Problems with 'Optimal Outcome' Framing

Jocelyn Green of @audhd_academic joins Jessica to discuss the concept of "losing an autism diagnosis" and what's often missing when discussing autism research. The two discuss the limitations of autism statistics and how their misuse can become unethical. They also talk about disability, what conditions may present to make someone seek an autism diagnosis later in adulthood, support needs for autistic people, and of course RFK.

This conversation was inspired by last week's episode with Dr. Theresa Lyons and includes listener feedback. Dr. Lyons anchored her work in the idea that 37% of autistic kids will lose their autism diagnosis with behavioral changes. She based this on one study and didn't represent the research to the degree it deserved. Theresa also claimed that people don't learn to mask their autism until they're teenagers, when in fact young children can learn to mask.

Some parents want to split the autism spectrum

Referenced in last week's episode:

Life's Best Medicine Podcast

FDA approves leucovorin

Frat test

Suing tylenol

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Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies