Is there truth, to Michael Savage's advice for parents of Autistic Children?

Question

Michael Savage the Radio Host, Claims that most Autistic Children just need to be told to stop acting like they do. Could there be truth that Autism is way way over diagnosed and many of these kids just need parents to strongly teach them to not act that way?

Answer 1

I would say that in general students with Autism do benefit from rules, boundaries and limitations.  The better parents are able to provide that on a consistant basis - the more available for learning the students will be.

So from the standpoint of parents having an important role - it is correct - I think his answer was a bit simplistic, disrespectful and the best way to deal with it is to ignore it.

To debate or complain - give him power and influence.

Answer 2

There is no truth to what he says.  Trust me he is a joke.  \

If anything is more misdiagnosed it is ADD and ADHD.

Answer 3

No truth whatsoever.

ON EDIT:  for DannyK, who wants context, here is the transcript:

SAVAGE: Now, you want me to tell you my opinion on autism, since I'm not talking about autism? A fraud, a racket. For a long while, we were hearing that every minority child had asthma. Why did they sudden -- why was there an asthma epidemic amongst minority children? Because I'll tell you why: The children got extra welfare if they were disabled, and they got extra help in school. It was a money racket. Everyone went in and was told [fake cough], "When the nurse looks at you, you go [fake cough], 'I don't know, the dust got me.' " See, everyone had asthma from the minority community. That was number one.

Now, the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is.

What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, "Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot."

Autism -- everybody has an illness. If I behaved like a fool, my father called me a fool. And he said to me, "Don't behave like a fool." The worst thing he said -- "Don't behave like a fool. Don't be anybody's dummy. Don't sound like an idiot. Don't act like a girl. Don't cry." That's what I was raised with. That's what you should raise your children with. Stop with the sensitivity training. You're turning your son into a girl, and you're turning your nation into a nation of losers and beaten men. That's why we have the politicians we have.

Answer 4

There is some speculation that autism is over diagnosed, but it is not fictional! I have a neigbor with a son who is severely autistic. You cannot reason with an autistic child, or tell them to "stop acting autistic", as many do not understand the purpose or funcion of language. They are in thier own world, rocking, flapping thier hands. A child with severe autism cannot relate to others, does not look people in the eye, flips out when anything does not ssem "right" to them, cannot speak beyond a few words, and does not seem to know other people exhist.

Of course, Autism runs on a spectrum. SOme children have been diagnosed with Aspberger's SYndrome, which means that they are verbal but very awkward socially, along with other specific issues. Kids with NLD, which is closely related to Autism, cannot understand body language, facial expressions, sarcasm, or metaphor. They take what is said at face value. My daughter has NLD, and she is also gifted at reading (12th grade level in first grade). If you tell her to wait a minute, she will actually count to 60. If you tell her to watch her ketchup so her sleeve won't get dirty, she stops what she's doing and stares at her ketchup. Forget telling her to pick up her room-how could she lift the room? Or to make her bed-she would need a hammer and nails! Everything must be explained precisely or she does not understand. This is not a behavior problem, its a neuropsych problem.

Answer 5

Mr. Savage is completely ignorant on the subject of autism.  I am the mother of an awesomely handsome, funny, happy and "cool" autistic boy who has nicknamed himself "Rhino". Apparently he does not know that autistic children have sound processing disorders which make them unable to understand language and many sounds.  My son thought a bird chirping was a baby crying.  His ignorance would be funny if not so pathetic.  He is an idiot who needs to clear the air waves.  Go to Autismfamilystyle.com-there is a funny opinion about Mr. Savage - there are autism comic strips here and a tough guy character named Bruno who would like a word with what's his face.

Answer 6

Speaking as a parent of two autistic children, his reasoning and rationalization of autism is severely off base. I listened to  what he said, listened again, and again. I also got extremely upset with his choice of words like 'stop acting like a putz'. I also listened to his "rebuttal" or his explaination as to what he actually meant to say.

There is a big difference in parents who live with autism day in and day out and the parents who are frustrated with the behavior of an over zealous child who doesn't need sugar.

Autism can not be cured.

I will have my two sons with me for the rest of my life. My oldest has limited speaking skills and 99.9% of the time repeats what he hears when he wants to. Conversations with him are one sided and he repeats everything you say, just as you say it; even if you have lilts in your voice, anger, whispers, etc.

This can be frustrating for me because he sometimes does things that can cause him harm and telling him not to is like recording my voice and doing a playback.

My middle son is nonverbal and is in his own world most of the time unless he is on the computer on a set game he loves.

I will never get a chance to hear him speak, tell me he loves me, or even call me for help when he's hurt. I have to guess when something is wrong when he acts out of his 'norm' and this is extremely hard.

No matter how much I want them to be better and miraculously healed of this incurable, heartwrenching disease, I can't fix it.

This is what made me mad with Michael Savage. He has NO IDEA what it's like to deal with autism day after day after day after day with no breaks.

Parents often divorce behind autism diagnosis. It can destroy families and pile on more mental anguish than anyone can imagine.

I don't want to sound like a Savage fan, but the man has a right to say what he wants, BUT, that doesn't mean that we have to tune in and listen.

He will have his day when he will have to face a serious situation and he is powerless to do anything about it but live in those moments and cope.

He will also have to answer to a higher power who made these babies and give penance for how literally cut them up with words.

It's true, the tongue is a two-edged sword that has the power to encourage or destroy.

With the venom he spews, he is isn't worth polluting the airwaves by giving him an audience to offend.

Answer 7

Michael Wiener is a jerk for saying about autistic children! He crossed the line this time!

Answer 8

See in some cases he is right take Laura b and her answer her son is so autistic he even gave himself a nickname ! ..these are the parents whom he is referring and even to boot shes plugging a website ..no doubt a money making one !

Answer 9

no.    yelling @ my child over and over again to stop XYZ doesnt hlep.  believe me.. if it was just discipline my kids wouldnt have ASDs...  michael savage seems to have his own bizarre brand of hate speak..for some reason singling out autistic kids...

Answer 10

NO Theirs No Proof that Parents of Autistic Children ever been Irresponsible but theirs Proof that 1 in 150 Children out there are Autistic, No Proof over any Doctors and Drug Companies Over Diagnosing Labeling Children Autistic but 4 out of 5 Autistics are Males, Theirs No Point of Bullying Autistics adult or Child because that makes worse instead Be a Friend talk to them get them to Understand what Life is in their shoes, because all most people do is either Ignore Trashtalk or Bully these People these are very Sensitive People You have to not be mean to them in anyway.

Answer 11

It has got to the point where every sort of retardation among children is classified as autism. This kid has social problems, he is autistic. This kid has speech problems, he is autistic. This kid is shy, he is autistic. The problem becomes mis-diagnosing kids and prescribing medication to them that is not going to do them any good. There is no cure and treatment hasn't progressed as swiftly as we all wish it would. The question then becomes, how do we deal with this...

I applaud Dr. Savage for discussing this important issue. whether you agree with him or not, take his comments however you like, he is pointing out a very important aspect of society today. Autism is a serious disability and should be treated as such. His argument is not pro or anti autism, it is not to disprove the existance of the disorder. It is to highlight the way we are dealing with it as a society. Should we just start lumping all these kids with varying symptoms and disorders into a single catagory and treat them with medication that they use to treat schizophrenics and other psycological disorders. Some of these kids are barely a few years of age.

This is worse than the ADD epidemic of the last century. Ritalin and some of the modern drugs for that have disastourous side effects that we are still coming to grips with were prescribed like tylonol; my kid doesn't listen, he has ADD, or is it autism?

Everyone has different levels of development and abilities, to use this serious disability as a tool to increase attention, funding, profits, prescriptions, and influence of organizations and individuals is absolutely wrong and should be tried for crimes against humanity; particularly, our children .

Dr. Savage should be commended for standing up against the over drugging of our children!

Answer 12

Hun i do not deny the fact yes some children with autism can be told to stop acting out BUT this depends on how severe the child's autism is and to a certain point he said 99% of the cases not all cases , but its true you mention that a child isn't talking when they are ment to and people shout 'Autism' which is wrong just because they are a little slower doesn't make them autistic, now Thomas pictured with his twin left has severe autism he is 10 non verbal and still in nappies/diapers, he has obbsessions you wouldn't belive, we cannot go on holiday because his routine is the same each day, its tough when a childs only form of talking is high pitched screams and no amount of saying 'act like a man' as he stated would work, maybe he should have thought about parents who do have to cope day after day, i certainly never seen myself still changing nappies at aged 10, but i do my best !

Answer 13

No. Autistic and undisciplined are two very very different things.

Answer 14

No truth - the increase in clinical Autism diagnoses is in part due to the decrease in the number of diagnoses of mental retardation. As autism spectrum disorders are being researched it is opening some doors to switch the clinical judgements of past clinical results. Since ASD's are really just that - a spectrum - ranging from slight developmental delays all the way to the complete inability to function in the real world, people are being reclassified as the disorders they exhibit fall more in line with newer understandings.

I teach autistic kids behavioral strategies that clearly do not apply to non-diagnosed kids. My wife has a PhD and Masters in psychology that both generated academic papers dealing with autistic individuals as subjects (Thesis and dissertation). Though she specializes in children, she occasionally gets in 50+ year olds in for teating that have yet to get an answer as to why they behave the way they do after a lifetime of feeling different from everyone else.

Savage is runing his mouth off, like all the other ill-informed radio jocks.

Answer 15

I do agree that there is an excessive diagnosis of autism.  Where years ago the child would simply have been labeled as retarded. Now it is autism.. but there is funding and government help for being labeled autistic.  

And that is the whole catch.  And yes, I do think discipline comes into play.  Just because a child is "autistic" doesn't mean he cant prosper from a little discipline.  Parents now act afraid of their children  (hurting their feelings, upsetting them)  Well, that's life.  Also now it's not PC to spank.   Raising kids is hard work, and when some parents don't won't to deal with it, then they label it (hyper, ADD. moody, inattentive, wont mind), and the list goes on and on.  So then they bring in a medical or mental issue.  Which gets the limelight off them.  When what they should do is just buckle down and raise the kids.

Answer 16

Savage did not insult anyone. He supports the Parents and Children. The people that understand what he is saying know this. The ones that are out to get him just spin it to try and get him fired. The man has written books to help children which is more than most people do. The weak minded people that can't think for themselves just go with the mob and bash Savage and pile on. Most of them are probably on anti-psychotic drugs which has turned there brain into melted butter which is why they can't think and analyze for themselves. These drugs alter thought and weaken minds which is a large problem in this country. All the drug induced zombies are just going along for the ride because they have nothing better to do between pills. I would like to know what medications the people that protested outside WOR in New York are on. I am sure it is some kind of Ritalin and Prozac cocktail.

Long live the Savage Nation.

Answer 17

This man angers me to no end.  He is the most hostile, disgusting talk radio host that I have ever heard.  For him to say something like that was outrageous and there is no truth to what he says.  Obviously there are many degrees of autism, but he knows nothing of what he is talking about.  If his child was the slightest bit autistic, he would then understand.

Answer 18

There are no bio-medical markers or a clear set of rules for diagnosing Autism. One of the determining factors that is actually used is if a child lines up his/her shoes. If that's a factor, I have Autism myself. He has had several experts in the field on his show who claim that it is misdiagnosed in about 60% of children. Much of this is done to create revenue for schools in the form of government grants.

All Savage was saying is, "It is the falsely diagnosed, the misdiagnosed and the outright fakers who want the benefits, who must be found out and must be turned out, so that the money can go to the truly needy in this particular field."

His comments were taken completely out of context by the very liberal and anti-free speech group, Media Matters.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/article...