A disservice



To the editor:



In response to Mr. Jim Fabiano's comments about autism in today's Sunday Citizen (May 20), I wish to make a few comments to balance his main viewpoint that autism is being diagnosed for too many children who are not really deserving of such a term, but are part of the spectrum of "normal" kids.



I am a practicing child/adolescent psychiatrist as well as an adult psychiatrist for the past 60 years and am still working. I fully agree with the concern that many more children are being diagnosed with some form of Pervasive Developmental Disorder, of which autism and Asperger's disorder are the major part of this group. The thrust of Mr. Fabiano's comments, however, does a disservice to the seriousness of this condition. I am sure if one of his children carried such a diagnosis, his sympathies would be far more passionate about suggesting that such terms could be applied to many far more normal children. There is a world of difference between a child who is somewhat eccentric, a geek-like brilliant child and a child with Asperger Disorder.



Regarding the use of drugs, there are none that are considered curative at all. It is true that far too many drugs are being prescribed not only for children properly diagnosed with autism, as well as many others with other medical or psychiatric labels. I have always been far more conservative in the use of psychotropic drugs for children (and adults as well). Nonetheless it can be sensible for short periods of time to use medications for autistic children when they may suddenly become extremely aggressive or self-destructive, and almost nothing else works temporarily for such events including "meltdowns."



Increasingly there are newer programs and approaches for children with autism that can help many become functioning citizens in the future. For parents of such children, excessive denial of such a diagnosis is no gift of enlightenment. Ironically more medications for children frequently prescribed by specialists in psychiatry are prescribed by pediatricians and family practitioners. Second opinions and other consultations by parents are frequently useful if a child is diagnosed with autism. It should be noticed carefully that the abbreviated term, PPD does stand for "pervasive" and "developmental." both of which mean quite serious and extended conditions, and not merely behavioral or "normal." The term " epidemic" can frighten all of us, but it is not meant to be taken literally, hut reflects the incredible increase in the diagnosis and frequency of the condition



Henry Edward Altenberg, M.D.



Kittery, Maine







Teach to all



To the editor:



Newmarket School District teacher James G. Fabiano's recent commentary -There are new questions about how autism is defined, should have never been published by Foster's.



Parents of children with disabilities need to be outraged by Fabiano's insensitive and uneducated remarks and need to take action to stop this type of discrimination against children with disabilities in our public schools.



Below are a few excerpts from other Fabiano writings concerning special education from his blog "A Dinosaur of Education":



"If anyone would take the time to see where our public education system started to degrade they would have to look to the year 1987, when the disability act concerning public education came into existence."



"The problem I have is too many children are being coded into special education because the school and the parents do not want to take responsibility for the child."



"It is obvious all students do not have the same potentials."



"A science teacher should not have to worry if one of his students doesn't understand a concept because they are more of a visual learner instead of a student who can understand abstract ideas."



Teachers need to teach all students with passion, not just those they deem to have "potential."



Jeffrey Thomas Clay



Alton



