Do you think curing autism/asperger's is a good idea?

Question

There is no 'cure' for autism or Asperger's. My opinion on this is that I'm against this so-called 'curing' autism. I think there's no point of going through the process of payments and operations to make the autism 'go away'. It's just wrong. And what I read in The Daily Mail, the 'cures' is pricey, and apparently there are 'professionals' who tell you what to expect for your autistic child, e.g. diets, mediences.

If I was a mother of an autistic child, I would be proud; I wouldn't dare pay thousands of pounds to 'cure' him to be 'normal' and fit in with other children. No. I would put the money in his account for his future. But I'm angry to read that there are parents who are for this...

That are your opinions on this?

P.S: This is the article. It's long but it's worth reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1023351/The-great-autism-rip---How-huge-industry-feeds-parents-desperate-cure-children.html

Answer 1

people don't know autism until theve lived it...

my little sister has autism and my parents have tried so much treatments and diets to help and its not to help her fit in its because she can't talk, she can't write and she can't read and because she can't communicate she lashes out on others and harms herself by biting.

so it's for her welbeing and nothing else and you'll find thats what others are thinking when they try to HELP their child.

Answer 2

everyday i work with 22 teenagers who have aspergers/autism and everyone of them is completely different and unique, i could never imagine there becoming a 'set cure' and they all 'fall into line with normality' (whatever normality is) i know the world would be much duller and less fulfilling.

Answer 3

Hi,

if you allow me, I would like to suggest a way to cure autism. I am not talking of dealing with it, but curing it for good. I know it sounds outlandish. I am not suffering from autism, neither do I know people in my neighborhood suffering from it. I can however understand that it is not easy for people to deal with their children suffering from autism or other mental disorders. That's why i would like to suggest a method to cure autism. So, if you want to read on, go on.

So, I came across  a website which offers S.I.R.( Soul Integration and Re-Creation) Healing sessions. I went through the website and was amazed by the quality of information I found there. The method has been kept secret till now by the healer. She has been healing over 3200 cases till date, 100% successfully, including comas, autism,leprosy cancer, all kinds of disorders, all late stage illnesses, etc, etc. So I gave it a try and got diagnosed. The check-up is actually free. I was shocked at the check-up results, finding beginning illnesses, organs needing healing, 5 tumors in the prostate. So I scheduled a session and the 5 tumors were cleared during that session plus many otiher things repatterned and healed. I feel really healthier, I focus better and more, plus other mental and emotional benefits. I was not aware of my health condition till I came across the website. The healer is a woman, living in US. Her birth name is Evelyn Anderson. But she calls herself Eva or Sophia. She heals also advanced healers. She has access to  Unlimited Knowledge daily,plus dowsing with God. Don't we say that knowledge is power? I strongly recommend each one of you to have a FREE checkup.  Plus you will be spending much less money than in usual medical expenses.

Please, again I would like to point out that before you say  it is not possible to cure autism, etc, go to the website at and  email the healer:

http://www.enlightenmentpathsir.comsiran...

http://www.enlightenmentpathsir.com/doin...

I truly believe  this greatly helps all,

Arnaud

Answer 4

I don't think that most high-functioning autistic adults want to be "cured."  I don't want to make autism disappear because it is a naturally occurring difference in the human population.  But research to help improve the quality of life of atistic individuals is great.  It's okay to be different from neurologically typical people, but to be unhappy is never desired.  Who wants to be frustrated and have difficulty communicating with others?

Answer 5

i was under the Impression that these disorders were genetic

and given time they will find out why some children are born with this disorder but as for a cure  well im puzzled to how you wood go about curring a genetic disorder as my son has D's and every sell has this disorder ....

as for a parent not being proud of there children you evidently have no children with  something  wrong with them as we are all very proud of any achievement are children make even a small one ......... but the thing that gets to me is why wont people stop tell us wot are kids are like how do you no ...... just Cos you watched rain man it dont  mean all the kids are like it in fact contrary to that most struggle with your ignorance

we need facts not smoke blowing up are x*x

Answer 6

It would be nice to be able to cure them but I do not think it is as easy as that, my daughter has Aspergers symptoms and she is a very brave and courageous person who only misses her goals by a small distance but it can be heart braking to watch as much as I am fiercely proud of her every effort

Answer 7

You're right. There is no cure. What we have now is a series of assistance that ameliorates some of the symptoms.

I'm in a unique situation. I have an older child with aspergers. He is generally happy, but physically is suffering because of the occupational issues, he has low muscle tone, tight ligamentation, and poor coordination. If a child had cerebral palsy, no one would think twice about providing PT and OT to help with their symptoms, and that is a neurological disorder, just as aspergers is. He has trouble making friends, making appropriate conversation. If he had a stroke and couldn't talk, no one would think twice to help him learn to speak appropriately, and again, it's a neurological affect, just as aspergers is. I don't want to change *him* per se, but I do want to do therapy that makes his body more comfortable to live in, and his heart a little happier because he can talk to people without them turning away heartless because they don't understand him.

I have a younger child with severe autism. She cries because she tries to tell us what she wants, what she's feeling, but can't find the words. She bites herself, peels the skin off her feet, bangs her head into glass doors, she spent years playing in her own f***s. Should I be proud of *that*? Is that something I should let her do because it's part of her autism? I am proud of who she is and how hard she works, and I see who she is behind all of those issues. But I will work very hard to erase those very typical symptoms of autism. THAT is what autism looks like, in the real world.

Answer 8

i used to work with adults with autism and its very difficult to care for people with this problem. Many parents are also criticised for placing their children in care, but the parents suffer too, some people can deal with it some can't. Each case is individual and it should be down to the people who have to commit their lives to caring for a person with autism, I'm sure if their ever was a cure it wouldn't just be handed out willy nilly and many months of discussion and preparation would be undertaken between all parties involved in the decision making process before decisions were reached. If i had a child with autism i would search out the best possible care for them and if i was offered a cure for my child surely that would be the best possible outcome for them. what would you do if your child had a disease like cancer (god forbid) would you  let them have a curing operation if there was ever one available ( lets hope so someday soon) or let them go through the pain and suffering it causes.

this may throw a spanner in the works or open up a whole new discussion but I'm sure it's food for thought, however extreme it may seem.

having worked with autistic adults and losing both my mother and sister to the big "C" i know something (if only A little) about both, and what choices i would make.

Answer 9

It has been my experience that in autism there are basically two schools of thought, (1) the "my child has autism" group and the (2) the "my child is autistic" group.  The first group seems to view it as something that has happened to their child and if they can only fix it things will be better...almost like they live life mourning the child they think they should have/could have had.  The second group (which I personally belong to) sees the autism as a part of their child, something that cannot be separated.  I believe autistics need to be taught coping skills (and expected to manage as much as they are capable of handling) and the world needs to be better educated.  I do not believe they should be "cured" as this would make them someone other than who they are.  Autistics are not broken, we are wired differently.  As I said, this is in my personal experience.  I am aspie, married to an aspie, between us we have 5 children - two aspie, one moderately autistic, one severely autistic & non-verbal, one NT.

Answer 10

I have aspergers myself.  Aspergers and autism are devastating lifelong disabilities.  Why wouldn't I want a cure if one existed?  Do you think it would be wrong to try to cure someone with other disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia?

If I could go back in time and make a decision before I was born to either be a normal person and die of cancer at age 30, or have aspergers and die of old age at 100, I would pick living normal for 30 years. A person with aspergers really doesn't have a life.

If you are referring to snake oil cures, then I am against those.  Those are swindlers selling fake cures to the desperate.

Still, since autism isn't fully understood, there are going to be a lot of things that help some people but not others.  For example, when a person has celiac disease, he might have aspie symptoms, but can easily be cured with diet and B12 shots.

But if scientists ever develop a cure or effective medicinal treatment for aspergers, I would love to try it.

Answer 11

There is no cure and never will be for autistic spectrum disorders as they are pervasive development disorders. Two of my children are autistic and at times are extremely difficult to live with but, I wouldn't change them for the world. They have taught me so much including tolerance. I do think most people who have an ASD are wonderful to be around as their outlook on the world is different to most other peoples and it couldn't do for us all to be the same.

Answer 12

I work children that have this exceptionally and I have never heard of such a thing.

Answer 13

Do you have any experience in dealing with autism and aspergers ? Judging by your question i think not.

While you are  entitled to your opinion you should reserve judgement unless you have  experience in this matter.  

Honestly you don't have the 1st clue :)

Answer 14

The cure was found in august 2006, it removes all symptoms except two and no bad side effects have been discovered.  It hasn't been made public yet, extensive testing needs to be done.  I went thru it on march this year.  It's being called BS therapy.  Being cured feels like driving a new car or upgrading from windows 95 to Vista, you know what i mean?  a lot of "bugs" get removed and you get a lot of "extra functions" you didn't have before but at the core its still same old me   ; )

Answer 15

As an adult with Asperger Syndrome, I've been exposed to parents who want a cure for autism/AS and autistic adults (many of them @ wrong planet) who are dead-set against a cure. They feel it is a part of who they are and to cure autism would kill a part of them. I have heard of parents who claim their kid has "recovered" from autism. There is no present cure for autism. Science isn't 100% clear on what the main cause is or if there is more than one. Genes, environment and vaccines (though the latter is becoming debunked) are all thought to play a role. If you were a parent, you would no doubt love your child in spite of their difficulties. My mother is a shining example of this. You would however want to do the best you could to make sure they got the help they needed to overcome (as much as possible) their difficulties so they could show the positive side of autism. Whether savant or not, many with autism see the world in a unique way that can be a blessing in the workplace like being extremely good at statistics and numbers or be creative and design software. I'm in favor of curing the curses (e.g. speech and communication problems; sensory overload) so that the blessings may flourish. This may be the equivalent of splitting the atom, but I think it's where the focus should be.

Answer 16

No, because autism/asperger's is a gift. I have asperger's and I'm glad I have it. Watch my video on asperger's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-...

Answer 17

Oh boy....when they cure stupidity & ignorance then I'll get my hopes up!  But, let me say that sometimes the best cure is understanding......!

First of all I am a parent of an autistic child.  He has Asperger's Syndome (high functioning/mid autism).  While there's nothing mild about autism I am fortunate enough that he lives a normal life with occasional interruptions.  I know the joys of having him tell me he loves me and watching him enjoy the world around him.  I know that there are parents out there with children on the other end of the spectrum that will never know what it's like to have their child ever recognize them.

Would I cure it?  I can't answer that with 100% certainty.  There are highs & lows everyday.  I don't think that I'd change who he is.  He's smart, funny and eccentric.   It's a neverending emotional rollercoaster....

Answer 18

As a person who has suffered with similar conditions, early on I would have agreed cure it. But I have been through several of these 'cures' and they are frauds anyway. I would not judge these people to harshly they are just worried. Their can be a lot of disadvantages in these type of conditions and I would have given anything to be 'normal'. But I suppose in the end it is personal choice.

Answer 19

I don't think you can say what you would do and how you would react IF you were the mother of an autistic child. Don't think anyone should have such strong opinions if they haven't gone through it.

I do have some experience working with children with autistic spectrum disorders (I'm about to graduate as a speech and language therapist). I have worked in special schools and also have worked on a 1 to 1 basis with a child with severe autism, but I could not tell what I would do if I actually HAD a child who has autism. I probably have more insight than the average person so I would not even give the "cures" a second look, but as a parent (sometimes unexperienced), I'd imagine you want the best for your child and you will try all you can to give your child the best possible life, and a lot of people will try anything, whatever the cost (which is understandable if you believe you have a chance).

Can I ask... what do you mean by..."I wouldn't dare pay thousands of pounds to 'cure' him to be 'normal' and fit in with other children"? Do you just mean paying for these treatments? Or do you also mean any sort of treatment?. Treatment, as far as my limited experience working with autism is not to "cure" and to make the child "normal", but it's to reduce the impact of the limitations and restrictions of the impairment in a day to day basis (I am only talking about speech therapy).

I do agree with you that I don't believe in the "miracle" treatments, people are so unscrupulous, they will do anything for money, at anyone's cost.

I firmly believe in "evidence based practise", and I take all studies mentioned in the media with a pinch of salt, as many studies have fundamental and methodological flaws which make them invalid. The MMR "evidence" controversy is due to this. A critical analysis must be made before taking ANY study as evidence, which some newspapers and these "miracle" cures fail to do.

I don't know if you are familiar wit Ben Goldacre who writes for The Guardian, but you might find his articles interesting:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/series...

Ps... I'm sorry but I haven't read the article, had a quick look so can't comment on its accuracy, evidence base etc etc (not being rude but I don't have high hopes for either). I have an exam tomorrow that I'm revising for. So will have a read within the next couple of days and will edit my answer if I have anything to say.

Answer 20

You're citing an article from The Daily Racist.

Not the best source material...

Answer 21

why not

its not wrong to want cure a mental disorder

people are just too politically correct

Answer 22

do not say you are angry with these people until you know how they feel. as with any parent their main fear is what will happen to my child after i am gone. with the case of a parent with any disabled child this fear is increased one thousand fold. so do not blame these parents for trying to do what they think is best for their children.

my son who is now 10 is a sufferer of ADHD and ASD so i can understand alot more than you. however i have read the artical and agree with you that these so called medical experts leave alot to be desired. personally i would not put my son through any of these so called treatments. he is a lovely child with a heart of gold and i couldnt be prouder of him. yes i worry about the future but know that with help and support he will become a well adjusted valuable member of society able to look after himself and others. but in no way can i say the parents who succombe to thier desires for a 'normal' child are doing wrong.

Answer 23

no i dont -my son is autistic hes exceptionally clever but so are his siblings who dont have it(this i put down to sheer hard work from me and their dad) but my autistic son is the most loving most thoughtful child you could ever wish to meet. so although his life is very different from other children who dont have it i wouldnt swap it for the world-its what makes him so special

Answer 24

I am the mother of an autistic/asperger child.  He is 4 years old.  He can't talk and wants no one to touch him.  He has no friends because other children are scared of him.  They call him stupid and weird.  As a mother, this breaks your heart.  Any parent that would not want there child to be cured from this should have the child taken away.  I want what any parent wants for their child.  I want him to be happy, fall in love and have a wonderful life.  I don't know who will take care of my child if something happens to me.  How can you even talk about this if you don't have an autistic child?  I am one of the parents that have spent thousands of dollars to bring my child out of this and I will keep trying for as long as it takes.  Not to make my child...NORMAL....as you say, but to make his life better!!!!!!!!!

Answer 25

There is no cure for autism, and people who claim that there is a cure for it is trying to make money off the back of vulnerable parents . Autism can be in various degrees and can cause some to have little or no involvment with their surroundings through interaction and communication. However, these skills can be taught,through the use of PEC's, TEEACH etc, often at a very basic level if necessary, with very positive results in that the person can respond, communicate and interact through eye contact and body langugae with others. However, it is by no means a cure.

Answer 26

My Little brother is autistic, and you would think differently if you really were a MOTHER of an autistic child.

I see what my Mom goes through everyday.

My mom has to pay for special schooling for my little brother otherwise he'll slowly start falling into a trace like state of mind.

You cant just put an autistic child in a regular day care, we've tried that and numerous times the day care teachers have told us we cant bring him or if we do bring him we have to stay and take care of him. My brother isnt even "fully Autistic" He has slight autism... So i couldnt imagine what a parent has to do for a child who is fully autistic.

Ever since she started the schooling and diet, we've seen a big difference. There may be no "CURE" but there is help.

He now can say his abcs and sing songs, when before he wasnt even trying.

Answer 27

As a mom of a aspie  who is also on the spectrum , I think that some of the  money spent on a "cure" should go toward advocacy for acceptance.

Answer 28

I think its a great idea to find a cure, I dont know how you can make the claims you do when you dont have an autistic child. you make it sound like the parents are selfish for wanting a normal life for their child.

Answer 29

it's not possible to do that and if you did then that will be bad cause, I'm a girl with asperger's and its part of my personalty. And you can't change that NO WAY ?!

Answer 30

id say yes its a good idea to find a cure for both!

although a lot of autistic people are geniuses

Answer 31

There is no 'cure' for autism, it's not possible!