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Here's some words for thought.
13 years ago
I'm sure several of you are aware of the DSM-V and the changes it's bringing to the table.
With these changes come a lot of controversy. People are afraid they won't qualify for services. People still heavily believe AS and autism are different (even though I've seen people severely affected with AS and look the same as someone with classic autism).
If you haven't seen it yet, check this out:
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisio.....on.aspx?rid=94
My opinion?
I feel that people are blowing it out of proportion and aren't reading the details clearly before getting fearful and trying to protest.
I don't think it's the insurance companies fueling this. There's a lot of misconception about Aspergers, a lot of negative connotation about it too. (Assburgers, Asspie, etc.) Just like all people with Autism are unique, as are all people with Aspergers. Aspergers isn't just high functioning, I've seen cases of people who are severely affected by AS but just lack the speech delay and pre-occupation with objects, like a spinning wheel.
The DSM-IV was created in 1994, and I believe it's due for a great update. Autism itself has 'evolved', so to speak, in what we consider to be autistic traits. Whether you believe Autism or Aspergers are same or different, they still share the same traits and still both people are affected in similar ways. I've seen people turned away from treatment because of their diagnosis of Aspergers, because they think they're not "disabled enough". I've seen people with regular developmental delays labelled as PDD-NOS when they only fit one or two of the symptoms (which also fit the bill for developmental delay). By combining them all into one spectrum, I feel that it generally will help out.
If you look at the actual criteria from the DSM-IV and V, the only difference in qualification is the lack of 'imaginative play' isn't required, a speech delay isn't necessary, and sensory issues were included as one of 4 possible symptoms with the other three being stims or repetitive speech/movements, adherence to strict routines, and restricted interests. The core of autism remains untouched and unchanged.
I don't think those who are currently known as 'Aspies' will suffer much of a change, they will probably be 'grandfathered' in with the new classification and will still receive help- if not receive better care.
And those of us who fall in between the cracks even as adults may be able to finally receive the help they've been denied.
If you or your child don't fit the criteria after it changes, then you aren't autistic- because the core symptoms were untouched. The only problem I can see it posing is for adults who have managed to maintain friendships, no matter how few, and a job of some sort. For that, I'd like to see a notation made as a possible side criteria specifically for adults.
With these changes come a lot of controversy. People are afraid they won't qualify for services. People still heavily believe AS and autism are different (even though I've seen people severely affected with AS and look the same as someone with classic autism).
If you haven't seen it yet, check this out:
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisio.....on.aspx?rid=94
My opinion?
I feel that people are blowing it out of proportion and aren't reading the details clearly before getting fearful and trying to protest.
I don't think it's the insurance companies fueling this. There's a lot of misconception about Aspergers, a lot of negative connotation about it too. (Assburgers, Asspie, etc.) Just like all people with Autism are unique, as are all people with Aspergers. Aspergers isn't just high functioning, I've seen cases of people who are severely affected by AS but just lack the speech delay and pre-occupation with objects, like a spinning wheel.
The DSM-IV was created in 1994, and I believe it's due for a great update. Autism itself has 'evolved', so to speak, in what we consider to be autistic traits. Whether you believe Autism or Aspergers are same or different, they still share the same traits and still both people are affected in similar ways. I've seen people turned away from treatment because of their diagnosis of Aspergers, because they think they're not "disabled enough". I've seen people with regular developmental delays labelled as PDD-NOS when they only fit one or two of the symptoms (which also fit the bill for developmental delay). By combining them all into one spectrum, I feel that it generally will help out.
If you look at the actual criteria from the DSM-IV and V, the only difference in qualification is the lack of 'imaginative play' isn't required, a speech delay isn't necessary, and sensory issues were included as one of 4 possible symptoms with the other three being stims or repetitive speech/movements, adherence to strict routines, and restricted interests. The core of autism remains untouched and unchanged.
I don't think those who are currently known as 'Aspies' will suffer much of a change, they will probably be 'grandfathered' in with the new classification and will still receive help- if not receive better care.
And those of us who fall in between the cracks even as adults may be able to finally receive the help they've been denied.
If you or your child don't fit the criteria after it changes, then you aren't autistic- because the core symptoms were untouched. The only problem I can see it posing is for adults who have managed to maintain friendships, no matter how few, and a job of some sort. For that, I'd like to see a notation made as a possible side criteria specifically for adults.
I will note that I have had say 16 jobs all but 2 I walked out on for being picked on, couldn't handle the stress (it's a trigger for me) or it just plain didn't work well with my AS, now I can't get a job without going through vocational rehabilitation, I keep getting "we filled the position, but there sign or ad is still up, etc. due to my extensive bad work history and moving around so much as I have been "technically" homeless much of the past 12 years staying places temporary, etc. Now I have a permanent home thankfully.
Despite all of that and my medical records they turned me down, so nothing would change for me either way.
That's great because I want to be treated like a normal human being instead of spending one period or two a day inside a classroom with extremely slow teenagers just because I happen to have moderate Asperger's.
But then again, I am pretty lazy...
Interestingly, I was never too sure I quite fitted under the old guidelines, some stuff about social development which I find difficult more because I'm just shy and quiet and find it hard to get peoples' attention rather than that I can't understand it, but with the addition of the sensory issues, I think now I do, and that comes just at the point where I've accepted that I don't mind the label, not that I had anything against it, just that I never quite seemed to fit the stereotype. I guess I have a rather mild form, though with the fact that I can barely speak above a whisper amongst other things, that's little consolation.