oh my god.............

People just don't get it. We trust them to know these things. But in the end, the people who come to see them know more then they do (in some cases). There are so few doctors and nurses that i trust. Autism has no face. They should know that. I don't blame you for being mad.

reckon she might be doing some reading tonight??? Good on you for losing it, stupid lying cow saying she'd read the file. I'm guessing the first thing in that file is "this kid has autism and doesn't sit still or follow directions"

truly pathetic that at this advanced day and age, medical practioners do not have any idea about autism. The fact they are unaware of this.. makes me suspicious they know much about anything. I take much of their " learn-ed advice" with a GRAIN OF SALT.

Very scary! I agree with Challenger's comment - GRAIN OF SALT!!

Good for you for saying what needed to be said. Maybe time for a new DR? Hugs Denise

well not a new Dr, he was on vacation, but you can rest assured the nurse practioner will never set foot in the room with us again. i think i scared her a little, but seriously it doesnt surprise me, nothing against nurses but it has been my experience there are only a select few anymore that actually take the time to go beyond the books and actually try to understand certain things that do not have a face. i deal with the same shit with the nurses that take care of my mom, some understand aphasia and others do not have a clue. they work in a nursing home and have no clue about aphasia and dementia, exactly why are they in a nursing home?????

Livid!!!!!P, I am so disgusted! I promise when I finish nursing school, I will not be an ass! I am so pissed! What kinda dumb ass would say I could not tell by looking at him??? Hello!!!! Alex also has Mild Mental Retardation, dosen't mean he's in a wheel chair and dosen't mean he drools! What an ignorant nurse! Now days we all know there are many children whom look normal, have autism! So ya gotta look retarded to be retarded? ya gotta look autistic to be autistic? And yes somesone please tell me WTF autism looks like???????? I can tell ya what autism's aftermath is, better yet , a real meltdown , seeing is believing!

I understand how you feel. I am a nurse practitioner, but I can tell you that until very, very recently, you just did not get much training or info on autism. When my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's I had only a vague idea of what it was (that was 2 1/2 years ago). MD training has been similar I think. My last dr. did not know anything about Asperger's and limited on autism. I have a younger family dr. that my kids see now, and she is really well informed. Not an excuse per se, but just how awareness of autism is changing.

i sorta had the same thing happen to me once. it was at work though. a co-worker was looking at pics of my kids in my office and she said 'he doesn't even look autistic. he's smiling.' i was like 'what?!' autistic kids don't smile? what did you expect him to be doing? seriously!

LOL, I took my son to the dr. yesterday and they want to give him a flu shot so I say, is there any thirmesol or mercury in the vaccine? They say no. I request an list of indgredients to make my descision and see thiremsol and mercury so I say, you should really read this before you answer to what's in it, and tell them there is in fact mercury and thimesol in it and we'll pass on the vaccine.
Re -goddamn-diculous...
Pin heads...

A friend of mine just got her master's in Speech Pathology. Her son is also on the spectrum, so she has a special interest in the subject. She said her professors spent one DAY on the topic! Reminds me of the agonizing year before my husband was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The PhD who was seeing him kept telling me there was nothing wrong with him. Anyway, after diagnosis and treatment, we finally have a marriage worth keeping. That was over 10 years ago. It's amazing how much educating of professionals parents and loved ones have to do. I just keep plugging and am pleasantly surprised when people do understand.

I work as a registered nurse and graduated 5 1/2 years ago. Honestly, when I was in school I don't really remember hearing the word autism. Until I had my child and started questioning his behaviors and reading, reading, reading I did not understand what autism was.
I think in hte medical field they focus on treatments: medications, bloodwork, tests, etc so that a problem can be found to treat. Actually kind of since Nathan was diagnosed with developmental delays at age 1 we have been undergoing so many tests. It is frusturating not being able to 'fix' the problem.
It drives me crazy when I am having a particular stressful day and when I talk to my friends they try to answer with examples from their kids. "Oh, Samuel took a long time to potty train too, etc." Autism has no 'face' and I guess that is why God made us moms and dads to make people aware of who are children are and that even though they may look 'perfect' through others eyes we are there to pick them up and push them forward.
I am sorry that nurse made such an insensitive remark. People really need to think before they speak.
Hugs Priscilla! You are being such an amazing mom to Adam and he is lucky to have had you enter his life.

Argh...I feel your pain. There is some shameful ignorance of autism in the medical community today. It gives me great hope to see people on this board in the medical profession.

it is something to behold...you don't know how many people have said that, how many times...like maybe I should tatoo his forehead or something! No, autism is not like Down's Syndrome or a physical disability...good grief. You think people would have more sense! ha! that's funny! take care