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+--- Thread: Why do we only see younger children with Autism? (/thread-46904.html)
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Why do we only see younger children with Autism? - ChaChaChaChia - 11-27-2012 06:50 AM
Why do we only see younger children with autism? Why arent there older people with it 40's 50's and so on? Im 21 and Ive never heard of anyone with it except for 2 yr olds over the last couple of years? Something seems wrong with this picture
- ? - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
There are definitely older people with autism...although reserach shows that the number of infants being born with it is rising astronomically, so YES, it makes sense that it seems as though they are only younger children...
Autistic adults either learn to cope better throughout their lives and are less noticeable to the average person...OR...they were so severe that they stay in a home...OR...they don't live as long as others due to other health complications...can be sad, but research is improving medicine and education of autistic people!
- Belie - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
Your question is flawed hugely by your own experience and lack of research. Just because only YOU have met young children with Autism is not to say adults don't have it. Many adults have Autism but have either learned to function in society despite it or have become entirely reclusive/hidden away from society. (Many autistic adults with difficult functioning are just sent to institutions.)
- Elizabeth S - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
I agree with the other answers, but I'd like to add that we are getting better at detecting autism in children and adults. Children with autism were often labeled mentally retarded or has having behavior/ mental health issues. Sometimes both. Now that education of professionals and the actual tests have become better, the number of autism is continually rising. It's not the entire reason we've seen an increase, but it's part!
- nicezebra697 - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
There are Autistic adults in mainstream society. I have met Autistic adults both off-line and on-line.
Google these people. These adult people have Autism.
1. Temple Grandin
2. Donna Williams
- beetlemilk - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
Because the adults with autism that are medium to high functioning have learned how to blend into society. I have been to autism conferences where the speakers were autistic, one of them was Stephen Shore. If you were sitting in a restaurant next to any of them you would not notice. Observing them, you did not notice, until someone put them on the spot with a question they weren't ready for. Someone asked this question while we were there. The answer was and all agreed that as children you aren't aware of social norms for say stimming by flapping the arms. All admitted they still stim, but in public choose a more socially appropriate stim like tapping the feet or drumming the hands. All said that at home they do arm flap, wring hands, screech, and do a lot of rocking. More are dx now, there are several reasons for this. Dx is broader, the spectrum growing, less are misdx with something else, awareness is higher, there are more environmental toxins and pollutants now that many feel are at least partially causal, among others including a better understanding of genetic predisposition.
- realistartinoz - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
Hi there.
There are persons' from the age of "0" to
"100" (for example) who are on the autism spectrum.
There are people who have previously lived who have been on the spectrum.
And there will be many more people yet to be born, who will be on the autism spectrum.
There is autism in the animal kingdom as well.
An individual with autism, is autistic for life. Autism is a part of their 'fabric'.
If you want to know more about autism, check out Donna Williams and Temple Grandins', Aspergers Parallel Planet (Alyson) web sites. These wonderful people are on the autism spectrum and have terrific information about autism for all to read. Mine, "The Heart and Soul of Autism" has extra info and links too.
Have a great day
- Krista Marie - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
its getting overdiagnosed.
really every kid who doesnt do well with others or is a little odd is diagnosed as having autism or being on tthe autism spectrum.
im not saying there isnt a rise in autism, im just saying that like add its like acceptable diagnosis/ excuse to have a bratty kid.
- Happy - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
The reason you only tend to see younger people and children with autism is because it is such a recent diagnosis. Autism was only relly recognised in the 1940's, first by Kanner and then by Asperger. Before they began to research the condition children who would now be classified as having an autistic spectrum disorder were thought of as being slow or eccentric. I have a relative who was recently diagnosed at the age of 69 as having Asperger syndrome. Through out his entire life we have thought of him as being odd and a bit of a loner. When he was finally diagnosed it all made sense, although it does not change him.
- Justmeinthisworld - 11-27-2012 06:59 AM
there are more young people with autism--as the rarte of diagnosis significantly increased during this generation----
but there are many adults with autism--some live in developmental centers because they did not receive proper intervention when they were young and now have difficulty living in teh community
also, many adults with autism have learned to compensate--so it is not as apparent