aspergers ceases to exist!

[beammeupscotty]

I heard on the radio that the manual (DSM) which lists psychiatric conditions, including autism, is not going to list aspergers any longer, but it will become part of the AS. (I know it is already but the name will cease to be used) Autism will be given different levels of severity.
Many people with aspergers are not happy with this as their condition has gained acceptence in the 'normal' world and they have jobs, qualifications etc and their uniqueness and, in many cases special abilities, have been recognised. To say they have autism, rather than aspergers, they feel, will provoke more predjudice than at present.
Do you agree? I think they have a fair point, but DSM is a manual for professionals in the mental health field, so their opinions will probably count for nil.

I think they may have done it so that the people with Asperger's who need the support given to them will still continue to get it, rather than "Well I know someone with ASperger's and she's fine, ergo, you are too. Case dismissed. NEXT!"

Ds1 has been diagnosed with Autism but the lady from Autism Outreach is quite sure that he actually has Asperger's/

hrmm i wonder how this will affect people on dla under aspergers?

wraith
I think they will still get dla but they'll be classed as something like 'autism - level 1' maybe?

Paed mentioned Aspergers and HFA and i have told him i dont want it.

I think HFA is very misleading, high functioning compared to what, others with autism who you have never meet.

High functioning in which respect, will ds continue to function highly.

Well Aspergers, oh those are the bright kids. Yes the bright kid who acts weird, who cant eat or follow instructions unless they are explained extensively, has extreme emotional difficulties, self injury and shits himself. Cool.

Its still in the ICD-10, which is far more commonly used in the UK than the DSM.

I think the whole Autistic spectrum (AS, HFA, Classic Autism, Severe Autism) is all wrong. Dd1 has a dx of Aspergers but it is very mild, her main problem is anxiety, dd2 is far more complicated, some of her traits are AS/HFA and others are severe (communication), she doesn't really fit on the spectrum. Because dd2 can count and complete huge jigsaw puzzles then the pead wants to diagnose HFA but apart from her being good at maths and english the rest of her traits are severe (well they are to us).
Even though dd1 is Aspergers she is much more hard work than dd1 (probably because she knows she is different and is very verbal), dd2 on the other hand does not notice what other people thinks so doesn't feel different.

I think you are right Marne, it's so much more mixed up than those neat diagnostic categories make out. I must admit I raised an eyebrow over the story all over the media today about how one research group had 'identified genes for autism'. Well, yes, but when it's clear what counts as autism, and what exactly it is, and who is and who isn't, then we'll get back to you on that one

sigh bringing chaos to order seems to be the order of the day, if its a reclassification from aspergers which is a syndrome with many autistic traits to being bundled in for simplicity sake .

its gonna cause chaos

Sometimes even when its not broke - someones got to fix it!
DSM is the american psychiatric manual but is widely used throughout the world, but I hope they stick with the current classifications, at least people have a vague understanding of the meanings.
The gene identification is interesting, but as you say what is the practical application? If it actually helped identify babies early on and gave them early support, would it help? All too complicated for me

But wouldn't it be helpful to have a blood test? I think DD1 has ASD traits, and some others who know her do too, but the Paed disagrees. How helpful to have a simple blood test, so that we could rule it out/in.

I know what you mean lou, but doubt whether they are doing genetic testing yet for autism. Have you asked your Paed if it is available yet and the reliability?. If anything puts peoples minds at rest, or they know what they are facing, perhaps they should hurry it along?

i see the gene id as a potential problem

if you can identify all problems a child will have in utero (were not there yet but we will be)

you end up in a situation where where any problem could be seen as a viable excuse to terminate. its then a short step to babys to order.

might be i see too far ahead but i dont like what im seeing

I listened to that, on Radio 4, it was worrying as DS is now comfortable using the term.

Riven