Want to reduce autism rates? It’s easy — just change the definition of autism

The rate of new autism cases has significantly expanded over the past couple of decades. But there’s an easy way to reverse that trend.

Just change the definition of autism. Done!

As I mentioned yesterday, psychiatrists are preparing a 2013 revision of their “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.” This is a big deal for psychiatrists, but the revisions will be truly life-changing for many patients.

A New York Times report notes that the new DSM edition may “tighten” the criteria for autism, which would sharply reduce the number of children diagnosed with the condition.

Unfortunately, it will also mean that many support services will no longer be available to parents of higher functioning autistic children, as well as children diagnosed with related disorders like Asperger syndrome.

One of the officials pressing to narrow the definition of autism is Dr. Fred Volkmar of the Yale School of Medicine. He told the Times that the changes would end the autism surge. As he puts it: “We would nip it in the bud.”

Also nipped in the bud will be further speculation and research about a potential link between vaccines and autism — a problem the mainstream medical community would love to just shove under the carpet.

If the definition of autism is changed in 2013, within just a few years, vaccine defenders will be able to note that as the number of vaccines increased (and you can be sure they WILL increase), autism rates went down.

No connection! Problem solved!

Sources:
“New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests” Benedict Carey, New York Times, 1/19/12, nytimes.com