Flap your hands, don’t want to wear socks and put all the trains in a neat row. When is child behavior normal and when is there reason to investigate whether your child has autism? Two mothers and a psychiatrist talk about whether to diagnose young children.
At Jamie Vrolijk-Van Beekum’s (34) home in Alphen aan den Rijn, it is a cosy, busy place with four children. She has long had doubts about whether she should test her son Lennox (5) for ASD (autism spectrum disorder). “I’m not into stamps or boxes, but in the end I’m glad I did.”
Her third son, who was born at 27 weeks and suffered brain damage as a result, began exhibiting behaviors that his parents could not connect to his pre-existing behavioral problems.
“He’s extremely sensitive, can’t stand a haircut. And he’s constantly hitting his arms, sometimes with his whole body.” Lennox is also very resistant to change. “If we say we’re going to Hoogvliet and it turns out to be Lidl, the house is too small.”
Added value of testing
The pediatrician advised Jamie and her husband to see if he was on the autism spectrum. They very much doubted that.
“We didn’t really know what the added value was. For us, but also for Lennox. He is already starting special education and receives outpatient support at home. And then a new examination must be done.”
Still, they decided to get him tested because it would give them insight into what their son needed. “Now we understand even better what he’s up against, and we can adapt education and care accordingly.”
It may appear that ‘everyone suddenly has autism’ because there is more attention to the characteristics of autism.
More people with autism, but also a wider spectrum
According to the National Youth Institute, the national knowledge center for youth and parenting, last year the Netherlands had 31,000 children aged four to twelve with autism or a related disorder.
International studies also show an increase among adults with an autism diagnosis compared to the 1970s.
According to child and adolescent psychiatrist Willemijn Veenboer (GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord), the definition of autism has been expanded. It affects the numbers.
“It’s become a spectrum disorder that we now include Asperger’s syndrome and PDD-NOS.” At the same time, she does not see an absolute increase in children and young people with autism in her practice. “It may appear that ‘everyone suddenly has autism’ because there is more attention to the characteristics of autism.”
Society turns faster, which causes some people to fall away
Veenboer calls the increased attention to, for example, autism a positive development. “It helps us break the taboo around mental illness.”
And it is necessary, because the number of people with mental health problems is increasing. So it is important to keep talking about this, she believes. Especially in today’s performance society, which demands a lot from people.
Getting the right diagnosis helps me as a psychiatrist to help them get their lives back on track.
“For some people, life is much more complicated than it was twenty years ago. I compare our society to a record player that goes faster and faster.”
“People who are less able, less self-reliant, may have been able to participate in the past, but now they fall off that bracket. Some of that ends up in psychiatry. And getting the right diagnosis helps me as a psychiatrist. to help them to get their lives back on track.”
Hypersensitive and still very young
Britt Gerhardt-Buursema (34) from Teylingen is not against diagnosing children. But she believes that her son Eli is still too young for that. “He’s 2.5 and still developing.”
Still, she notices in her son that he is more sensitive than other children, “and so in a way that it stands out”. For example, he prefers not to wear socks or shoes, his trains must always be next to each other in a certain way, and he can’t stand it when his hair is combed.
“The shelter also says he’s a lot more sensitive than other kids. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on the autism spectrum.” Britt knows what she’s talking about, because she herself was diagnosed with ASD a year ago. “It gives me a lot of clarity.”
When Britt shares her suspicions about Eli with family or acquaintances, she often gets negative reactions. “Oh, you don’t say that about such a small child, do you? He’s perfectly normal!” I think it’s a shame that they see autism as something negative. While you can also think: how special it is that there are different people with different brains.”
Psychiatrist Veenboer agrees. “More and more knowledge about autism is becoming available for teachers, health professionals and parents to learn from.”