M. Savage calls Autistic children--BRATS!

[jillio]

Sorry to say this but I do agree that there's too many autism diagnosis on children when I'm sure half of them don't even have it just need disclipine (spelling?) to control their behavior. Like one little kid I know he's 6 he have the worst temper he'll scream, hit people even strangers, being totally inappropiate in front of people like putting hand in pant and touch his private, so many things but their parents aren't doing anything at all to correct the behavior just sitting there watching or sit him down and say "sit over there and eat your food" didn't try say "please don't do that again or you get time out" but give the kid's sister bunch of crap and almost abusing her because she's normal but she's very good kid if he hit hr they'll yell at her and punish her for getting hit by him, because he have diagnosis of autism it makes me sick watching falsely autistic kids getting away with crap and not getting any disclipines (again sorry about spelling)

And will discipline also get rid of all of the other implications of autism, such as MR, communication difficulties, social difficulties, repetitive motor mannerisms, and any and all of the numerous other criteria necessary for diagnosis? A child is NOT diagnosed with Autism based on behavior alone. There are numerous criteria that must be met, and patterns must be long standing.

Austistic children are no more responsible for thier diagnosis that a deaf child is responsible for his/her deafness. Would you recommend punishing a deaf child for not hearing?

 

[dreama]

Austistic children are no more responsible for thier diagnosis that a deaf child is responsible for his/her deafness. Would you recommend punishing a deaf child for not hearing?

They do that too sometimes. I had a really vile swimming instructor once. We were told to swim on our backs then turn over half way down only of course I couldn't because I couldn't hear well enough. It didn't stop them shouting at me.

People always assume with Asperger that the kid is just spoilt. I got that a lot when I was a kid. Also being punished for things I couldn't help doing wrong. I wasn't even that badly behaved. I just had problem relating to others. Had problems with food, and acting differantly. But my parents didn't spoil me.

there is a test you can ask a child with Autism. You show them a tub with Smarties and ask what is inside. They will probably say Smarties. Then you take out a pencil and ask the child if they ask their friend what was in the smartie tub what would they say. A normal kid will say Smarties. An Autistic kid will say a pencil. I would have said 'a pencil' up until the age of about 10 as I used to asume that if I knew something other people knew too. But after that I'm not sure. I know I was an incredibly gullable kid.

 

[dead money]

And will discipline also get rid of all of the other implications of autism, such as MR, communication difficulties, social difficulties, repetitive motor mannerisms, and any and all of the numerous other criteria necessary for diagnosis? A child is NOT diagnosed with Autism based on behavior alone. There are numerous criteria that must be met, and patterns must be long standing.

Austistic children are no more responsible for thier diagnosis that a deaf child is responsible for his/her deafness. Would you recommend punishing a deaf child for not hearing?

couldnt have said it any better.

 

[Reba]

The theory that audtism is caused from innoculations has pretty much been debunked. Thee are those that hang ontothat unreasonable explanation despite that fact. I will definately check on Dr. Camarata from Vanderbilt. I have a good friend that practices pediatric neurology there.

Still and all, Savage was insensitive and over the top in his statements.

The inoculation theory was from the president of the National Autism Association. That wasn't Savage's opinion.

Sorry, if I wasn't clear. Too much hurry.

Savage is an over-the-top talk show commentator, and that's his hyperbolic style. It's not for everyone.

 

[Reba]

Why have you assume that I think you made up stuff when I am not only one who use those word "really" with surprise reaction over your post?

Did I demand source from you to support your claim ?

You asked me a question, and I answered it.

 

[Aleser]

Austistic children are no more responsible for thier diagnosis that a deaf child is responsible for his/her deafness. Would you recommend punishing a deaf child for not hearing?

And yet we still punish autistic children for all the manifestations of 'abnormality'... as we still punish deaf children for not hearing.

People like this, voices like this, just make the problem that much worse. To think of every parent in denial who will now have another advocate telling them to punish bad behaviors out of their child- as if it is not bad enough already, this man blindly supports the inhumane treatment he cannot know nor understand.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

You asked me a question, and I answered it.

Why can´t you answer other´s question because she also use those reaction word the same as mine?

 

[jillio]

They do that too sometimes. I had a really vile swimming instructor once. We were told to swim on our backs then turn over half way down only of course I couldn't because I couldn't hear well enough. It didn't stop them shouting at me.

People always assume with Asperger that the kid is just spoilt. I got that a lot when I was a kid. Also being punished for things I couldn't help doing wrong. I wasn't even that badly behaved. I just had problem relating to others. Had problems with food, and acting differantly. But my parents didn't spoil me.

there is a test you can ask a child with Autism. You show them a tub with Smarties and ask what is inside. They will probably say Smarties. Then you take out a pencil and ask the child if they ask their friend what was in the smartie tub what would they say. A normal kid will say Smarties. An Autistic kid will say a pencil. I would have said 'a pencil' up until the age of about 10 as I used to asume that if I knew something other people knew too. But after that I'm not sure. I know I was an incredibly gullable kid.

That would be very typical of a child with autism.

And, yes, unfortunately, children have been punished for things that were nothing more than the result of their deafness and not misbehavior. However, I don't agree with it, and never will. Nor do I agree with punsihing a child who is autistic for exhibing autistic behavior. There are much more effective ways to moderate behaviors that are dangerous to themselves or others than using punishment.

 

[jillio]

And yet we still punish autistic children for all the manifestations of 'abnormality'... as we still punish deaf children for not hearing.

People like this, voices like this, just make the problem that much worse. To think of every parent in denial who will now have another advocate telling them to punish bad behaviors out of their child- as if it is not bad enough already, this man blindly supports the inhumane treatment he cannot know nor understand.

**nodding agreement**

 

[jillio]

The inoculation theory was from the president of the National Autism Association. That wasn't Savage's opinion.

Sorry, if I wasn't clear. Too much hurry.

Savage is an over-the-top talk show commentator, and that's his hyperbolic style. It's not for everyone.

And when it serves to perpetrate destructive stereotypes against a disabled population, it shouldn't be for anyone.

 

[jillio]

couldnt have said it any better.

 

[shel90]

As the "experts" in the medical field should listen to deaf people's experiences, they should listen to adults who grew up ith autism and get their perspectives instead of making all kinds of assumptions. :roll:

 

[Reba]

And yet we still punish autistic children for all the manifestations of 'abnormality'... as we still punish deaf children for not hearing.

People like this, voices like this, just make the problem that much worse. To think of every parent in denial who will now have another advocate telling them to punish bad behaviors out of their child- as if it is not bad enough already, this man blindly supports the inhumane treatment he cannot know nor understand.

No, that wasn't his point at all. His emphasis was about the misdiagnoses of autism, and the ulterior motives that are often behind diagnosing children with such things as autism, ADD, ADHD, etc.

He repeatedly has stated that he supports full services and help for children that actually have autism. But he is against universal screenings by unqualified people using fuzzy criteria just so they can get more kids under the autism label.

 

[Reba]

And when it serves to perpetrate destructive stereotypes against a disabled population, it shouldn't be for anyone.

It's the stereotypes and broad-brush diagnoses of "disabled" that he is against. Too many people get labeled "disabled", and then get caught up in a perpetual cycle of over medicating, segregation into special "programs", and dependence on "the government" for the solution to all of life's problems.

 

[jillio]

No, that wasn't his point at all. His emphasis was about the misdiagnoses of autism, and the ulterior motives that are often behind diagnosing children with such things as autism, ADD, ADHD, etc.

He repeatedly has stated that he supports full services and help for children that actually have autism. But he is against universal screenings by unqualified people using fuzzy criteria just so they can get more kids under the autism label.

And where exactly is that happening? The diagnostic criteria are very concrete, and an LPCC, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, or a medical liscense is necessary for diagnosis. A layman cannot simply say, "This child has Autism" and have the diagnosis hold up.

He also stated that 99% of children diagnosed with autism were nothing more than "brats." Such an offensive statement ruins any credibility he might have had in making his point.

 

[jillio]

It's the stereotypes and broad-brush diagnoses of "disabled" that he is against. Too many people get labeled "disabled", and then get caught up in a perpetual cycle of over medicating, segregation into special "programs", and dependence on "the government" for the solution to all of life's problems.

If that is what he is truly against, then he needs to stop making such inflamatory and outright ridiculous statements. They certainly don't serve to empower anyone.

 

[Reba]

And where exactly is that happening? The diagnostic criteria are very concrete, and an LPCC, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, or a medical liscense is necessary for diagnosis.....

And all those licensed people are without error or bias? Is autism a psychological diagnosis only, or do they examine also for physical sources?

If the proposed universal screening of all children is passed, do you think they'll have time to follow strict criteria, and have enough licensed medical people to do that? Or will they allow para-professionals to assume some of those duties in a less time-consuming and cheaper one-size-fits-all screening process?

 

[Reba]

If that is what he is truly against, then he needs to stop making such inflamatory and outright ridiculous statements. They certainly don't serve to empower anyone.

But it certainly brought the topic out in the open for discussion.

 

[Reba]

Another viewpoint:

Tony Zizza
Michael Savage Is Not The Problem

July 23, 2008

“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.”

–Michael Savage, Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host of The Savage Nation, 7/16/08

Love him or hate him, Michael Savage sure knows how to get a conversation started.

It’s too bad that most people will either protest him or support the protesters in wanting him fired for essentially calling autism a racket these days. It’s also too bad that most people are lazy and will not look at the broader points he is trying to make. Or what he has been saying about the mental health profession for years. You hear him say “99 percent”, and all of a sudden he becomes someone who must take a position in the unemployment line. Give me a break. Get yourself a clearer sense of context.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe for one minute what our government is saying about autism. On July 22nd, Breaking News | Latest News | Current News - FOXNews.com reported that “The government estimates about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism.” Where does our government get their sources of information? Who gets to define what autism is and isn’t? Doesn’t our government realize that there is no known single cause for autism? Our government used to play a similar numbers game with ADHD.

I mean, from time to time we all have “some form” of some thing all or none or some of the time.

Let’s take a breath here, shall we? Michael Savage is simply trying to wake people up to the fact that in this country, too many children are being labeled either “autistic” or labeled with a mental disorder like ADHD. Interestingly, we don’t hear too much about ADD or ADHD these days. One of the reasons is because this subjective mindset has unfortunately been accepted by our popular culture. If someone is acting a bit odd, out comes the checklist. You are labeled with a mental disorder. Don’t think this happens? Go ahead and google: TeenScreen.

I believe Michael Savage deserves a lot of credit for trying to wake people up, especially parents. There is no way he or anyone for that matter, including this writer, is taking on children or the parents of children who are truly autistic or have other severe mental handicaps. It is beyond shameful that special education and health care dollars are diverted from the truly mentally retarded to students and others who have more subjective behavorial issues. More and more students at every grade level are being placed in special education. This is a serious problem. Michael Savage is not the problem.

Years ago, nationally syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz riled up a bunch of parents when he dared to challenge the very existence of ADHD in children. He, and thousands before and after him, properly point to the fact that lousy parenting -or the acceptance of permissive parenting- obviously has a lot to do with how their children act at home or in public. But dare take on the ADHD machinery, and parents vested in it will come out and protest. They have protested outside of WSB-AM in Atlanta, and sure enough, like-minded parents were outside WOR-AM in New York City on July 21st demanding that Michael Savage be fired. Should Michael Savage be fired? No. Permissive parents should be.

I seriously doubt many of the protesters of Michael Savage and Neal Boortz are the parents of children with truly diagnosed handicaps. I imagine those parents understand that what Michael Savage and Neal Boortz and thousands of others are rallying against is the “overdiagnosing” of children. This has run rampant in our country for years. That’s the real problem.

Here’s a case in point that goes to the heart of what Michael Savage is trying to do with waking folks up about the overdiagnosing of children with autism. It shows that the problem now is psychiatry and Big Pharma. You would have to be a moron if you don’t see that there is a crystal clear connection between Big Pharma and psychiatry.

The state of New Hampshire is just one state out of over 40 states that is sharing a settlement of $515 million dollars from Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb. It appears these drug giants were overpricing drugs like Ablify and Zyprexa to state Medicaid agencies. They also made illegal (big surprise!) payments to doctors to promote these drugs for children and adults who were on Medicaid. If there is not a crystal clear link between psychiatry and Big Pharma, ask yourself how it is possible and medically sound that in the state of New Hampshire alone, state spending on drugs like Ablify and Zyprexa jumped from around $300,000 in 2000 to around $4 million in 2007? Come on, think about it.

So when it comes to autism or drug companies or psychiatry, Michael Savage is not the problem. The true problem that no one wants to talk about is the rush to label both children and adults with a mental disorder based solely on a checklist. Most children don’t have any kind of “attention deficit” that can be helped with dangerous drugs that could not be better served by having parents give more of their time to them. And I mean real time, not just farming them out to more and more private lessons or sports camps.

In my view, we need more talk show hosts to speak up against the rising tide of leaving no child in America undrugged and undiagnosed. Michael Savage will be just fine without the Aflac insurance company no longer willing to advertise on his show. What a bunch of weasels. Cowards. I wonder how much stock they have in Big Pharma. I wonder if they donate money to mental health advocacy groups like CHADD or NAMI.

We all need to pull together and fiercely challenge any proposal to have every child in these United States tested/screened for autism before the age of two. Clearly, proposals like this are worth protesting. They are far more in the direct interest of drug companies and the appointment books of doctors. We have allowed ourselves - especially our children as young as one years old - to become one nation under medication.

Michael Savage is not the problem.

Tony Zizza is a freelance writer who lives in Hermitage, TN. Reach Zizza via email: tz777@comcast.net His columns have appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Macon Telegraph and The Union Leader newspaper. His columns have also been posted on ifeminists.com: News, The Reality Check » TRC Home , Magic City Morning Star: Front Page and MND: News and Commentary Since 2001

Michael Savage Is Not The Problem | MND: News and Commentary Since 2001

 

[jillio]

And all those licensed people are without error or bias? Is autism a psychological diagnosis only, or do they examine also for physical sources?

If the proposed universal screening of all children is passed, do you think they'll have time to follow strict criteria, and have enough licensed medical people to do that? Or will they allow para-professionals to assume some of those duties in a less time-consuming and cheaper one-size-fits-all screening process?

Autism is considered to be a neurologically based disorder with psychological manifestations. And yes, any child being evaluated for autism by an LPCC or a clinical psychologist would be referred to rule out any medical condition that could be responsible for the symptoms. That is standard practice.

I doubt seriously that routine screening would be any thing more extensive than what already goes on in a pedicatrician's office at routine and scheduled exams.....developmentally approriate growth.behavior/skills, and parent report. A screening is not anything more than is already occurring. It is reason to refer to a professional for specific asssessment if something is detected. If nothing is detected, it goes no further.