autism

Yes, it’s all about being in the community and not segregated these days. 50y ago (when I was at school) ‘mentally retarded’ children all went to a separate school.

It must be a huge challenge for teachers. SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) are in every school now I think. Also teachers need their teaching assistants now as one teacher can’t control a class of such mixed ability.

When I started work at our local LD hospital in the late 70s there were 850 residents. Now there are none. They are all in 'the community'. There were so many children that there was a school for them in the grounds. Now they are in mainstream schools. Many were not so obviously disabled but now would be diagnosed as having autism. Many personal tragedies.
As to others, I always remember a Thora Hird character musing as to why there are now so many children with dyslexia etc and saying they were always around- 'They just sat at the back of the class with raffia!'

That’s exactly my observations suedonin
Did you know any children at school who were autistic ? I didn’t, we had the odd child who was odd but that was it really
Now as autism is believed to be predominately genetic or things that happen to the mother whilst in the womb it can’t be video games can it ?
I think nowadays the need to conform to be at the same stage of development as everyone else, and not to be ‘different’ is considered SO important but why
I do not deny autism which can be so difficult and debilitating for families and for the child and needs early diagnosis and help and support BUT there are many that are ‘diagnosed’ at the lower end of the scale that are kids that are a bit different and thank goodness for a bit of difference but having that label totally dilutes it for the children with Autism who truly need help and support

Years ago there was a stigma attached to any mental health issues and there was a cruel generic label of mentally retarded. My cousin had a daughter who started regressing at about eighteen months. There was huge pressure to put her in an institution and as one doctor put it “forget all about her and start afresh”.

The latest research is asking whether it's being overdiagnosed.

montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-researcher-warns-against-autism-overdiagnosis-1.4561085

I recently read the theory that although the additives in our foods may be individually safe, there have been no tests done on how they affect the developing brains of children when ingested together.....in two or more different foods.

Additives in Food A may be an antagonist to those in Food B, although both foods have been declared safe in themselves.

Also, the chemicals in the plastic or metal containers can leach into the food however pure it is when made up. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Food-Additives.aspx

We have to be so careful these days.

Epsom Salts baths are proving helpful for autistic children.

I agree with your comment Bridgeit about the computer games etc , i wonder how many 5 yr olds have not spent time looking at a tablet/phone etc just to keep them occupied , it is such a shame so many children are now growing up with a label of some sort of issues , i also wonder if countries where children have no access to these type of devises have the same label attached to them ?

Hi I think it is because back in the day, apart from extreme cases folks just accepted that some children’s behaviour was a bit different ,and also the type of discipline that many received at home & at school was rightly or wrongly used to combat/ control what was then classed as ‘unacceptable behaviour’ so they probably didn’t even get assessed by a Doctor.
Also the escalation of computer games , tv programs etc, differing family set ups may be influencing mental development.

I think as there is more awareness nowadays more people are taking their children to the GP for diagnosis.