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Joined: 4 Jun 2009
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27 Jul 2009, 9:04 am

I think "cure" needs to be defined. Are we talking about eliminating all of the features, or just the distressing ones? Changing everything, or just getting to the point where no mental disorder is diagnosable (i.e. no major dysfunction.)

A "cure" as in eliminating all autism-like features is simply impossible. A lot of the symptoms could be considered personality features. It's not possible to completely change who somebody is like that. But if "cure" means get treatment to a point where there is no diagnosable mental disorder that disrupts somebody's life, go for it! If it were possible to get rid of the meltdowns and the confusions and the misunderstandings to the point that people with autistic disorders can be productive and functional, I think it'd be great.

ChangelingGirl
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27 Jul 2009, 10:21 am

CockneyRebel wrote:

There isn't anything that I need to recover from.

Me neither, but I do want to learn better coping strategies for dealing with my AS issues. I often wonder, those who don't want any cure/therapy/whatever, don't you encounter any problems in daily life, or do you think that these should be solved by NTs being more tolerant?

Almandite
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27 Jul 2009, 10:24 am

MysteryFan3 wrote:

If a cure for autism is ever found, it won't just clear up autism. It will do MUCH more than anyone suspects.

Repair the myelin sheath on nerves.
Clear up timing issues between brain areas.
Replace/repair/activate mirror neurons.
"Correct" any other "abnormal" brain structures.

In short, a Super Brain. Who wants a brain with a big letter S and a red cape?

Seriously, the biggest problem I see with curing all autism is the potential threat to "out of the box" thinking. The more I think about it, the more it seems to me that most people are capable of it, but the more radical ideas are suppressed. Non-autistics mix more emotions with their logic than autistics. There's a distinct uneasy feeling with looking different to the group. Autistics look for solutions with less emotion than non-autistics, therefore there's less fear associated with these radical ideas. So, will the cure box everyone into the same range of emotional/logical mix in their thinking? Mathematical models of ecosystems have shown diversity to be necessary for the system's survival. If we normalize everyone's thinking, will it remove the needed diversity of thinking and forge the last nail for mankind's coffin?

Quoted for Truth.

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Almandite
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27 Jul 2009, 10:26 am

AngelUndercover wrote:

The problem is, we don't live in an ideal world; if a cure were available, people who didn't want it would be pressured into it, and most parents would cure their autistic children as a matter of course (and failing to do so would probably be seen as a form of child abuse). So by all means, look for a cure... but not until the stigma surrounding autism is gone. And that could take a very long time.

Very true.

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glider18
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27 Jul 2009, 10:28 am

I voted with the majority so far---yes to therapy for issues, no to total cure. I have undergone therapy for parenting issues (learning to play with my children more effectively---still a challenge). But, as I have strongly stated in the past, I would not take a cure for my autism.

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sartresue
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27 Jul 2009, 12:10 pm

QR thread

I think any QR should turn around and be put into the recycle bin.

Seriously though, what more can be said about a cure?

Autism can be a frightening world, and it can be wonderful, too.

Like the search for the holy grail and the cure for the common cold, there is no one answer.

If we all learn to understand our own individual aspieness and autism, then this is a "cure". A cure for ignorance.

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cc469
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27 Jul 2009, 12:13 pm

LFA should be cured.
headbanging not being able to use language at all with NTS or oather LFAs not being independent is enough to consider treatment.
probably nothing more than the addition of some white matter.

a procedure that probably won't be too uncommon judging by the fact aging is a disease and people don't want to get stupid after they reach 80 or heck 150.

ChangelingGirl
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28 Jul 2009, 9:30 am

cc469 wrote:

I don't think it's that simple. Mental retardation isn't just the absence of white matter, and LFA as you describe it isn't HFA with MR added. I have a high IQ, but occasionally headbang and am not independent in many ways. I do have language though.

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