solving Autism

[Ronald Zeeman]

I wonder if we as a group can get enough clues clues to diagnose autism by symptoms In my family we all share blood type AB positive , second somebody mentioned
Sjogrens syndrome which to my surprise many of us suffer from. are their other clues

 

[Raggamuffin]

My last 2 therapists highlighted the overlap in Autism symptoms and unresolved trauma and complex trauma.

There's also a lot of crossover with ADHD too. And people with Autism often have other co-morbidities, especially anxiety and depression - and a greater risk of substance abuse or other problematic behavioural addictions.

Then there's the statistics suggesting any of the above issues and conditions greatly reduce average life expectancy. People on the spectrum often have noticeable markers for increased cortisol on the body, due to chronic stress and difficulties with emotional regulation.

One thing I've noticed working with people with learning disabilities is how wonderful it is to see so many people who don't mask. They're true to themselves, even if some in society are confused by their behaviour and mannerisms. And it's those deemed "high functioning " who have learned to mask, and often suffer because of this due to anxiety and exhaustion that all the pretending causes.

Ed

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I like solving puzzles having done it my whole life no puzzle is too daunting for me maybe as group we can figure it out seems the root cause may be mother having an immune response during pregnancy. would be my best guess.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Stress during pregnancy affects the babies stress response and immune system function. I recall reading in Gabor Matè's books. Sets children and future adults up for a higher risk of conditions and addiction whilst still in utero.

Ed

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My last 2 therapists highlighted the overlap in Autism symptoms and unresolved trauma and complex trauma.

There's also a lot of crossover with ADHD too. And people with Autism often have other co-morbidities, especially anxiety and depression - and a greater risk of substance abuse or other problematic behavioural addictions.

Then there's the statistics suggesting any of the above issues and conditions greatly reduce average life expectancy. People on the spectrum often have noticeable markers for increased cortisol on the body, due to chronic stress and difficulties with emotional regulation.

One thing I've noticed working with people with learning disabilities is how wonderful it is to see so many people who don't mask. They're true to themselves, even if some in society are confused by their behaviour and mannerisms. And it's those deemed "high functioning " who have learned to mask, and often suffer because of this due to anxiety and exhaustion that all the pretending causes.

Ed

I never masked probably because hung out with family, who were also on the spectrum.
Noticed yesterday we live about 5 to 10 years less than NT. I have already determined my probability at 78.5 years
70 now.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I never masked probably because hung out with family, who were also on the spectrum.
Noticed yesterday we live about 5 to 10 years less than NT. I have already determined my probability at 78.5 years
70 now.

The primary reason for the lower statistical life span is the 6X higher incidence of suicide than the general population. Sad.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I based mine on mean for general population with mean time to death for stroke, second stroke. If first is survived.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I have a terminal illness. When I first read up on it, average survival time was listed as 6.5 years. More recent information is stating survivability at 2-5 years. I am now 15 years since symptoms first started.
Probabilities are usually a bell curve. I seem to be an outlier on most bell curves. I wouldn't take the 78.5 too seriously.

 

[NB79]

I have a terminal illness. When I first read up on it, average survival time was listed as 6.5 years. More recent information is stating survivability at 2-5 years. I am now 15 years since symptoms first started.
Probabilities are usually a bell curve. I seem to be an outlier on most bell curves. I wouldn't take the 78.5 too seriously.

I think a lot of it, depends on the attitude and will to live, people that give up and accepts the illness are in a bad position to face it.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I have a terminal illness. When I first read up on it, average survival time was listed as 6.5 years. More recent information is stating survivability at 2-5 years. I am now 15 years since symptoms first started.
Probabilities are usually a bell curve. I seem to be an outlier on most bell curves. I wouldn't take the 78.5 too seriously.

My data is based on bell curves , I could put control limits on it with various different new inflection points quite easy too much info for me would be accutrate.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Found this

 

[Outsider]

Some conditions lead to biochemical abnormalities in the bodies, with bipolar being one of them. To my knowledge, there are no biochemical changes solely attributed to autism. This forces medical professionals to base its diagnosis on symptoms alone. But the symptoms of any condition are often vague, so a diagnosis depends on doctor’s interpretation of them. This uncertainty may lead to improper treatment of a patient.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

When I changed doctors my new doctor assumed that my stroke was caused high cholesterol, no high cholesterol after blood test he apologised next visit, I thought he was an idiot My investigation show it is more likely stroke caused by covid, My clot must have formed in the brain not traveled there, Doctors spend to much time memorizing stuff not enough time using logic to figure things out.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Found this interesting. I have DNA for both my kids and brother have five major families One family has me only in it I can look up other familys members check their jobs Education. sort of narrow down to the chromasome.

 

[the_tortoise]

The primary reason for the lower statistical life span is the 6X higher incidence of suicide than the general population. Sad.

Wow...that is similar to the increased risk of suicide for doctors and military veterans..,

Gives me chills to think what that may imply about the welfare and suicide risk among autistic doctors and other healthcare professionals, autistic veterans....

 

[the_tortoise]

I dont think anyone can be diagnosed by internet forum consensus.

I also dont think any single answer is ever going to be found for what causes Autism. I would bet that eventually a whole lot of different causes will be found ....maybe even that what is currently called "ASD" will become a whole bunch of different things that may or may not even share any symdrome-umbrella-labels anymore.

 

[velociraptor]

no puzzle is too daunting for me

I dare you to try figuring out my wife.

 

[Crossbreed]

Found this interesting. I have DNA for both my kids and brother have five major families One family has me only in it I can look up other familys members check their jobs Education. sort of narrow down to the chromasome.

I have seen that video. They are autism (ASD2/3) deniers.

1. The contemporary numbers of those who failed to potty-train were not secretly hiding in society before the class of 1997.*
2. The increase in diagnosis gave us more ASD1s, who only require minimal support (in school and after).

I still do not see what they stand to gain by turning a blind eye to ASD2/3.

*Compulsory education has been in force since 1918 (for mainstream students, in America). Until 1975, children with severe disabilities were exempted, but there would have been a paper trail for who was exempted, and why.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

AI Overview

The overall number of autism diagnoses is rising, but there isn't evidence of a proportional rise specifically in Level 2 and Level 3 (more severe) autism diagnoses, with the increase primarily driven by a higher ability to identify more subtle autism traits. While severity can change over time, the trend suggests better identification of milder cases, not necessarily more severe ones.

What the Data Shows

• Overall Diagnosis Rates are Increasing:
  Autism diagnoses have been steadily rising over the past decades, with the CDC reporting a significant increase from one in 150 children in 2000 to one in 31 children by 2022.
  
  
• Focus on Subtle Traits:
  This increase is largely attributed to broadened diagnostic criteria, increased awareness, and improved screening methods that allow for the identification of individuals with more subtle phenotypes and fewer co-occurring conditions.
  
  
• No Evidence of a "Severe" Increase:
  The rise is not an "epidemic" of severe autism; rather, it reflects a greater capacity to detect and diagnose milder forms of autism that might have been overlooked in the past.
  

Factors Contributing to Increased Diagnosis

• Broader Diagnostic Definitions:
  Changes in how autism is defined have led to more individuals qualifying for a diagnosis.
  
  
• Increased Awareness:
  Greater public awareness and understanding of autism can lead to more early identifications.
  
  
• Better Screening and Diagnosis:
  Improved screening tools and diagnostic practices allow for the detection of a wider range of individuals on the spectrum.
  
  
• Environmental and Genetic Factors:
  While complex genetic factors play a major role, research continues into potential environmental factors like pollution, maternal infection, and parental age that might influence autism risk.
  

Severity and Change Over Time

• Severity Can Change:
  Children can show a decrease in symptom severity, particularly during early childhood, with some studies showing a reduction in severity in nearly 30% of young children.
  
  
• Individual Variability:
  While some individuals may increase in severity, a decrease is more common, and severity levels are not strong predictors of future change.
• 
  
• 
  
• https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74...ported,patterns in ASD identification changed.
• Is There an Autism Epidemic? | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I have seen that video. They are autism (ASD2/3) deniers.

1. The contemporary numbers of those who failed to potty-train were not secretly hiding in society before the class of 1997.*
2. The increase in diagnosis gave us more ASD1s, who only require minimal support (in school and after).

I still do not see what they stand to gain by turning a blind eye to ASD2/3.

*Compulsory education has been in force since 1918 (for mainstream students, in America). Until 1975, children with severe disabilities were exempted, but there would have been a paper trail for who was exempted, and why.

I understand your perspective on this topic. Yes... much of the attention has been given towards the statistical rise in ASD-1s, but I guess I don't see it as turning a blind eye on ASD2/3 cases, per se. In fact, I might suggest, from the layperson, public perspective when someone says "autism", their cognitive biases immediately imagine the ASD2/3 presentation of autism. You likely have seen statements from RFK Jr on his perspective... and I think this is where his mind goes when he thinks of autism... and not Elon Musk who might be in the same camera frame. I know that the medical community has this bias, as well. Hence, the comments like, "You don't act or look autistic." and why, at the children's hospital we deal with ASD2/3s as children but fail to recognize ASD1s as co-workers within the medical staff.

I know you and I have dug into this conversation deeply in the past, but it has been about 5 years or so since we've had those conversations. At the time, we had a handful of research articles that did appear to suggest a rise in ASD2/3's. In 2025, this meta-analysis it said that there wasn't a "proportional" rise... the language doesn't suggest that there wasn't a rise (semantics)... rather it wasn't following the diagnostic rates of ASD1s or the overall rise in all ASDs.

It may be helpful, within the statistical analysis of these studies to discuss in terms of ASD1, 2, and 3, but my guess is that when scanning the data, it doesn't narrow it down but rather forms a more simplified data set of "ASD". All the nuance is lost.