ASD/Autism

[misscutandstick]

we just had an appt with Cons Paed and got a verbal Dx. However throughout the 3.5min consultation he kept swapping from saying he had ASD to Autism and back again. Is there any difference? if there is, is it more to do with severity? Perhaps he might have thought that i wouldnt know what ASD was? any thoughts?

levent

Does your son have a Statement?. I ask as it may be easier to access a language unit with such a document in place.

I always thought that ASD & Autism were the same thing as ASD means Autistic Spectrum Disorder so therefore I take it to mean anyone diagnosed with any form of Autism.

Given that all the terms are meaningless and unhelpful, I wouldn't get bogged down in what the dx 'means', just what the dx can 'get you'!

As far as I can work out there isn't complete agreement about what the various terms mean. I was reading an article by Simon Baron Cohen about the proposal that they might get rid of the term 'Asperger's' in the American diagnostic criteria.

I think this is because they now feel that there isn't a huge difference between some adults who have been classified as HFA and some adults diagnosed with Asperger's - they have just developed at different rates to reach the same point.

He made the point that Homosexuality used to be classified as a mental illness. I don't think he was saying that being autistic is like being gay - just that making a diagnosis of autism is not like testing for measles - it's subjective and opinions change.

I think that 'on the spectrum' is currently the go to diagnosis, and in another decade things will have changed again. People won't have changed, but the way they are viewed will.

Just been to a social skills group for my son (aged 13 with ASD and tourette's) and had a talk from a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in autism. He said that they don't make diagnoses of aspergers any more, it will be phased out to be replaced by autism spectrum disorder. This is because autism, and aspergers are all part of the same spectrum. He explained it as not being one condition, but a collection of symptoms. All people on the spectrum, whether high or low functioning, verbal or non-verbal will have problems in the triad - social interaction, social communication and imagination - most probably with some sensory issues thrown in too.

I'd be happy with autism spectrum disorder as it covers all bases - children do change over time and his asd will present differently as he gets older too.

My 7year old daughter has just had her autistic diagnosis confirmed, and like a lot of parents I was confused by all the different terms - aspergers, pervasive development disorder, childhood degenerative disorder, autism,rett disorder. All of the above come under the umbrella term of autistic spectrum disorder. The main difference between autism and aspergers is whether or not there is a development delay- aspergers usually has no development delay. I hope this is helpful

Autism is like a 'carrot' and ASD is like 'vegetable'

So you can say something is a vegetable, more specifically a carrot.

Hi Starchart

Autism has grown into the Autistic Spectrum, or Autistic Spectrum Disorders, as research has progressed to identify issues, and unify the various original sources of research.
Currently the USA dominate the process of defining disabilities via the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), DSM V is due in 2013.

The criteria for a diagnosis of ASD or autism has been well set out in Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders which includes a table of criteria Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00: AD and Diagnostic Criteria for 299.80: Asperger's Disorder (Referred to as AS in This Report)

Eventually when progress in research allows they will move from a behavior based criteria to a neurological understanding and basis of these issues, as well as the genetics involved.

Sure but Autism is usually used when a case of 'classic autism' applies. This is still an ASD, just as is Aspergers Syndrome.

Star that's how I understood it, too.

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know if the OP (misscutandstick) is still around? Or any of the other pp? Would be nice to think they're still here, have they namechanged?

I think lots are still around but have name-changed, perhaps more than once, when MN got a bit funny.

Can never keep up with namechangers! At least you keep the star bit consistent

I try to, but I didn't always. Somehow people always seem to know it is me though so I thought there was no point in hiding. Probably because my posts are always the same and so predictable.

Planning to change back to my usual name shortly though. I like it best but I like to change a bit to make it a bit difficult for any not so nice readers.

Starchart

just for clarification

"According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)7 and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10)8 classifications, autism is characterized by impairments in 3 behavioral domains: 1) social interaction; 2) language, communication, and imaginative play; and 3) range of interests and activities.7 Assignment to 1 of 5 subtypes is based on the number and distribution of endorsed behavioral descriptors in each of the domains, as well as on the age at onset. The 5 DSM-IV PDD subtypes are 1) autistic disorder (classic autism), 2) Asperger disorder (language development at the expected age, no mental retardation), 3) disintegrative disorder (behavioral, cognitive, and language regression between ages 2 and 10 years after entirely normal early development, including language), 4) PDD not otherwise specified (individuals who have autistic features and do not fit any of the other subtypes), and 5) Rett disorder (a genetic disorder of postnatal brain development, caused by a single-gene defect predominantly affecting girls)."

From The Genetics of Autism 2004
And from the 2007 paper mentioned above

"ASDs represent 3 of the pervasive developmental disorders defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV),3 and the newer Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)4: autistic disorder (AD), Asperger syndrome (AS [this terminology will be used in this report, although ?Asperger's disorder? is used in the aforementioned publications]), and pervasive developmental disorder?not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). In addition to being a spectrum disorder, autism has wide variability with respect to the presence and intensity of symptoms, even within the DSM-IV-TR categories, which indicates that there may be additional subtypes."