
I don't think most Republicans even know what RFK Jr. is doing to be fair. He is on levels of out there that we don't normally see..
For sure, I’m not suggesting there’s a mustache twirling contingency of evil mastermind(s) plotting the eradication of The Other (I don’t think RFK has the humility, self-reflective skills or number of brain cells to be hatching Plots™️) but the contradicting application of certain medical practices belies the hypocrisy and bigotry at the heart of American conservatism.
*there isn’t an active kill conspiracy against The Other YET, I should say.
how is it possible that you can't see the reverse? the author highlights the medical fact that these drugs have negative risks, and somehow i just bet the author has written before on children medically transitioning and how any side effect concerns are just maga dog whistle genocide. smh...
In no way endorsing anything that is going on here from the MAGA loons (and whatever the hell RFK Jr. is) but to characterize autism as a totally fine neurological condition is absolutely bizarre. I know there is now what is referred to as a spectrum and that a large chunk of autistic people, yes, can function very well with perhaps little or no help. I'm sure we've all met some of them and maybe have some in our lives.
BUT, there does remain a certain percentage who are completely non verbal and even can barely move, living in a vegetative, diapered state for their entire lives. Perhaps we would have more clarity by having different terms to describe these very different sets of people, but it seems the former are overshadowing the latter.
I have reported a number of pieces about nonverbal autism and yes at that level it becomes highly impairing. However, I don't think that RFK Jr.'s dalliances on autism are limited to that and he does seem to have a real problem with just accepting people for who they are.
In one of my other pieces I noted that he kept referring to nonverbal people using Spelling 2 Communicate -- a fraudulent pseudoscience -- as how impressive they were now that they could do calculus, etc. He didn't find them impressive before because I think he does dehumanize autistic people.
Can confirm, Zaid’s reporting on S2C is fantastic and thorough.
I’m autistic and work in disability services with autistic clients and have a very strong bent towards the social model of disability, meaning that the autistic experience is mostly exacerbated by a societal bias against disability and lack of social infrastructure that would make it way easier for autistic folks (even/especially my nonverbal, mobility-restricted, incontinent, functionally dependent clients) to have a place in society. Obviously there are individual autistic people who might begrudge their disability or have co-morbidities like epilepsy that are difficult to live with — I won’t deny that. But in my personal experience the VAST majority of the discomfort, angst, disappointment, apathy, grief and anxiety about autism is projected onto autistics by non-autistics. Happy to speak more to this.
My experience is completely different than yours. As a parent of a non verbal autistic child who attends a (wonderful) charter school with 150 totally or partial non verbal children…many with associated physical and or behavioral issues…one of a dozen schools in my area catering solely to autistic children and almost all have a waiting list of students trying to get in. No social infrastructure will allow the majority of these children to ever function independently in society. The number of children who fall into this category is extremely alarming. Nearly 100% of these students are incapable of attending a standard school. Most will never be able to read your comment or write one on their own. There is a huge different between levels of autism.
The parents of these children - myself included - their major anxiety - what happens to their children when the parents are gone? It is terrifying to think about.
Based on the article—-I think the person who ran the trials Zaid mention certainly shouldn’t be involved nor in any government funded autism projects, at least in my opinion. But someone somewhere - be it RFK jr or someone else - needs to determine what, if anything, is causing my local population to go from a handful of autistic children in the 1980s (with maybe one totally non verbal child) to thousands of severely autistic non verbal children today in the same school system. That many groups call autism a super power vs investing in finding something to halt or improve these children’s lot in life….the status quo isn’t good enough.
Psychologist here. Our ability to assess and diagnose autism has developed, and there is a “gold standard” that does a very good job of accurately assessing patients. Further, new research shows that computer technologies (e.g., eye tracking, machine learning, computer vision) assess it quickly and without bias that can affect humans.
Dr Mengele Jr. in charge.
The rates of autism went up because the definition of autism expanded to include the "spectrum" of disorders that include Asperger's Syndrome, which wasn't identified until 1994 and was largely ignored due to the high functionality of people who have it. RFKJ is an idiot.
You are correct that they expanded the definition and that increased the number of people who fall under the autism umbrella. But as I mentioned in a prior comment…I have seen the explosion of SEVERE non verbal autistic children in my community since I attended schools here in the 1980s. I am the parent of a non verbal autisic child that attends a school with 150 mostly non verbal or partially non verbal children. We are fortunate to have two incredible public autism charter schools in are area (along with 8-10 private ones). There are so many parents trying to get into the schools there is an annual lottery system to gain acceptance as there is not enough spaces for all the children who need to attend. Parent have applied from Hawaii, Boston, and Japan trying to get in (the schools are that good).
When I attended this same school system we had ZERO schools dedicated to autism. There were a handful of children who would’ve been considered autistic back then, all of which were verbal except perhaps one. We now have like 1500 children in the schools dedicated solely to autistic children. And these are the severe cases. High functioning autistic children are usually placed in the standard public school system as every local district has designated autism friendly schools.
RKJ may be an idiot. Never met him so I don’t know. But to say the only reason the #s have gone up is due to an expanded definition is not factual at all. Sure, it impacts the numbers. As does a subset of parents who virtue signal victimhood or become an influencer -in taking their kids to ten doctors until one will diagnose their child as autistic (it happens more than you’d think).
I was born in the 1960s. I didn’t know a single person my entire life that was non verbal until my child. Now? Between the two schools she’s attended I now know more than two hundred and meet more every school year. The math of 0 non verbal humans over any denominator is zero % for adults in my area. Children? 1000/ any number is a higher percentage. It is shocking how prevalent it is when it at one time was not.