Special Education or Special Medication?: Re: Re: Let me see . . .

» olga202 - Re: Re: Let me see . . .

In response to message posted by joyfulplace:

Hi, Marilyn,
I've read your article with great interest. I've met quite a few mothers who were 'diagnosed' (wrongly!) with Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is becoming very popular nowadays (And I'm not surprised, it is much easier to blame parents than to identify whether such disorders as ADHD, behavior disorders and learning difficulties are faked or real). Some clinicians always blame parents when they see a child with behavior problems who looks physically normal. However, it is often the case with autism, and especially Asperger syndrome. These individuals look normal, and often are gifted in certain fields (some of them can receive Ph.D. in the field of their interest, but they cannot get a job because of the social and communication impairments (invisible to inexperienced clinicians).
And it is not about 'fabricating educational disabilities and demanding unnecessary special school services, it is about help and support the child needs. I'd like to see a mother who really wanted her child to be labeled as disabled! If the parents seek help they know their child has problems and the sooner he/she is diagnosed and provided with specialist support, the better prognosis we may expect. (Though I admit there may be some mothers, e.g., shown in the TV programme) who just seek attention but they are in minority).
I do agree with you that 'we simply need to be cautious and examine all possibilities before drawing conclusions' and blaming the parents.
Sorry for my emotions but I've met many families who were denied help they needed urgently because of this new fashionable diagnosis - Munchausen by proxy.
Olga

-- posted by olga202