Autism

[lolly07766]

I know there are many threads concerning this subject, I've just read one now.
I have a son with severe autism, limited communication and obvious learning disabilities, aibu to think the diagnosis/description should be changed for high functioning people, as opposed to those who have serious disabilities.

someone who is just a little bit weird

What the fuck.

That isn't a diagnostic criterion for autism. "Are you a little bit weird?"

You can’t judge someone’s disability on how they look.

ds is no more disabled when he he is having to use his wheelchair than when he is walking.

just because things are hard for you doesn’t mean you have a right to judge other peoples struggles.

Actually, that is what the medical community does. In some cases there are physical characteristics of people who have profound autism. In some cases the facial characteristics differ. You can google it.

Personally, I feel the DSM is wrong. Medical professionals were trying not to offend anyone so they removed certain terminology that was deemed insulting, expanded the net for autism and now one in 44 people get the autism sticker because no one could use the old terminology any more.

Intrepidescape

What a highly offensive, ignorant, ludicrous and appalling post.

Using physical markers to help as part of a diagnosis process is very different from saying that physically being able to see a disability makes it more real or more of an impact.

that simply isn’t true.

Have you read it? There's the Triad of impairment for a start

The whole criteria needs to be re examined it is very male centric missing out those who have mainly female traits.
Many females spend years living with anxiety being treated for depression and or substance abuse when really they are on the spectrum. But being better equipped at masking by virtue of societies pressures they go undiagnosed.

I agree with you OP. And at least 50% of my household is ND.

Of course I’ve read it. There’s three levels and I think it’s wrong to classify in this manner. This is what the post is about. I agreed with the OP.

Calling someone with high functioning autism "a little bit weird"
Is ableist.

You have no idea of the impact on the person concerned.

I'm ostensibly "a little bit weird" but I can assure you I am definitely autistic.

This is amongst the most ignorant posts I have read…

you are struggling with your Dc this does not mean that what would have been classed as high functioning don’t have huge life struggles..

my D’s has pda I believe.. it comes under the add umbrella in our county.. just because he understands how and why to brush his teeth doesn’t make it less of a challenge.

His life challenges are different

I quite like people.

I travel.

I'm still autistic.

People are given the autistic diagnosis as adults because they don’t like people and don’t want to travel. So yes “a little bit weird”.

How dare you. I can assure you my diagnosis was based on a whole lot more than that. Masses of paperwork, ADOS, discussions with family, 3 hour assessment sessions….

My eldest is diagnosed autistic, she's one if those children that looks like she is flying by and doing so well in life. However the struggles she faces and how she is at home is a whole other story. She is able to 'get on with life' often to the detriment of her mental health. She still needs a lot of self care support and will not sort herself out at night time (she is nearly 10), she is a flight risk when out and about and has to be reminded about little things like checking the roads and not just walking out.
But to everyone else she looks like she's managing and high functioning

I agree with you. I realised I met the classification criterion for autism while my son was being diagnosed. I found out all of the things I thought were normal were not normal. I didn’t even recognise anything was wrong with my own son. A child health nurse pushed for him to be diagnosed and then a speech pathologist. It was that profound.

I am a terrible employee, can’t get to work on time and can’t form relationships with my coworkers and yet I remained employed because I found I was adept with technical areas of the law. So that’s what I was employed to do. I could remember sections of legislation and could explain what it meant to clients.

So when I read the DSM I understand what it means and I think the changes are wrong.

It's ok OP, your sons diagnosis isn't impacted my mine. His is still valid and we understand the differences and variables l. I am what you would call HF. I am late diagnosed, I live what you would consider a normal life. I am hugely impacted by my autism though, it caused me a lot of trauma frowning up and in early adulthood. While I can appear HF I can also have non verbal episodes. I remember someone once asked my 'how autistic is he?', referring to DS and I just replied 'it depends what you are asking him to do'. HF does not mean always able but the common misconception is that it does mean able. HF autistic people struggle too. I question the diagnosis of an autistic person who isn't impacted by their autism, obviously.

I think there may be a place for separate diagnosis but I don't know how you categorise people.

I fit in to all of these categories.

My daughter does too,with full PIP and multiple hospital admissions to prove it.

I do kinda agree. DD is awaiting an autistic assessment and if things are set out in a way that works for her, she can get on very well. I’m hoping as she gets older some of these things might not be such an issue as some things have improved I’m finding as she passes through puberty she has calmed down a little. And that she can lead an independent life.
My friends autistic daughter will never do anything for herself ever and will always need full time care.

The problem is all disabilities can be on a spectrum. It’s always the discussion I have with DH when they show someone on TV with Downs Syndrome, going to school, passing exams, having a job. We had a family member who never could do any of those things and needed 24 hour care their whole life.

They are not categories. They are about levels of support needed to be able to function. People who can live relatively independent lives have level 1 support needs. People who need substantial support to be able to function will have level 2 support needs. People who won't ever be able to live independently will have level 3 support needs.

@BadNomad

That's a different explanation to the one I read, however there is still a huge crossover in support required.

@Sindonym our children sound quite similar, which isn't something I've come across before. Our geneticist feels the same. We've taken part in the 100000 geome project but haven't had any results as yet even though I believe we should have. I'd be really interested to know if you do get any firm confirmation of mutations.