For parents of high functioning autistics ...

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If a cure for your child's high functioning autism was offered, would you automatically be willing to give it your child immediately? I figured it was possible that even high functioning parents would unanimously say yes, but I was wondering if there are parents who think that their high functioning autistic kids have unique traits that make them awesome even with all the difficulties. And so they would ultimately decide simply trying to cure their kids would not automatically be deemed worth it.

I would take a "cure" for my aspergers if one was offered. I've had too many hard times in life because of it.
However, I don't think "cure" is a proper term, as we do not have an infectious disease or cancer. We have a neurological condition.

For me, the traits that Aspergers has given me have given me lots of problems in my life and resulted in much difficulty for me resulting in extreme anxiety and depression. I don't enjoy not being able to relate to people or not being able to have prolonged eye contact. I want to be like "normal" people.

If I had a child with autism and a cure was offered, I'd try to see if my child could grasp the concept of what it would mean to them and ask them if it was what they wanted. I wouldn't force it on my child.

The only thing I'd like to change about my son right now is his fondness for the f word. Otherwise, he's perfect just the way he is.

Wonderful. In that case, let's start working on a serum or pill of some sort that cures kids of their need to use four letter words. Sounds like a plan.

Is he my twin, I also loved the f word and wouldn't stop using it and a slap to the mouth cured it

^ Ouch. It's not that he uses it in an offensive way. It's more like he uses it instead of using punctuation.

Would a 'cure' (to use your word) take away those unique traits?

As a semi-related question to parents of HFA children, would you plan to make the diagnosis a significant feature of your child's life? i.e. tell their school to get them additional help and consideration or maybe send them to an alternative school? Would you explain things to them in terms of "what other people are like.." etc? Would you tell them about the label?
The alternative is for them to try survive in the normal world, and trying to fit in.
Maz

To want a cure I would first have to think of HFA as an illness.
And I don't.

You got shares in the pharma industry or something?
eff off should be immume to your wonder solution then
or frigging heck as DD would say

Its a yes from me....

It is a significant feature though innit now?
DD was diagnosed when she was 9.
In the summer holidays she replied to a question in a classical AS style which stopped me in my tracks.
I had an encounter years ago with a classic autist that always stood me by and this incident with DD caused a flashback.
She had turned from a bubbly always happy child into a child that never laughed anymore. She was way behind in school and in remedial but it went from bad to worse.
She went into special education and became an intern. I told her about her label as many of the children are PDD-NOS there, guess it helped her to be a little bit different as different had become her comfort zone by then.
She has done well. Not without the bureaucratic hiccups because I refuse to think within their boxes and they have never managed to poke holes in my convictions so far when it comes to her education but on other fronts I have made concessions.
I'm hoping that as DD gets older there will be less need to make the official diagnosis matter as such. DD's interest is horses and if she can find herself in horses she will be OK.
I have put her on Natural Horsemanship lessons to help her develop her personality. Logic behind it being that if she can hold her own against an Arabian stallion or a Belgian draughts horse she should manage to get by at least. She knows what it's about and is consciously learning from her experiences. She even picked up the courage to change riding centre recently. And just when I got used to the people in the last one
Then the choice is up to her beyond that. I can only hope for so much really...

I have zero desire to change a single tiny thing about my son. This includes the very annoying noises he often makes and his over sensitive nature.
But I would learn everything I could about the new option on offer and then discuss it with my son until I thought he both understood about it and was sure he knew what he wanted and why.
The reason I would do this is because I believe his life is his own and my role is to do everything I could to help him get the best possible outcomes for his life, not decide for him. He is extremely smart and I could not bear to risk harming the things that make him so special just to make my life easier, but if he really wanted it, I would examine the possibility with him.

If he were unable to decide for himself for some reason, I would do whatever I could to make his life happier for him but I would go to every effort to be as informed as possible before I did.

What do you mean?

Question 1) nope. Never. If she got older and wanted it that's up to her.

Question 2) pretty much have to. She's very smart and really had no interest in school. Therefore with out an iep and an aid in class, there's really nothing keeping her there because she doesn't care if she gets sent home or in trouble. Prior to having an aid there was really nothing stopping her from getting up and leaving the class because she was bored. We grade accelerated to help with the boredom, but she just really hates doing work and has a really hard time staying on task. With out an iep and an aid she wouldn't be doing anything other than irritating the teacher. She's doing a lot better and is finding some things to like about school. Also she is both really proud of her autism and at the same time aware that it may make parts of her life more challenging. She decided, on her own, when she's in a situation that might be difficult, to share her diagnosis. I didn't even know until I was speaking with the instructor of her robotics and programming class that she shared it on the first day there just in case she started freaking out. I asked her about it and she said the class was important to her and she felt it was better to be up front "just in case" so that they would be more understanding because she doesn't want to get kicked out. She's one smart cookie. She's 7 since I didn't mention her age before.

I mean he doesn't swear at people, he swears to himself under his breath. Usually at the end of a sentence (hence being like punctuation). It's his new vocal stim. The last one was 'cheese'. Cheese was a little more socially acceptable than f**k.

Absolutely not. He doesn't need to be "normal" to have a happy, and fulfilling life. Many positive qualities stem from ASD, but are often overlooked. There are challenges also, but that's what life is about.