posted February 19, 2010 03:23 PM
Psychology Today: Here to Help
Positively Autism
News and advice from an educator's perspective
by Nicole Caldwell
Nicole Caldwell is a teacher, autism specialist, and editor of PositivelyAutism.com.
No More Asperger’s Syndrome?
In 2012, will there be no more Asperger’s Syndrome?
Published on December 22, 2009
In 2012, there may be no more Asperger's Syndrome. No, I'm not talking about some sort of 2012 doomsday prophecy or suggesting that there will be some sort of cure for this particular Autism Spectrum condition. According to a proposal from the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the Asperger's diagnosis, along with another "form" of Autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) will be removed from the next edition of their diagnostic manual, the DSM. The DSM stands for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It is the standard reference for mental health professionals in the United States to use for diagnostic criteria for mental disorders.
Upon first reading this headline, I was pleased to think that perhaps Asperger's would no longer be considered a mental illness or disorder. To me, it has always seemed a little stigmatizing for the Autism spectrum to be considered a mental illness. Working in the education field, I have always considered Autism to be a developmental disability or difference, but I guess there is no definite answer about its exact nature. Honestly, I don't think that mental illnesses or disorders should be considered so stigmatizing in society in general, but that's a topic for another essay.
The proposed changes to the DSM focus on eliminating the different labels associated with the Autism spectrum and replacing them with different ratings of the "severity" of Autism: "most severe ASD," "moderately severe ASD," and "less severe ASD." The APA's argument for combining the forms of Autism into one broad diagnostic category is based on three reasons:
1. A single spectrum is more reflective of the symptoms,
2. Separation of the conditions within the Autism spectrum is inconsistent and variable,
3. Individuals are already commonly diagnosed by the severity of the symptoms, rather than specific condition within the spectrum.
According to an article published in the New York Times, there is concern that the change in diagnostic label will discourage some individuals from seeking a diagnosis. For example, an individual who is able to communicate and socialize fairly well and who may have previously received an Asperger's diagnosis, may not seek diagnosis because he or she doesn't believe they have "Autism" because they can talk and communicate. Another challenge may be who receives government benefits under the new diagnostic categories. According to the New York Times, some states provide state services for individuals diagnosed with Autism, but not individuals diagnosed with Asperger's or PDD-NOS.
The APA has yet to make an ultimate decision about the changes, and will solicit feedback from the public before making the changes final.
So, what do you think? Is there a concern that fewer individuals will seek diagnosis under the new label? Do you believe there will be other problems associated with it? What do you see as the benefits?
Have a peaceful holiday,
Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed. http://www.PositivelyAutism.com/
References
A Powerful Identity, a Vanishing Diagnosis (New York Times, November 2, 2009): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03asperger.html
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Research/DSMIV.aspx
Report of the DSM-V Neurodevelopmental Disorders Work Group: http://www.psych.org/MainM enu/Research/DSMIV/DSMV/DSMRevisionActivities/DSM-V-Work-Group-Reports/Neurodevelopmental-Disorders-Work-Group-Report.aspx
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/positively-autism/200912/no-more-asperger-s-syndro me
Do you think the inclusion of Aspergers into Autism is part of the consciousness shift of 2012! Many Aspergers might view it as the end of the world for them. hahahahaha
j/k
seriously....It's a major big deal for them. It could change perceptions of how they are viewed. The views of Autism are changing. Many nonverbal Autistics are actually a lot more intelligent than people think of them. They are just given the wrong type of intelligence tests. They perform much higher on intelligence tests that test visual problem solving skills. Some people equate high functioning autism with Aspergers. Take Dr. Temple Grandin for instance. Some view her as having Aspergers because she is high functioning. However, she has a history of speech delays in childhood,and she was even recommended to be institutionalized. She was actually humming,screaming to communicate. She benefited from early intervention therapies.
It can be early intervention therapies that that make the difference between a high functioning autistic and low functioning autistic.
There is a difference between genetic autism and acquired autism too. It could be that the people with genetic autism are the ones with high inteligence. The people with acquired autism from heavy metal poisoning,toxins,vaccines could the ones with low intelligence. People loop both genetic autistics and acquired autistics, and treat them the same.
I am hoping that my future neurodiversity organization will be making a difference in a lot of people lives by 2012 too.
Raymond
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"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"
- Eckhart Tolle