While the results are interesting, and I don't have the expertise to definitively dismiss the findings, I'm skeptical. I don't think there was much difference in my brother's TV viewing habits versus mine, and he's autistic and I'm not. There are other factors at work in the increase in autism diagnosis in the 80s. One is that in the 70s, autism was a dead-end diagnosis. there was no treatment, no options. In the 80s, educational techniques, early intervention techniques, diet, medication, etc proliferated. Now that autism was not a dead end diagnosis, doctors were more willing to use it, and use it early, rather than futzing around with erroneous or euphemistic labels. Furthermore, autism has recently been classified as a spectrum disorder, which has further upped the diagnosis rate since there are more levels and varieties to apply. Also, in my quick read of the article, I noticed that the researchers did not take into account that cable-TV availability may correclate to higher household income, which in turn usually goes hand in hand with better access to diagnostic sessions, and better schools more equipped to lead the way in diagnosing children.
For all that, I'm certainly all for limiting TV time for young kids. but let's not unleash an autism scare, or worse yet, more reasons to instill guilt complexes in parents.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-10-16 08:34 pm (UTC)Also, in my quick read of the article, I noticed that the researchers did not take into account that cable-TV availability may correclate to higher household income, which in turn usually goes hand in hand with better access to diagnostic sessions, and better schools more equipped to lead the way in diagnosing children.
For all that, I'm certainly all for limiting TV time for young kids. but let's not unleash an autism scare, or worse yet, more reasons to instill guilt complexes in parents.