I feel for all children and adults everywhere on the spectrum, both for the severely affected and for the bright, socially awkward individual with Asperger's who is doing well in school academically, but has to cope with bullies. I fell into the latter group. Some people are, indeed better off than others, but all have issues to deal with. It is the parents of the more severely affected children who suffer the most. I am not worried about my own life, but I would worry that I could have a child with more severe problems. I would not want anyone to suffer but, at the same time, I wouldn't make the decision not to have children just because of the possibility of autism or Asperger's.

I am not a mother (except to cats), but I feel for all the parents here and all of the people dealing with any ASD issues.

Iyami,

I was misdiagnosed with hyperactivity as a child and given Ritalin. I didn't work at all for me. In fact, it turned me into a zombie. There are certain medications, such as Dilantin, that I do need to control a mild seizure disorder. (Fortunately, I am all right as long as I take it.) Sometimes, medications are indicated, but one needs to be judicious. I wouldn't want any child (or adult) to be given an unnecessary medication, especially with the side effects listed. Liver toxicity is a major one, and very painful.