Autism specialist or trying to sound important?

Question

I asked a question about my daughter having trouble with math and I mentioned she was diagnosed with Atypical Autism. A woman answered with this response:

She needs the social interaction with her peers more than she needs subtraction - as long as there are calculators and other tools - I would just focus on subtraction as a part of something else like algebra. It may be that her issues might be that it is a big deal.

I don't know where you got the ter of Atypical Autism, I've never heard it and have been in the field for a very long time.

How can you be in the fireld and not have heard of this term? It's PPD. They are the same thing. And how can you be in the field and think that a child with Autism would benefit from the social scene at school? That's where these kids get bullied. She gets her socialization elsewhere where it's safer.

Answer 1

I have a daughter with Aspergers which is basically a higher form of Autism, her school work and intellect is extremely high, her social ability is near non-existent, this is the area as a parent I concentrate on so when I'm dead and buried I know she will cope. You as a parent need to make the best judgement call you can to prepare this child for the world as no one else can. If you find someone who you don't agree with then find another that you do agree with, for this child. These children need that extra bit of help in life and they are worth it. I have work with a severely  autistic child who is now in high school and has come further than expected because his mum was determined to raise him like her other kids. Its hard work, I know, but at the end its worth every tear and every laugh along the way.

Answer 2

Well since you are talking about me - I thought I would respond.  I am seeing more and more people being told a variety of descriptors with the word Autism.  The spectrum itself is so diverse and people are trying to come up with words that can better pinpoint where their kids are.  

The problem with that is that they are many times regional terms or a specific clinics preference of terms or sometimes a way to make parents feel better about their childs Autism.  There is no consistancy in them.  As far as PDD-NOS (a term you did not use when you said atypical Autism) - I've never heard the word Atypical Autism in conjunction with that.  That is Pervasive development Disorder - Not other Specified which is - some ASD type characteristics but not definitive enough to place squarely on the spectrum.  Atypical is typically a word that comes up in Diagnostic testing as one of the families of behaviors that may indicate ASD but I've not seen any medical research or journals that use the phrase that way.

Asperger is typically the term used for those students with higher intellect or intellect of more typical peers

Autsim - is used more often to describe those more significantly cognitively impaired or with more classic issues of speech deficits, repetitive motions etc. - although it is also a global term too.

Autism Spectrum Disorders is the most global term that encompases the entire range of possibilities.

Again as I said before - there are some regional terms, some fashionable terms but the nature of ASD itself is so unique that calling it Atypical seems like someone was searching for a way to describe something they are not too familiar with.

My advice stands however - the most important skill that your child can learn is to interact with same age peers.  Not other Aspy kids in a contrived setting, but school activities, social events (dances, girls scouts etc)with typical peers.  

In teaching Very High Functioning Autism for a number of years at the high school level and following their progress as young adults - if they don't have that basic skill to interact with others, they seem to have significant issues retaining jobs, living independently etc.

Answer 3

I agree with "trying to sound important."

My stepdaughter has atypical autism. Her advice is silly and poorly expressed.

Answer 4

I have downs..... It rocks!

Answer 5

I am in the human services field and I have heard of the term and I do not even work with autistic children. As for the math question, teach her things that will be useful in the future, there will probably be no need to over do the math aspect. As for socialization, there should be some level of socialization that is not "safe" as there will come a time in her life where she will be in a situation where there is not supervision, at that time she will need to know how to respond. The interaction is not required to be in a school setting, but could happen at an outing or camp or even some form of additional educational classes like dance. There are many new programs being developed for children with autism, and it would help for you to research these programs in your area.

Answer 6

With the ever evolving field of special education, there are lots of new term.  If she had taken the time to understand the term, she could have learned something and probably helped you in the process.  Education, medical, social workers each have their own different takes on the same terminology.  Don't take it personally.  Sometimes you have to advocate for your daughter to the advocates.  :)  

Just like in other fields, specialists/managers/directors may breathe hot air.

Answer 7

I think I would go with "trying to sound important and knowing all about it".  I would suggest that you type atypical autism into your Yahoo or Google search and see what comes up.

Answer 8

Autism is on a spectrum. I work with autistic kids who don't follow the "usual" pattern although they have many of the typical characteristics.  In these cases, I have often read the physician reports stating that they are atypical.  That may not be a formal diagnostic statement, but an interpretive statement indicating that there are some characteristcs that dont reflect the classic autistic case.  Perhaps the specialist was trying to focus on your daughter's main issue to be able to transition into the working world.  You speak of algebra, so it is my guess shes in late middle school or high school already.  In that case, her ability to obtain an maintain employment will largely depend on her social skills and not in her ability to subtract.  Please try to see the ultimate goal for your daughter.  It is not subtraction but the ability to work with others.  These kids are preciously unique, but they are not like the "norm."