OOPS! Read this One. The Other One Left Part of the Article Out. Nice Dr. Writes Nice Article Sincerely Pushing Utter Balderdash RE: Late Diagnosis, Early Onset Autism

Herewith an article by an MD who thinks he is autistic but wasn't diagnosed until he was an adult and that there are LOTS more like him out there with nary a thought about how that happened.

Let’s start with my answer to the Doctor, and then the article that precipitated it. Why is this important? Because being damaged by drugs and vaccines is being normalized in the same way that having cancer, especially turbo, or dropping dead in your sleep or while playing sports. or getting a disease (e.g., “COVID”) that you have been “vaccinated” against or kids having strokes and getting myocarditis is being normalized.
And it’s not normal, and it’s not OK and it’s also not OK, in my book, to know that it’s not OK and not say something.

Here’s what I responded:

"... sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 45-49% for autism.", which means GIFTS has a toss-of-the-coin specificity? And you really expect health care personnel to use that as a screening tool? I am glad you have found a satisfying career, Dr. Pineo, but I believe that you have been exposed to, and are captivated by, the medical error of over-diagnosis. You know, where when all you have (or want to use) is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. As a Child and Adult Psychiatrist with 54 years of experience, I have noticed that when drugs are available for something, suddenly, everybody's got it. First of all, the entire concept of "Neurodiversity" is fraught with distortion and error. It is a made-up diagnosis to cover the iatrogenic increase in neurological damage then blamed on anything at all except the environmental assaults we doctors perpetrate on our patients (and allow to be perpetrated on us.) The data is clear, despite the politics denying it: the more heavily innoculated a population is, the higher the rate of "Neurodiversity" or, called by its real name, "neurological damage" coupled with chronic inflammation of the brain, gut and other tissues. Second, although it may give you comfort to have a diagnosis, I do not believe for a moment that late-diagnosis, early onset autism is anything but an extreme rarity. If you cast your net widely enough, everyone has something and, with the hash of diagnoses included in your list, that is the situation here. And, let me guess: each of them should be treated with one or more pharmaceutical interventions. right? Doctor, you sound like a kind and caring man, but you have been indoctrinated and hoodwinked, serving as the agent of pharmaceutical destruction to God alone knows how many patients. You see, Doctor, I noted carefully that not once in your kindly article (and it is a kindly article - you do sound like a nice man) do you ask WHY there are so many "Neurodivergent" people, now adults, in the world. Why not? Isn't part of the work up of any patient seeking the cause of the problem? But your approach is simply to note that it is so (even though I would dispute that strongly) and then say we should just be nice (and medicate, where being nice is not quite enough) instead of asking why so many people seem to be showing signs of neurological damage. I think you have drunk some powerful Kool Aid, Doctor, and would ask you to reexamine your assumptions and diagnostic formulation because I think both are seriously flawed.

And here’s what I was responding to:

In 1983, I signed up for a paper route at the age of 13. Every morning, I rose early, got on my bike, picked up the papers, and delivered them to my subscribers. After that, I headed off to school and my other activities. I was once described as a hyperactive child, but, after starting that paper route, my mother was relieved to see me "settle down" for the first time in my life.

I delivered those papers without fail every day, through the warmth of summer, the cold and dark of winter, and the wet and rainy days of spring and fall. My father drove me if the weather was too severe, but mostly, I worked alone. And I did it all for 5¢ per paper and $14 per week. I had a job, and I loved it!

It would be another 40 years before I would recognize my own Autistic traits in that paper route. Those traits included the joy of the repetitive motion of my bike, the sensory gratification of the wind in my face, the calming effect that morning activity brought to my schoolwork, the comfort of a daily routine, and the determination needed to not give up.

When I was diagnosed with autism in my 50s, I joined the lost generation of Autistic adults who missed out on an autism diagnosis as a child. The prevalence of autism in children is 2.78%, but neurodivergent traits in the general population (including autism, OCD, ADHD, dyslexia, and others) can be found in as many as 15-20%. I am not alone; there are many other undiagnosed Autistic and neurodivergent adults. In fact, Autistic adults are about 30 times less likely than children to be diagnosed.
As a physician, understanding autism and neurodivergence has helped me see how sensory and communication differences affect patient care. I recently cared for an elderly patient in the hospital with profound anxiety. He complained about how loud the hospital was and that he could hear conversations up and down the halls, all day, and all night. We talked about sound hypersensitivity, I offered him a set of earmuffs, and he smiled and thanked me. The next morning, I walked into the room as he was dozing with the earmuffs in place. When I gently woke him, he said he had slept well for the first time in years.

Healthcare providers need to watch out for neurodivergent traits in their patients. Healthcare is busy and we may not have access to comprehensive psychological evaluations to figure out which of our patients is autistic. We need to ask about sensory issues and be on the lookout for Autistic traits.
Jonna Eriksson, MD, PhD, developed a rapid screen, which is a short autism screening questionnaire composed of the first five questions of the RAADS-14 Screen. This could be useful in busy healthcare settings, like hospitals or emergency departments. GIFTS is an acronym to help you remember the questions.

Groups: It is difficult for me to work and function in groups.

Interpretation of expectations: It is hard for me to know what others expect of me.

Feeling: It is difficult for me to understand how other people are feeling when we are talking.

Textures: Some ordinary textures that do not bother others feel very offensive to me when they touch my skin.

Social: I don't know how to act in social situations.

Each question is scored using the following answers: True now and when young (3 points), True only now (2 points), True when young (1 point), and Never true (0 points). 4 or more points out of 15 has a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 45-49% for autism. [Empahsis added - REL]
When you encounter a patient with Autistic traits, create Autistic SPACE:

Sensory: Ask about sensory accommodations, like ear plugs or headphones; sunglasses; lowering the lights; and a weighted blanket. Find out whether the patient has an aversion to certain foods or fabrics.

Predictability: Give plenty of notice with planned tests or procedures. Narrate your work so that patients always understand what is about to happen to them.

Acceptance: Don't judge Autistic traits as something that should be hidden or in need of correction. Rather, accept them as a normal part of human variation.

Communication: Verbal and nonverbal communication differences between healthcare personnel and Autistic patients are common. Ask questions to confirm understanding.

Empathy: Contrary to stereotypes, Autistic people do not lack empathy. We can be deeply affected by healthcare challenges. Be prepared to give more time and support during your encounter with Autistic people.

Recognizing and supporting Autistic patients will not only improve communication but will also improve satisfaction and create trust. Don't be afraid to talk to your patients about Autistic traits. Breaking down stigma requires awareness and discourse.

I continue to bring the same joy of routine and determination to patient care as I brought to my paper route 40 years ago. And yes, I still love to ride my bike. Autistic traits can bring struggles, but they are also GIFTS.

Autism is a fascinating and complex condition, and Autistic people have many rich stories to tell. There are simple things, like hearing protection and light dimmers, that healthcare systems can do to improve the care of Autistic people. Learn more about autism and work with your healthcare institution to create Autistic SPACEs.

Online autism screening tools include the Autism Quotient (AQ) or the Ritvo Autism & Asperger Diagnostic Survey-14 (RAADS-14). Helpful resources can be found at the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity and The Autism Society. Further information can be found in Caring for hospitalized Autistic adults and Is this autism? A guide for clinicians and everyone else

Thomas Pineo, DO, is a hospitalist and medical director at UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Literally minutes after I published this article, A Midwestern Doctor’s Substack landed in my inbox. He does not allow cross posting, so I’ll just post the link here so you can read the article. I definitely recommend it as a companion piece to what I have shared above.

I wish he would allow cross posting since A Midwestern Doctor’s stacks are often absolute utter gems.

How Much Damage Have Vaccines Done to Society?

How Much Damage Have Vaccines Done to Society? (midwesterndoctor.com)