Talk about Curing Autism

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By Cretinism I suppose you mean Creationism? By the same standard, just suppose an environmental cause was discovered for evolutionism, would you oppose the treatment? What if it was shown to just be a lack of nutrients which aid in the development of the Frontal Lobe? Would you then take the nutrients to cure your deficiency?

No, he's talking about a medical condition called Cretinism. This thread was about a cure for autism, and Dent gave a an example of severe medical condition for comparison. Here's a link to a Wikipedia article which explains what cretinism is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretinism

Ok, sorry, I had not heard of that condition before... on facebook debates some people have called creationists cretins to verbally amuse themselves. I've heard the term "cretinous" used as an insult on British comedy many times, but I didn't know it related to an actual medical condition. Thanks.

Your concept has a major flaw, you see, Evolutionary Science IS the cure for Creationism, its just that some people are so wilfully obtuse they refuse to take the pill and remain fixated upon fantasy. Cretinism was much easier to cure, just put iodine in the salt, oh there is an idea!! ! teach real science in schools, it may take a generation or too but we will get there.

I want people to accept me the way I am but help me change IF I WANT TO. I want to nbe cured of the discrimination in my life, the understimulation, and the depression that comes with both those things. That's what I want.

You can't CURE autism, it is not a disease.

They've done identical twin studies on Autism. It's almost certainly genetic, or at least most of it is. Autism is currently thought to be caused by improper fetal cell development in the brain. They haven't linked it to any gene.

I wouldn't assume that means it is definitely genetic but I'm not saying it isn't either. Sometimes one twin or both are born with autism but there too potentially exists an environmental cause where one of the twins my compromise the health and development of the other or both potentially compromised. So in that way it doesn't automatically mean that a gene is involved. Until they identify a gene then we can't automatically assume there is one. I'm still waiting for them to say they've finally identified the gene and until then I wouldn't assume anything. As far as a cure, I'm only thinking of prevention in cases where it's possible to prevent it but I don't think it's possible to eliminate entirely. It's an amazing phenomenon and think it should be studied a lot more from that standpoint rather than so much in the area of cure because this is more likely a wasted effort.

I feel that each person should be free to live their life, just as they are.

I'm not fond of people or persons whom want to spend all of his/her time in the hopes of finding a cure for this or that cause, honestly I'd rather be contented in coming to understand people within the autistic spectrum as a whole.. personally, I don't see myself in need of a cure at this moment but, let people do as they wish..


ProfessorX

I often feel odd when I think that people are out there trying to come up with a cure for what has been a gift to me. Sure, I have challenges---or else I wouldn't have been diagnosed with AS. There were things I wanted to change in my life. I went to therapy sessions---which may have helped a little. But a cure? Why not focus on therapy to make little adjustments in certain areas that we feel we are challenged by? I mean, NTs have areas of challenge too. Is the world trying to cure NTs? Of course not---that is the norm.

For the NT world, autism is not the norm, and for those of us with autism, NT is not the norm. I believe the world should not tinker with trying to make us with autism something we are not. That is my opinion.

Last edited by glider18 on 16 Feb 2010, 10:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

Exactly!
I need some help with certain things, but I'm also sure that my autism helped me with other things. I know not all autistic people are geniouses, but I see that people with probably the same IQ as mine still have to put more effort sometimes. For example if you take logic - for them it will take a minute, not a long time, but I can understand it the moment I read it - because I'm used to thinking in patterns, and to logical rules I used to think about as a kid, myself.

As I child I didn't understand how people have problems learning a foreign language, for instance. My sisters are smart and good at languages, yet they don't get it as quick as I do, because I'm just used to patterns and to recognising and memorising them without trying - as I always think in patterns. Now people don't understand me... Is anyone of us disordered? Aren't we just different? I don't think people who don't recognise logic and patterns are inferior... I also don't think that I'm inferior to them.

Plus, many of my challenges faced were because I refused to accept irrational reasoning for militarism, nationalism, etc. Does that make me inferior? I'm glad I had those difficulties, so I can see the lie behind them.

Well put Omerik---I really enjoyed reading your response to my post. I couldn't have said it better.

You mention the patterns. That reminds me of my research I sometimes do with ancient civilizations. I found a pattern in their sites---but I can't seem to get people (scientific/archaeological societies) to listen because they don't understand. They automatically think I am dealing with archaeoastronomy, and I'm not. It's simply archaeology.

I sincerely see us with autism as a difference---and I am glad you do too. Thank you for your response. And you are definitely not inferior. That is so important for all of us on the spectrum to realize---we with autism are not inferior.

Thanks, I also like reading your comments as well.

The things is that it's sometimes confusing for others, because we (at least you and I) do admit we need somekind of help - and even asking a friend is a form of help. I even know NT people who ask their friends (and me) advices regarding relationships - are they disordered?

All I'm saying, at least in my individual case - the same way as others needed help with maths, I needed help with social skills. Today, those people who got help with maths, know it. They are not stupid. And as I worked on my skills, I see that I'm okay, more or less. I'm a believer in the human race - I think that difficulties can be overcome.

I have "inferior" skills and "superior" skills - I'm neither of that!
When I impressed my language teachers and friends with my knowledge and understanding, they told me it's not human. When I couldn't make a simple conversation, they thought I'm weird.
Well, you help those with learning problems - why not help us with socialising problems? We can learn it... Just as a person who doesn't understand logic right away isn't stupid, a person who doesn't understand social situations right away isn't a misanthrop.

So all I'm saying - we all have advantages and disadvantages, either NT or autistic. We should embrace the differences, and have respect for each other - also meaning not saying that all NTs are herd-followers and idiots...

heres how i feel. u cant "cure" it. but if ya think about it. autism is a PDD (progressive development disorder). So we need early detection. You find it early and BOOM! we got it. now lets say theres some sort of "remedy" that could stop it. using it from the start could solve the problem. but wat this "remedy" could b is unknown or if it could even exist depending on the causes of autism. but nobody will do tht cuz so many ppl r against a "cure" cuz theyre all like "AUTISM PRIDE!"

Hi DiabloDave363. I know you probably realize it, but PDD stands for Pervasive Development Disorder rather than Progressive Development Disorder. You mention many of us being anti-cure because of Autism Pride. I think of my self with my autism as happy and satisfied with it. Sure, I have challenged times, like everyone else. But I like my autism. If being happy with it is pride, then I have pride in it. What is wrong with having this kind of pride in autism? I think it's wonderful. It doesn't hurt anyone. You see, pride has two definitions---a good type, and a bad type. I have the good type---I am satisfied with myself and do not hold myself higher than others. Look up pride and you will find the two types. There's nothing wrong with the good pride---it is healthy. And that is the way most of us with the anti-cure mission are---we are satisfied with our autism.