Monday, January 7, 2013

iPads used to help autistic children

60 Minutes reported how iPads are used to help autistic children in the classroom setting in the video below.  Developers have created a multitude of apps that unlock the world of autism and make it easier for children with the condition to communicate. 


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

And I'm remembering your comment KF, that parents who let their children play games on their iPhones are causing ADHD and ADD.

So which is it?

Anonymous said...

Autism is an entirely different thing. If you had a family member with this maybe you'd be less testy.

Kingfish said...

I'm talking about computer programs used to help disabled communicate. Not letting a kid spend all of his time on video games that affect the way his brain works.

Anonymous said...

I can pull the actual stats if needed but autism was rare per births in 1968. 1 in over a 1000. Now it is 1 in just over a hundred.

Those average vary dramatically from state to state.

Mississippi is one of the lower state rates with 1 in just over 350

The statistics beg the question of why we are not trying to determine what factors exist in a state with a high incidence in a state with a low incidence.

Neither population growth nor genetic probabilities explain the dramatic increase.

While finding ways to help autistic children is not unimportant, we have an epidemic we aren't adequately addressing.

Are we going to wait until the number is 1 in 50 births or 1 in 25 births to consider this a priority?







Shadowfax said...

10:45; serious question; How is it possible that autism at birth respects state lines? I haven't done any research, but do you have other stats, such as the incidence among border states saturated with anchor births or whether the numbers might be affected by pre-natal meds or does the incidence of alcohol consumption among fathers contribute? From the numbers, it looks as if your suggestion of 1 in 50 might not be far off in our future.

Anonymous said...

IIRC I saw some data years ago that showed a strong correlation between the rates of diagnosed autism (or "autism spectrum disorder") and the then-recent availability of special-ed funds available solely for the treatment of autism. Most of the diagnoses were made by school districts at that time.

If the definition of autism changed that may explain the "epidemic".

The low incidence of diagnosed autism in Mississippi may be due to decreased availability of specialized medical care, or a decreased interest in, or ability to, getting to Jackson for a diagnosis. I saw a family once that just could not understand that it was not normal that their five-year-old could not put two words together to make a phrase. Apparently that was not unusual in their family, and they saw nothing amiss.

Anonymous said...

Shadow, you need to look at the incident rates.

The state with the highest rate per capita is Minnesota. Do you actually believe they have more resources including special ed funds than New York or California or Arizona or Texas?

You are assuming there are no parents in denial in other states.

Our incident rate may indeed be higher than stated in MS, but if ignorance and denial is the reason state rates are different, we should know that.

If autism is genetic, we have the ability to know that as well.

However, since autism has always been symptomatically dramatic, the increase is not thought to be explained by improved diagnosis. Parents may not have reported but teachers and doctors did in early research.

Also, I know of autism in two families where the families have generations of medical history and no incidence of autism recorded. Every male and female is documented to have married and functioned via family records. Those with an autistic child and the access to family history care enough to look. But, that doesn't mean autistic children weren't among the ones that died of measles etc!

We need to know what the hell is going on! Our anecdotal knowledge...yours or mine...isn't good enough.



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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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