Does Ritalin Cause Aspergers Syndrome

Lauretta Lazdins thinks there may be a risk that prescribing Ritalin to her young son and may have caused his Tourette syndrome and  aspergers disease. According to an interview Lazdins gave to The Hearld Sun she believes doctors incorrectly mis-diagnosing her son Luke Lazdins with ADHD and prescribing Ritalin for his condition may have contributed to his aspergers. This is not scientific evidence at all, but it does seem feasible. I for one never thought Ritalin was a good medicine and I resisted it being prescribed for my son. It seems that a lot of doctors and educators are quick to say a child as Attention deficit disorder quickly. Of course this is an easy way to control a kid. The educators at least in the U.S. like to keep the kids doped up as that makes it easier to control the kids. Most people don’t give any thought to the potential long term effects these drugs may be having on our children.

I had not really heard of Aspergers Syndrome prior to this story, so I’ll include a definition below for everyone’s benefit.

Asperger syndrome also called Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger’s disorder, Asperger’s or AS is one of several autism spectrum disorders (ASD) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. AS is distinguished from the other ASDs in having no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, motor clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.

Asperger syndrome is named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Fifty years later, AS was standardized as a diagnosis, but questions about many aspects of AS remain. For example, there is lingering doubt about the distinction between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA); partly due to this, the prevalence of AS is not firmly established. The exact cause of AS is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.

There is no single treatment for Asperger syndrome, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data. Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function. The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and clumsiness. Most individuals with AS can learn to cope with their differences, but may continue to need moral support and encouragement to maintain an independent life.Researchers and people with AS have advocated a shift in attitudes away from the notion that AS is a deviation from the norm that must be treated or cured, and towards the view that AS is a difference rather than a disability.

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