Kids cured of, lose and grow out of autism diagnosis

Last week I was at the health food store and ran into a woman I’ve known for some years, whose son is diagnosed “autistic.” It has never been easy to understand why her son has this diagnosis. He’s not autistic.

For example, he’s always been verbal, made jokes, interacts normally with siblings and friends and follows and engages in conversation around him. There are no ritualistic behaviors, hand flapping, echolalia or body rocking. There is no lack of eye contact or sensory abnormalities. He’s athletic. He attends birthday parties and other social functions with no problems.

The only thing “different” about this child (now in his teens) is that he is hyperactive and has a few mood swings.

A few years ago, during half-time at a soccer game, I noticed the mother check her son’s blood sugar and give him insulin. As a result, he went from irritable and distracted to calm and focused.

Turns out he has, all along, had ADHD and diabetes. He’s “lost his diagnosis,” claims the mom.

So, now we find children “losing the autism diagnosis.” Others are “cured” after they ride horses with witchdoctors, eat gluten free foods or swim with dolphins.

In any event, here is a case of autism misdiagnosed with underlying etiology of “autistic behavior” being a direct result of uncontrolled blood glucose levels.  

The mom, by the way, is not concerned that her son was misdiagnosed with autism. Nor does she care that he received special education services under autism label, even after diagnosed with ADHD and diabetes. “It helped him get a one to one aide,” she said. “And many services he wouldn’t have qualified for under another diagnosis.” Like tutoring and assistive technologies intended for real autistic children. He was also involved, years ago, in an autism research study. No wonder autism research is stymied!

Yes, there are people who have autism and diabetes or other concomitant disorders. Yes, there are autistic people who improve. This kid isn’t one of them because he was never autistic. It’s not his fault. His parents are inconsiderate people who enjoyed the perks of receiving autism services for their non-autistic son.

It’s unclear why educational professionals never bothered to update his special education file AFTER he was diagnosed with ADHD and diabetes.

Maybe it’s because the mom is married to an attorney who storms into special education meetings, makes ridiculous demands and threatens to sue.  

So if you have an actual autistic child, either high or lower- functioning, and you’ve ever wondered WHY you have to fight so hard to get a piece of the autism pie for your child, remember this case.

This case is by no means is an anomaly.

It’s happening all over the USA: children who are not autistic, are being labeled autistic and lumped into the autism spectrum disorder, thereby compromising autism diagnosis and inflating the reported number of children with autism.

Although there is a spectrum, many professionals still haven’t learned to separate authentic autism from other conditions that temporarily or episodically present as autistic like behaviors.

You don’t lose an autism diagnosis. It’s not like hair. And you aren’t cured of autism. It isn’t a disease.

There’s another parent I know, and he told me his son “grew out of his autism diagnosis,” as if autism is a pair of pants. They didn’t quite fit right, they were a little uncomfortable, they lost a button, so...., we tossed those pants and autism is all behind us now. We’re moving on.

Now isn’t that simple. How stupid of me! To think all this time I’ve been frantic and worried each time my autistic son has slammed his fists into his head, bloodied his nose, or had a tonic-clonic seizure...and all I had to do is say he could just grow out of,  lose or be cured of autism. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm ALL for improving the lives of people with autism, but the hype surrounding cures has emotionally and financially hurt a lot of families who are dealing with serious, chronic and complex issues in autism. It's heartbreaking to hear other parents share their stories with me. Stories that involve years of others insisting that their child should be "cured" and passing harsh judgments on families when their child isn't cured. Sometimes a cure is curing seizures, aggression or self abuse in autism. Autism itself is not a terrible thing. Many autistic people are incredibly intelligent and are some of the most sensitive special people on the planet.