should autism be cured?

[Izandai]

As a high-functioning autistic, it depends on my mood. Sometimes, I feel it is a good thing that I have it, but other times, I wish I never had it. As for curing it, you cannot exactly cure a spectrum, because there are some who function just as well as a neurotypical person whilst others are low-functioning.

You can cure a disease, though.

[United States of The One Percent]

during my journeys throught the internent, i've come across some people who would deem autism as healthy and harmless. some of these people believe that research into autism should be banned and parents shouldn't be allowed to force their kids to take medication for autism. some of them even considered autism a lifestyle. so this leaves us with a few questions;/

1. in case of an eventual cure for autism, should parents have the right to decide not to cure their children? would that consist of child abuse?
2. is autism a lifestyle?

i believe that autism isn't a lifestyle, because you can't choose to be autistic (although some people get very close). i also think that in case of an eventual cure for autism, parents shouldn't be given a say on whether they want to cure their chilkdren or not.

People with autism who are competent to make their own health care decisions should be able to choose whether they want to be "cured" or not. In the case of children and others not competent, parents and/or guardians should be able to make those decisions, providing they take into account the best interests of the child/person who is not competent.

There. End of discussion. Next case.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You know, if there were a cure and it was denied to an ASD person, particularly on the low functioning side, due to a religious reason, I'd say that would be irresponsible.

I'd say that would be criminally negligent, same as if someone were denied treatment for any other debilitating disease.

Exactly, it would be negligent.

[Colorlovia]

I have asperger's and would rather not cure it. I'm sorry but I feel like I wouldn't be the same person. And that's wrong.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Because like it or not, Autism is still a fucking disorder. Curing Autism, is not the same as eugenics, or euthenasia, that is the dumbest thin I've heard.

It isn't Nazi-style eugenics but it would still be a eugenics program. The definition of eugenics is the use of controlled/selective breeding in humans to weed out traits viewed as undesirable. It sounded like you were suggesting that we screen for autism in the womb and then abort any baby which displays symptoms, which is a classic example of eugenics. If this is not the cure you're proposing, please explain your actual position.

It's not eugenics because Autism isn't a genetic condition. It's just plain old medically based termination.

[Izandai]

I'd say that would be criminally negligent, same as if someone were denied treatment for any other debilitating disease.

Exactly, it would be negligent.

Glad to see we agree. It's so much nicer to agree with someone than to disagree with them.

[Luziyca]

As a high-functioning autistic, it depends on my mood. Sometimes, I feel it is a good thing that I have it, but other times, I wish I never had it. As for curing it, you cannot exactly cure a spectrum, because there are some who function just as well as a neurotypical person whilst others are low-functioning.

You can cure a disease, though.

And autism is a disorder, not a disease.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Exactly, it would be negligent.

Glad to see we agree. It's so much nicer to agree with someone than to disagree with them.

I just don't take religious objections to medicine as valid reasons to prevent someone from getting a life saving procedure, for example.

[Izandai]

You can cure a disease, though.

And autism is a disorder, not a disease.

That's what i meant. I mistyped.

[Izandai]

Glad to see we agree. It's so much nicer to agree with someone than to disagree with them.

I just don't take religious objections to medicine as valid reasons to prevent someone from getting a life saving procedure, for example.

Same here.

[KASSRD]

As a high-functioning autistic, it depends on my mood. Sometimes, I feel it is a good thing that I have it, but other times, I wish I never had it. As for curing it, you cannot exactly cure a spectrum, because there are some who function just as well as a neurotypical person whilst others are low-functioning.

You can cure a disease, though.

Well Autism isn't a disease, so I don't see how this helps the conversation.

[Izandai]

You can cure a disease, though.

Well Autism isn't a disease, so I don't see how this helps the conversation.

And autism is a disorder, not a disease.

That's what i meant. I mistyped.

[KASSRD]

Oh, I didn't see that. Well I don't think you can cure a disorder either, at least not Autism.

[Izandai]

Oh, I didn't see that. Well I don't think you can cure a disorder either, at least not Autism.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A disorder (see? it says so right in the name of the thing) that people regularly have cured through therapy and/or medication.

[KASSRD]

Oh, I didn't see that. Well I don't think you can cure a disorder either, at least not Autism.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A disorder (see? it says so right in the name of the thing) that people regularly have cured through therapy and/or medication.

OCD is a bit different than autism.

[KASSRD]

Wait, is there anyone here who is arguing against cure as a choice?

[Keyboard Warriors]

Oh, I didn't see that. Well I don't think you can cure a disorder either, at least not Autism.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A disorder (see? it says so right in the name of the thing) that people regularly have cured through therapy and/or medication.

It's not cured, it's managed. There's a big difference there.

[Izandai]

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A disorder (see? it says so right in the name of the thing) that people regularly have cured through therapy and/or medication.

OCD is a bit different than autism.

Yes, but that's not the point. You claimed that you can't cure a disorder; I provided an example of one that you can cure.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I just don't take religious objections to medicine as valid reasons to prevent someone from getting a life saving procedure, for example.

Same here.

One thing, however, is that I don't know if I should refer to a hypothetical cure for autism a life saving procedure.

[Izandai]

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A disorder (see? it says so right in the name of the thing) that people regularly have cured through therapy and/or medication.

It's not cured, it's managed. There's a big difference there.

I have a book about neuroplasticity, and it specifically talks about multiple people who had their OCD outright cured through therapy.

[KASSRD]

OCD is a bit different than autism.

Yes, but that's not the point. You claimed that you can't cure a disorder; I provided an example of one that you can cure.

But you can't cure it, really. I have OCD. My teachers and parents spent lots of time trying to overcome it, as it wasn't useful to me at all. Nowadays I can manage it. But I am still compelled to do the same things

[Gray Army]

I have Asperger's and I'm fine with making friends and holding conversation, I talk to many people in a given day due to my organizations I run(mostly Internet gaming clubs, table top gaming, larping, paintballing) though I do admit, I am allergic to stupid people and they cause me to become ill.

[KASSRD]

I have Asperger's and I'm fine with making friends and holding conversation, I talk to many people in a given day due to my organizations I run(mostly Internet gaming clubs, table top gaming, larping, paintballing) though I do admit, I am allergic to stupid people and they cause me to become ill.

It's a pity there are so many of them, isn't it?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I have Asperger's and I'm fine with making friends and holding conversation, I talk to many people in a given day due to my organizations I run(mostly Internet gaming clubs, table top gaming, larping, paintballing) though I do admit, I am allergic to stupid people and they cause me to become ill.

It's a pity there are so many of them, isn't it?

And there's no cure for that.

[Izandai]

Same here.

One thing, however, is that I don't know if I should refer to a hypothetical cure for autism a life saving procedure.

Well, that sorta depends on how you define "life-saving". If in order for something to be life-saving it literally has to prevent someone from dying, then no, you really shouldn't, because I'm pretty sure that autism isn't lethal (at least not directly). If, however, you can take "life-saving" to mean that you are "saving someone's life" from being a terrible, damaging one where they can only survive through complete dependence on others (think rescuing someone from a pit), then the terminology is appropriate.