should autism be cured?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

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.

That's a good way to view this, I suppose.

[Geilinor]

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

We can't cure autism because there's very little we understand about it. The lack of concrete biochemical, genetic, and neurological factors is what makes it a disorder and not a disease. http://www.cchr.org/quick-facts/real-disease-vs-mental-disorder.html

[Izandai]

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

And there's no cure for that.

Sure there is. It's called education. To bad we don't have universal healthcare in the U.S. (That was a clever double-jab at both the education system and the healthcare system of the U.S. Well, maybe not so clever.)

[KASSRD]

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

And there's no cure for that.

You know what? That's what we should be focused on! Not during autism, curing stupid people! We can inject them with a serum that makes them smart. That will be even better than a cure for Autism! Get the scientist working now, and take the money form Autism Speaks and send here!

[Keyboard Warriors]

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.

Then the book is either wrong or you're reading it wrong. OCD is not cured, the therapy is learning how to manage the disorder and other treatments work to suppress the feelings of anxiety. It's otherwise incurable, in fact we can't even explain how it is caused.

[Ethel mermania]

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.

life altering

[KASSRD]

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

We can't cure autism because there's very little we understand about it.

Well according to some people Autism is a leftover genetic trait form the Stone Age that was made to help the human race survive with a bunch of super humans.
Yes, Autistics are cave men supermen. I'm going with that.

[Izandai]

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

Perhaps you've been doing the wrong sort of treatment, or perhaps you're held back by some mental block. Or perhaps your specific condition cannot be cured, for what ever reason. It could even be that your autism makes it more difficult for you to cure your OCD. In any case, your personal inability to become cured of a disorder doesn't mean that other people also can't be cured of it.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

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

life altering

Positive life altering?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

And there's no cure for that.

Sure there is. It's called education. To bad we don't have universal healthcare in the U.S. (That was a clever double-jab at both the education system and the healthcare system of the U.S. Well, maybe not so clever.)

If only...

[Izandai]

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

Then the book is either wrong or you're reading it wrong. OCD is not cured, the therapy is learning how to manage the disorder and other treatments work to suppress the feelings of anxiety. It's otherwise incurable, in fact we can't even explain how it is caused.

If you no longer experience the symptoms of a disease or disorder, I'd say it's cured.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Then the book is either wrong or you're reading it wrong. OCD is not cured, the therapy is learning how to manage the disorder and other treatments work to suppress the feelings of anxiety. It's otherwise incurable, in fact we can't even explain how it is caused.

If you no longer experience the symptoms of a disease or disorder, I'd say it's cured.

Then you're using the word cure differently to what it actually means in the medical sense of the word.

[Izandai]

If you no longer experience the symptoms of a disease or disorder, I'd say it's cured.

Then you're using the word cure differently to what it actually means in the medical sense of the word.

For something like the flu or somesuch, perhaps my terminology isn't entirely accurate, as someone may harbor the flu virus yet show no symptoms (I have no idea how this could happen, but okay). For a mental disorder, though, were the only way we can know that a person has a disorder is through their symptoms, how could you possibly claim that someone who no longer shows any symptoms isn't cured?

[Keyboard Warriors]

Then you're using the word cure differently to what it actually means in the medical sense of the word.

For something like the flu or somesuch, perhaps my terminology isn't entirely accurate, as someone may harbor the flu virus yet show no symptoms (I have no idea how this could happen, but okay). For a mental disorder, though, were the only way we can know that a person has a disorder is through their symptoms, how could you possibly claim that someone who no longer shows any symptoms isn't cured?

It's quite simple. The symptoms are either still present and the patient is mostly able to repress them, or the symptoms are being repressed by continued medication. Just like how taking paracetamol doesn't cure a headache.

[Llamalandia]

Then you're using the word cure differently to what it actually means in the medical sense of the word.

For something like the flu or somesuch, perhaps my terminology isn't entirely accurate, as someone may harbor the flu virus yet show no symptoms (I have no idea how this could happen, but okay). For a mental disorder, though, were the only way we can know that a person has a disorder is through their symptoms, how could you possibly claim that someone who no longer shows any symptoms isn't cured?

Well its possible that what you think to be a cure is only a treatment, it depends on whether the symptoms are gone permanently or if they return.

[Austastica]

As a person diagnosed with high functioning ASD (Aspergers is no longer considered a diagnosis anymore since 2013, as the scientific community around this disease have established a spectrum instead of 2 separate diagnoses for autism), it's definitely not a lifestyle. Although high functioning ASD people can fend for themselves, they still struggle to do so. I mean, we just had another case of a high functioning ASD person carrying out another brazen gun rampage. Social awkardness (and sometimes physical awkwardness) is the main thing that weighes us down and although we try to rectify that, a fair few of us still struggle to continue.

As for curing ASD, there should be 2 separate methods of research into this area. The scientific approach should mainly involve the final breakthrough of what causes ASD and then very careful and ethical trials for cures only for severe/low functioning autistic people. The second approach for high functioning autistic people should probably involve counselling and training other people to detect signs of the condition in people they know, so they know how to help high functioning autistic people. You could leave them be, but some fall threw the cracks, and worse, they either commit suicide or kill people indiscriminately before they're taking their own life. High functioning ASD people are highly sensitive of the environment around them so if their surrounding environment gets too hostile, it's pretty understandable as to why they would crack, especially since ASD people tend to have high levels of aggression and tend to be easily provoked. Their comfort zones are usually small and their interests are narrow. The best cure for them is knowing how to accommodate them into society and to make the most use of their different way of viewing the world.

As for whether I think they could ever be a cure, I doubt it. Although, I remember watching a documentary about the links between autism and gut bacteria. The documentary raised the possibility that a lack of certain symbiotic bacteria in the gut might lead to autism, meaning that antibiotics might cause autism. It also showed the development of an autistic kid who was eventually given some yoghurt and his symptoms were reduced a bit. Could be a coincidence though.

[Gray Army]

And there's no cure for that.

You know what? That's what we should be focused on! Not during autism, curing stupid people! We can inject them with a serum that makes them smart. That will be even better than a cure for Autism! Get the scientist working now, and take the money form Autism Speaks and send here!

but think of the consequences! make them too smart and you'll have an episode of:

Pinky:"What we gonna do tonight Brain?"
Brain:"The same thing we do every night Pinky... try to take OVER THE WORLD"
*cue music*

[KASSRD]

There are many theories about what causes autism. Some say gut bacteria, some say Mmercury, some say vaccines(these people are the idiot ones), some say cave men leftover genetic trait.

[Izandai]

For something like the flu or somesuch, perhaps my terminology isn't entirely accurate, as someone may harbor the flu virus yet show no symptoms (I have no idea how this could happen, but okay). For a mental disorder, though, were the only way we can know that a person has a disorder is through their symptoms, how could you possibly claim that someone who no longer shows any symptoms isn't cured?

It's quite simple. The symptoms are either still present and the patient is mostly able to repress them, or the symptoms are being repressed by continued medication. Just like how taking paracetamol doesn't cure a headache.

Or maybe, just maybe, the symptoms are no longer present because they cured them. I have no idea where you're getting this notion that a mental disorder is somehow this thing that cannot be cured, like it's a fucking inalterable fact of one's existence. The brain is incredibly plastic. Just as we can form habits, we can eliminate them.

[KASSRD]

You know what? That's what we should be focused on! Not during autism, curing stupid people! We can inject them with a serum that makes them smart. That will be even better than a cure for Autism! Get the scientist working now, and take the money form Autism Speaks and send here!

but think of the consequences! make them too smart and you'll have an episode of:

Pinky:"What we gonna do tonight Brain?"
Brain:"The same thing we do every night Pinky... try to take OVER THE WORLD"
*cue music*

Exactly. The smart people shall take over the world! Did you miss the Autistic takeover battle plans?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You know what? That's what we should be focused on! Not during autism, curing stupid people! We can inject them with a serum that makes them smart. That will be even better than a cure for Autism! Get the scientist working now, and take the money form Autism Speaks and send here!

but think of the consequences! make them too smart and you'll have an episode of:

Pinky:"What we gonna do tonight Brain?"
Brain:"The same thing we do every night Pinky... try to take OVER THE WORLD"
*cue music*

I'd watch an episode of that any day.

[Keyboard Warriors]

It's quite simple. The symptoms are either still present and the patient is mostly able to repress them, or the symptoms are being repressed by continued medication. Just like how taking paracetamol doesn't cure a headache.

Or maybe, just maybe, the symptoms are no longer present because they cured them.

Does taking paracetamol cure headaches? A cure implies somebody is free of the condition, if somebody needs to take medication to keep the condition suppressed or has just learned to better live with their condition, are they cured?

I have no idea where you're getting this notion that a mental disorder is somehow this thing that cannot be cured, like it's a fucking inalterable fact of one's existence.

I have no idea where you think I've said that.

The brain is incredibly plastic. Just as we can form habits, we can eliminate them.

And yet the problem is we don't know how to cure neurological disorders or even what causes them.

[Izandai]

Or maybe, just maybe, the symptoms are no longer present because they cured them.

Does taking paracetamol cure headaches? A cure implies somebody is free of the condition, if somebody needs to take medication to keep the condition suppressed or has just learned to better live with their condition, are they cured?

I generally only have to take medicine once to get rid of a headache, i.e., "free me of the condition".

I have no idea where you're getting this notion that a mental disorder is somehow this thing that cannot be cured, like it's a fucking inalterable fact of one's existence.

I have no idea where you think I've said that.

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

Then the book is either wrong or you're reading it wrong. OCD is not cured, the therapy is learning how to manage the disorder and other treatments work to suppress the feelings of anxiety. It's otherwise incurable, in fact we can't even explain how it is caused.

Mostly there, but you also imply it here:

For something like the flu or somesuch, perhaps my terminology isn't entirely accurate, as someone may harbor the flu virus yet show no symptoms (I have no idea how this could happen, but okay). For a mental disorder, though, were the only way we can know that a person has a disorder is through their symptoms, how could you possibly claim that someone who no longer shows any symptoms isn't cured?

It's quite simple. The symptoms are either still present and the patient is mostly able to repress them, or the symptoms are being repressed by continued medication. Just like how taking paracetamol doesn't cure a headache.

The brain is incredibly plastic. Just as we can form habits, we can eliminate them.

And yet the problem is we don't know how to cure neurological disorders or even what causes them.

Just because we don't know how to cure something doesn't mean it can't be cured. Unless when you said "can't be cured" you meant "can't be cured with our current knowledge." In any case, we do know how to cure some disorders, particularly OCD. Through therapy (I don't think it works for everyone, though).

[Keyboard Warriors]

Does taking paracetamol cure headaches? A cure implies somebody is free of the condition, if somebody needs to take medication to keep the condition suppressed or has just learned to better live with their condition, are they cured?

I generally only have to take medicine once to get rid of a headache, i.e., "free me of the condition".

Which it doesn't. It only suppresses the pain. It says this on the label if you were curious; see pain relief.

I have no idea where you think I've said that.

Then the book is either wrong or you're reading it wrong. OCD is not cured, the therapy is learning how to manage the disorder and other treatments work to suppress the feelings of anxiety. It's otherwise incurable, in fact we can't even explain how it is caused.

Mostly there, but you also imply it here:

It's quite simple. The symptoms are either still present and the patient is mostly able to repress them, or the symptoms are being repressed by continued medication. Just like how taking paracetamol doesn't cure a headache.

And how did you extrapolate "OCD is not cured" to "You can't cure neurological conditions"? The truth is, OCD at the moment is incurable, just like autism in incurable. I don't believe I ever said it will never be cured or such a thing is impossible, but rather, as of right now in case you were confused about the tense, OCD cannot be cured. Just like Autism.

And yet the problem is we don't know how to cure neurological disorders or even what causes them.

Just because we don't know how to cure something doesn't mean it can't be cured. Unless when you said "can't be cured" you meant "can't be cured with our current knowledge.

See above.

In any case, we do know how to cure some disorders, particularly OCD. Through therapy (I don't think it works for everyone, though).

It's not a cure, as I've explained before.

[Ardoki]

I'm not lying!

Ok, I'll believe for now. Now, is there any way for you to discuss this subject without flipping out?

I don't trust you. You said that you don't believe me, why would you change your bigoted view now?