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Armstrong called the girl's condition "environmental autism." Danielle had been deprived of interaction for so long, the doctor believed, that she had withdrawn into herself.[/b]

Danielle had probably missed the chance to learn speech, but maybe she could come to understand language, to communicate in other ways.

So I read this whole thing, and jesus fucking christ is this sad. The two points that I have quoted are, to me, the most striking things about this type of situation (unfortunately, this situation isn't solitary - it's effects have a type).

First, environmental autism is a very strange diagnosis. I asked my sister (who is an early childhood autism specialist) about this, and she said environmental autism is more like a nickname for a condition that is essentially retardation due to neglect. Think about that for a second. It makes me want to puke, or hurt someone.

Second, one of the hallmarks of feral children is their inability to learn speech. Research has shown that humans only have a window of a few years to lay the foundation for speech. A lot of the other behaviors of feral children can be "corrected," for lack of a better word, but speech is a one time deal for humans. And as far as I know, most neglected children have trouble ever learning how to communicate. It is most likely that her communication will be binary - yes and no answers to questions like "food?"

And it's great to read that, despite all of this, her doctors have made some progress.

Stories like this are incredible maddening and interesting. Thanks for the info Johnny C.

I'll bet anything the parents were Juggalos.

Lonesome Bulldog wrote:This thread needs more pics.

iembalm wrote:

when you hurt, someone comes.

LB, save the shitty jokes for another thread.

I hope she learns to communicate enough to testify against her parents.

On the positive side children are fairly reselient and I hope she can recover from this. It sounds like the family who has taken her is trying to work very hard to help her.

jimmy spako wrote:salut, bernie & diane lierow (& dani)!

And William.

None of the children I know will grow up having such an acute understanding of human need that William will, and on top of that he's not only acting even better than I would expect an average child to, but seeming to find the things to celebrate about his situation. Salut, William!

Seriously, what a great family.

"Due to the severe neglect," a doctor would write, "the child will be disabled for the rest of her life."

And they haven't given up. They keep pushing and keep trying and keep hoping that Dani will be able to regain something of a normal life. Such incredible faith.

crazy. sad.

salut indeed...

jimmy spako wrote:
i know it's s'posed to be depressing but i already know that that level of inhumanity & ignorance exists. it's nice to be reminded that there are good folks out there who are capable of extraordinary compassion, like the couple who are willing to tackle raising such a poor, neglected kid.

salut, bernie & diane lierow (& dani)!

+1

I would like to think that I had that kind of strength, but, I honestly don't know that I do.

This is not a thread for jokes. This mother should be in jail. You should not harm children. EVER. PERIOD. I don't care what your IQ testing is.

WOW! I hope that little girl can pull through.

Her mother should be thrown in a similar closet filled with roaches, lice, and her own feces.

MF wrote:I'll bet anything the parents were Juggalos.

That is the fucking funniest thing ever said about something so tragic. I was all world-weary after reading the article, then this post happened and I snotted all over my desk. Bravo MF...

Every once in a while I wish that I were religious so that I could imagine a vengeant god that could smite these motherfuckers and do something for this poor kid.