Oct 13, 2019, ABC News: Eating disorders and autism spectrum disorder link needs more research, experts say https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-13/more-research-needed-into-eating-disorders-autism-link/11593828 Experts are calling for more research into the link between eating disorders and autism spectrum disorder to come up with better treatment and support services…. Carrie's 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with anorexia by a psychiatrist two years ago after a lengthy search for answers, but her mother said she probably had it for eight months prior to the diagnosis…. "My daughter has tried to jump out of a car. We were going about 80 kilometres an hour at the time," she said. Recently a new doctor asked Carrie if her daughter was on the spectrum. "Maybe if she is on the spectrum, then maybe the eating disorder is a direct result of her anxiety," she said…. More children are being diagnosed with both anorexia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to a senior social worker at The Children's Hospital at Westmead Eating Disorders Service, Colleen Alford, the prevalence is well known worldwide with more than 20 per cent of adults diagnosed with anorexia also having ASD…. Westmead Hospital in Sydney has just started a small focus group and pilot project looking at adjunct treatment for children with ASD and anorexia. Is autism a risk factor for other eating disorders?... "Between 20 and 30 per cent of these people with anorexia nervosa were also autistic," Dr Mandy said…. 'Maybe autistic women restrict eating to manage unbearable emotions' Christine Naismith is the founding board member of Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), a volunteer organisation made up of people with lived experience of being a carer of somebody with an eating disorder — and the parent who helped Carrie seek help. Ms Naismith has two daughters, a 23-year-old who has recovered from anorexia and a 17-year-old-daughter diagnosed with Avoidant Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder (ARFID). "It's picky eating gone crazy," she said…. Dr Mandy said the main barrier in diagnosing women with autism was the current conception that autism was based on a "male-typical presentation" that made up most of the studies…. Women were also more adept at masking or social camouflaging. "We need to get a much better understanding of what mechanisms are causing and maintaining these really serious restrictive eating problems in autistic people," Dr Mandy said…. For the first time in regional Australia, EDFA has started a new support group in Bendigo for parents and carers of teenagers and young adults with eating disorders run by facilitators with lived experience. "It was amazing," Carrie said….
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
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What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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