Deconstructing Neurelitism by Mark Foster, Ph.D.

Neurodiversity

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:02:30 GMT

Objectively, there is neurodiversity. Anything else, any commentary on this neurological diversity, is interpolation and evaluation.

If I observe people, and I conclude that certain categories on the human spectrum are "abnormal" (as opposed to atypical), I am introducing a redaction (an edit). Likewise, if, in making my observations, I decide that some categories are superior to others (whether NT or autistic), I am also redacting.

Neurodiveristy is not only a splendid value position (IMO). It is also the only purely neutral scientific definition.

Autism Movements

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:23:02 GMT

Regarding the autism spectrum, there are controversies regarding wheat-free and casein-free diets, naturopathic remedies, enzyme supplements, chelation (a dangerous procedure to supposedly remove mercury from vaccinations), and other treatments. Most of these treatments for autism are pseudoscientific, i.e., either they are unsupported by peer-reviewed research or they are actually refuted by research findings. For instance, there is no scientific evidence that mercury in vaccines has ever caused autism.

There are, broadly speaking, three viewpoints on the autism spectrum.

The first, which is my own view, is variously called autistic self-advocacy and neurodiversity. We are interested in treatments which will help autistics to become better adapted at living in their societies. Since we consider autism to be a part of our identities, we regard proposals to cure autism to be, in effect, a rejection of ourselves. Although some self-advocates would go even further and call the pro-cure advocates "proponents of genocide," to me, that is taking the idea to a silly extreme.

The second, which is represented by websites like AutismSpeaks.org, is the pro-cure movement. They are the ones infamous for promoting all sorts of unscientific treatments (including chelation), for speaking of autism as an "epidemic," and for portraying autistics is very unflattering fashions. Unfortunately (from my perspective), AutismSpeaks.org has become the public face of the autism spectrum, and they raise a lot of money to benefit the causes they support. The vast majority of those who are involved with the pro-cure movement are the parents of autistics. Very few autistics are a part of this movement.

The third, which I only mention to be comprehensive, is the autistic superiority movement. Most, but not all, of the persons who hold to this view are teenagers. They speak in terms of "aspie superpowers" and "aspie genetic superiority." Many autistic self-advocates, myself included, find this viewpoint to be unfortunate and even an embarrassment. Nonetheless, I have sympathy for these people, and, as I mention in my narrative, as a kid, I would most likely have agreed with their position. Hopefully, most of them will outgrow it.

New Button

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:03:58 GMT

I just added the new Autism Hub "member blogger" button to the blog, I also placed it on my other autism-related web pages. For some reason, I am enchanted with the color configuration.

Other than that, I really haven't had much to say lately. I joined a new listserv. It is for members of my religion with neurological and psychological struggles. The people on the list have been very supportive.

On the other hand, sadly, I have three people blocked ("killfiled") on alt.support.autism. I did my best not to do so, but they seemed, for some reason, to want to attack me. I have not yet entirely determined why they did so. I am, if I say so myself, a nice guy, and I was supportive of all three of these individuals.

My guess is that it may be related to petty jealousy over my having a Ph.D., but I might be wrong. Nonetheless, I find it to be quite sad.

Entry for June 26, 2008

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:30:37 GMT

I came across "multiple-complex developmental disorder" yesterday. I never heard of it before:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-complex_Developmental_Disorder

Apparently, it is an intersection between the schizophrenic spectrum and the autism spectrum. According to some constructions, McDD is subtype of PDD-NOS.

Here is some more information:

http://www.mcdd.be/index_en.htm

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v28/n3/full/1300046a.html

It is not in the DSM-IV-TR, but it is being proposed for the DSM-V.

Making Improvements

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:51:41 GMT

In elementary school, I was tutored in arithmetic. As a college professor, I have taught social statistics. Does that mean that one can always make substantial improvements? Of course not. However, most colleges and universities have an office called something like "learning strategies," where they help people develop various skills.

Down Syndrome vis-a-vis the Autism Spectrum

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:52:22 GMT

I think that the difference is that, in relation to the autism spectrum, there is an established "pro-cure movement," and there are people who are actively trying to find a purported "cure." With Down syndrome, there is no strong pro-cure movement. As a result, the discourse surrounding the autism spectrum has become more politicized than the discourse surrounding Downs syndrome.

Down's is easily identifiable, before birth and after. Ninety percent of Down's babies are aborted, I've read. The thing about Autism that makes it political is that autistics DO HAVE WORDS, and oftentimes are brilliant, and are able to speak for themselves.

Yes, but there is no controversy among the parents of Downs syndrome children regarding cure vs. no cure. However, with autism, the issue has become politicized.

Responding to Question

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:09:41 GMT

have you experienced qualiatitive difference between your asperger pre-occupations the oc(p?)d pre-occupations? if so, would this be significant diagnostics, and in real life?

Asperger's "special interests," like OCPD preoccupations, are egosyntonic; while OCD obsessions and compulsions are egodystonic.

Yes. As a kid, my obsessions over, for instance, food on people's mouths was egodystonic. It did not conform with my ego-ideal. On the other hand, my preoccupation with my websites is clearly an Asperger's special interest and pleasurable (egosyntonic).

A Broad Spectrum

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:59:08 GMT

Some people argue that NLD is Aspergers diagnosed by professionals in another field (neuropsychology), and that schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders are expressions of Aspergers or PDD-NOS in adults who were never diagnosed as children.

OCPD versus OCD

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:24:32 GMT

My psychiatrist often criticizes the DSM. However, I do sometimes wonder about him. For instance, two visits ago, he said that he thought I had OCPD (obsessive-compulsive personality disorder), not OCD. When I reminded him of my childhood problems, he then agreed that it sounds like OCD. His explanation was that OCPD preoccupations are egosyntonic. When I pointed out that preoccupations in Asperger's are also egosyntonic, he responded by saying that the diagnoses are inexact anyway (which, of course, is true). However, overall, I like the guy. In fact, I think he is also an aspie. In any event, he seems to believe once again that I have Asperger's with OCD, not with OCPD.

My psychiatrist and I are are both pragmatists, which is one of the reasons I like him. I do not look at autism, OCD, and ADHD as "things" but as relative categories, with no clearly determined etiologies or causes. To him, a diagnosis is only useful if it can help the person. Otherwise, it is a waste of time. In other words, if a diagnosis of ADHD can assist a person in some area, then it may be useful to give the person that diagnosis.

Symptom Complexes

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:40:22 GMT

Abnormal psychology, like psychiatry, is largely based on constructions of symptom complexes ("syndromes"). However, using, for instance, factor analysis to detect groupings of symptoms is not the same as discovering etiologies. Once etiologies are discovered, DSM categories will most likely completely change. Conditions may be named after the regions of the brain where they originate.

For instance, it may turn out that what is, today, called Asperger's disorder/syndrome will be attributable to several unrelated etiologies - all of which simply manifest similar symptoms. In other words, current psychiatric categories are determined mostly from secondary factors (symptoms), not from primary factors (causes or etiologies).

In terms of the sociological view of diagnosis, much depends on the sociologist and her or his theoretical and methodological traditions. As a social constructionist (Peter Berger, Harold Garfinkel, Michel Foucault, etc.), I have no problems with neurological etiologies. However, I would argue that the names and significances we give to symptoms or etiologies are still social constructions.

Take, for instance, the concept of "being defective," which is a social construction. It is impossible to speak of "defectiveness" unless one is accepting some standard of external validity (people who are not defective). To me, that idea is problematic if taken seriously.