1. Beth

October 18, 2008 @ 8:09 pm

Oh my God. Seriously? I have to say, calling him an idiot is way too kind. Incredible.

2. Me

October 18, 2008 @ 9:32 pm

Ya know, my feelings are mixed on this. I do think what he said and how he said was completely uncalled for, and of course there are kids out there that have Autism and thier parents should be seeking identification and support.

However, I also see what he is saying. I think that LD, PDD and behavior disorders are over-diagnosed these days,and part of the reason is that parents (and teachers) can no longer accept that not all kids are going to be wonderful academics or social superstars or well behaved kids. It seems like every bright but quirky kid these days is getting a PDD diagnosis, and every kid who does not pull As is getting an LD diagnosis, and every kid who deos not follow all directions is getting a Conflict Disorder or ADHD diagnosis. Then of course all these identified kids (and their parents) have an excuse for thier imperfections, and get special programming and attention and expectations and IEPS at school.

I am NOT talking about kids that cannot function in the classroom or in their families, or cannot communicate, or cannot sit still for a moment or focus on an assignment long enough to read the first line. I am talking about kids that function just fine, but not as well as their parents would like. Kids that are passing all their classes but not getting super grades, or that have a few friends but not enough or the right ones, or that are distractable and chatty and sometimes defiant in class or at home. These kids are all getting diagnosis these days, if their parents or teachers seek them.

There were kids just like this when I was in school (heck I was one of them-smart but had a solid C average, always in trouble for chatting and being distracted in class, socally awkward)…none of them got tested or diagnosed, they were just NOT the superstars, and that’s that. Most of them (that I know of) did just fine though, and are now educated and successful adults without ever having a diagnosis, excuse or accomidation for being geeky, distractable, solid “C’ students. Me included, and I have no doubt that today, I would have a ADHD dignosis, probably an LD diagnosis, and everyone would be convinced there is no way I could succeed at school without concerta and withdrawal assistance. Really though, all it took was a little finding myself, and the recognition (in grade 11 when it finally came) that if I did not buckle down and get to work and take my classes seriously, I would not be going to college.

3. Ami

October 18, 2008 @ 11:23 pm

I really think the previous commentator is comparing apples and oranges. Autism and PDD are completely different from what you’re describing (attention deficit disorder, or ADD). The reason autism is diagnosed more frequently is that it’s occurring more frequently, and more research has been done in the past decade, so more can be done for the kids.

As for the original post, I can see why your blood is boiling, and agree that Dennis Leary is an idiot, to put it mildly! He’s basically falling back on the old “mom isn’t doing her job” mentality that set back autism research for decades in the first place!

4. Fear and Parenting in Las Vegas

October 19, 2008 @ 1:25 am

I think Dennis Leary pretty much racked himself on the list with Tom Cruise (after Cruise attacked Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants to cope with post-partum depression). Let’s hope that Leary has an epiphany or two and we see him at an AutismSpeaks! benefit podium soon falling on his sword repeatedly.

5. Jessica

October 19, 2008 @ 9:02 am

Wow, that is just really wrong on so many levels. Dennis Leary is known for being extremely politically incorrect and his humor can be quite offensive.

Barring his comments, which were out of line, I do think Autism is way over-diagnosed however. It’s not to say that Autism isn’t extremely real for parents whose hearts break for their children with these kinds of challenges, but since there is no blood test or CT scan for these kinds of developmental issues so the diagnoses, especially in high functioning Autistic children, is highly subjective and I do think some children that don’t fit neatly into a “normal” category are often labeled nowadays. In NO WAY however, does this mean that a child is lazy or stupid. That is HORRIBLE!

7. lindsay lohan fan

February 12, 2010 @ 9:17 pm

Experts don’t know aren’t sure and are forever baffled by autism. That’s why the definition is jacked up. These professionals don’t know what they heck they are doing. I just saw a video on YOU TUBE titled: “autism spectrum seems out of control” Watch it. It’s good. Another thing: Kids are being diagnosed with aspergers and autism after 15 minute doctor visits. Docs aren’t even asking historical background or running genetic tests or blood tests , allergy tests, urine tests, cat scans, etc…to check out if something else is going on….lots of kids, teens and adults who are lableed autistic, aren’t really autistic. Autism is very serious. Yet, we find people who are mentally ill posing as autistic persons, as in Donna Williams, and Ari Ne’emen, the Obama appointed non autistic person who thinks he’s autistic. Man, this whole autism thing is so blown up right now. It’s all over the place and there is mass confusion because there is so many people claiming this diagnosis when they aren’t really autistic and then we have doctors diagnosing that don’t know what the heck they are doing. And please, the schools? Audits show some schools overdiagnose kids with autism so they can get more funding. Wow. People, you better educate yourselves. Oh, and Jenny Mccarthy? Her son was never autistic. If anyone would stop for a few minutes and analyze her story you’d discover that her child had febrile seizures, regresed, was subsequently treated with anti convulsants and slowly recovered. Meanwhile, she fed him gluten free food. Gluten had nothing to do with it. He had febrile seizures that caused acute developmetal delays. That’s it. And then press grabbed her mislabeled autism version of story and ran with it. Bad journalism. If you think any of this is mean or attacking anyone, hey man, do the research yourself. It’s all true.