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TadAuty
Hummingbird
Joined: Nov 03, 2009
Posts: 22
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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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I hate the whole value judgement of what is "high functioning" or low. Im diagnosed Aspergers NOS/PDD... I do consider myself autistic. I DO NOT think my little friend who is nonverbal is "intellectually disabled" NOR does he have a low IQ just because he wont partake in their testing!
On many levels he functions more highly than I do, and Im labelled "high functioning". Which is VERY depressing when I sometimes cant even get myself together to face the world or people! Yet, everyday, Max manages a routine....committed to his rituals. Low functioning? Not. And he seems alot happier too....most of the time!
I think aspies,auties,ADD even....we are all on that rainbow spectrum. Some of us are higher up in the clouds, in different colour bands.... We are all different, yet part of the same. |
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livinglearning
Snowy Owl
Joined: Dec 30, 2007
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I agree. I really like the idea of just having an autism spectrum, instead of the term "asperger's". Never been a fan of it. It's like a thread I remember reading a long time ago... someone suggested that the term asperger syndrome suggests that there's something wrong with us, and said that for that reason he prefered using "asperger autism", as opposed to kanners. But the new DSM sounds like the best option, if they really decide to do that. I don't want the needs of fellow aspies to be neglected, just because they're verbal and have a high IQ. I think we're all struggling, regardless of "level of functioning" and we also have many gifts and things to contribute to society, if only we can get the assistance we need to succeed in this confusing world. |
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beejay
Snowy Owl
Joined: Sep 12, 2009
Age: 29
Posts: 169
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:12 am Post subject: |
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It seems logical to me for there to be a standardization of the terminology associated with ASDs; it makes no sense for an adult with high functioning autism and one with Asperger's to not have the same diagnosis, since the only real difference seems to be when they started speaking as children.
In an ideal world, all on the autistic spectrum would just be diagnosed with autism, classified by the level of severity and it wouldn't be that big of a deal; I have no problem with the term. Unfortunately, the word "autism" has a stigma attached to it; the average person thinks of a kid banging their head in a corner. Asperger's ("ass burgers" jokes notwithstanding) does not have that same stigma, so it may be best to diagnose high functioning forms of autism as Asperger's and low-functioning forms as autism.
However, perhaps merging everything into one spectrum could revitalize the word in the public eye.
That's just my opinion; I'm certainly no professional.
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TadAuty
Hummingbird
Joined: Nov 03, 2009
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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I get in trouble for saying we are Aspies/Auties....proudly. Apparently I have to say "people with Aspergers/Autism", but TO ME, that makes it sound like a disease, when I see it more as a culture/way of thinking/being.
I have found MOST people with this brain type (in ins varying individual forms) are fine with identifying as on the spectrum....not someone WiTH a disorder! BUT "experts" tell me it is offensive to say someone is an Aspy person. I see it as no different to saying someone is Italian. All Italians are different, but they also share some common cultural things. Yet we wouldnt say someone had "Italian disorder" for their differences. AND growl at Italians who refuse to say they have a disorder or call their culture a "syndrome". |
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wigglyspider
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 24, 2009
Posts: 818
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| Age1600 wrote: | | my autism specialist along with autism experts and psychologists ive met said in 2010 this will come in affect the new dsm(thats what they said), and that wont matter if ur pddnos or aspergers or autistic itll all be lumped under ASD then. I think its alil good in a way cuz that u wont be labelled as well he has this not that, because right now for example ppl think pddnos, they automatically think mildly affected, cant count how many pddnos individuals ive met who are def not mildly affected who are one or two symptoms away from classic. ITll be either very mild, mild, moderate, or severe. How that will be based i guess would matter how well you function in society by yourself, then count in cognitive, iq, self help skills, how well you can communicate in this world, how much assistance do you need, and whether or not stimming is jus apart of your life and is a huge part of your life or is your life. Then I would be guessing that it will also take in affect sensory how it affects u, anxiety, depression, etc. And your prob be placed appropriately. IF you have symptoms of autism, doesnt matter if their mild or severe, if u have problems socializing, communicating and inappropriate responses to the environment i.e. how you live in this world due to something related to autism, i dont think anybody be bumped off the ASD. If the only symptom you have is social problems, thats it, idk maybe ud be classified only as social phobia(if that is true doesnt matter u would still understand what its like being autistic due to that alone even if that diagnosis or label changes), but if u have that and communication problems meaning nonverbal and verbal is what makes u have the diagnosis of ASD one way or another. Just my 2 cents. I think itll help and not help to tell u the truth because its also generalizing all individuals and that is hard considering how different each individual is and how their stims and behavior and their emotions and how they live is so differently from each other. Anyways so idk how it will all go, guess we gotta see if its better or not. My feelings are up in the air with it all. |
But if that's the case, I think it would be better to be MORE general, instead of how it is now with so many categories that it's easy to think are specific enough to define an individual... if it was less specific, maybe that wouldn't happen, and people would pay more attention to individuals.
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"Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler." - Albert Einstein |
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JohnnyD017
Raven
Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Age: 25
Posts: 118
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| Tim_Tex wrote: | I was asking because I have very mild AS, and I was wondering if the DSM-V's reshuffling of things would knock me down to NT status.
I don't want to lose the respect of everyone on here if that happens.  |
But that can be a good thing. Thatll mean you have a foot in both camps 
I didnt have the obsessive interests/rituals, etc. I was diagnosed cos of logical thinking, preferring predictability, social phobias and antisocial/odd behaviour in childhood. So looks like the DSM-V may knock me off the list too.  |
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Aimless
the cat says "meh"
Joined: Apr 02, 2009
Posts: 2068
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| JohnnyD017 wrote: | | Tim_Tex wrote: | I was asking because I have very mild AS, and I was wondering if the DSM-V's reshuffling of things would knock me down to NT status.
I don't want to lose the respect of everyone on here if that happens. |
But that can be a good thing. Thatll mean you have a foot in both camps
I didnt have the obsessive interests/rituals, etc. I was diagnosed cos of logical thinking, preferring predictability, social phobias and antisocial/odd behaviour in childhood. So looks like the DSM-V may knock me off the list too. |
You're not getting knocked off. You're just moving to Autism in general. That's what I understand anyway. |
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TPE2
Velociraptor
Joined: Oct 21, 2008
Posts: 475
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| Aimless wrote: |
You're not getting knocked off. You're just moving to Autism in general. That's what I understand anyway. |
In theory, yes; in practicel could be a bit different:
Imagine that you are in the border, in a point where is difficult to see if you have AS/ASD or if you is neurotypical.
If the question is to diagnose you with a label were most members are relatively mild and high-function, the therapist could think "Well, he is not exactly a pure case of AS, but he is almost there; then I will diagnose him with «mild AS»".
But, if the question is to diagnose you with a label that is also applyed to significan group of individuals with much impairments, the therapist could thinl "Well, he indeed have some autistic traits, but there is nothing compared with many patientes/kids with ASD that I have seen; then I will say that he is normal, althoug with some light, sub-clinical level, autistic traits" |
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JohnnyD017
Raven
Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Age: 25
Posts: 118
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| TPE2 wrote: | | Aimless wrote: |
You're not getting knocked off. You're just moving to Autism in general. That's what I understand anyway. |
In theory, yes; in practicel could be a bit different:
Imagine that you are in the border, in a point where is difficult to see if you have AS/ASD or if you is neurotypical.
If the question is to diagnose you with a label were most members are relatively mild and high-function, the therapist could think "Well, he is not exactly a pure case of AS, but he is almost there; then I will diagnose him with «mild AS»".
But, if the question is to diagnose you with a label that is also applyed to significan group of individuals with much impairments, the therapist could thinl "Well, he indeed have some autistic traits, but there is nothing compared with many patientes/kids with ASD that I have seen; then I will say that he is normal, althoug with some light, sub-clinical level, autistic traits" |
Yep thats pretty much how i feel about it. Also having a new DSM will make it more understandable for doctors that i be reassessed. Rather than just me saying "i was screwed up as a kid, now ive learned to cope with life so assess me again under the same criteria i failed back then" |
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Aimless
the cat says "meh"
Joined: Apr 02, 2009
Posts: 2068
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| TPE2 wrote: | | Aimless wrote: |
You're not getting knocked off. You're just moving to Autism in general. That's what I understand anyway. |
In theory, yes; in practicel could be a bit different:
Imagine that you are in the border, in a point where is difficult to see if you have AS/ASD or if you is neurotypical.
If the question is to diagnose you with a label were most members are relatively mild and high-function, the therapist could think "Well, he is not exactly a pure case of AS, but he is almost there; then I will diagnose him with «mild AS»".
But, if the question is to diagnose you with a label that is also applyed to significan group of individuals with much impairments, the therapist could thinl "Well, he indeed have some autistic traits, but there is nothing compared with many patientes/kids with ASD that I have seen; then I will say that he is normal, althoug with some light, sub-clinical level, autistic traits" |
I see what you mean. |
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MomofTom
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 06, 2006
Posts: 704
Location: Where normalcy and bad puns collide
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Another positive angle on the proposed changes to the DSM is that an ASD diagnosis is inclusive of biological co-morbidity: GI problems, allergies, etc. It's refreshing to know that the psych community will no longer treat autism as being "all in the head".
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Apathy is a dominant gene. Mutate. |
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Callista
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 04, 2006
Age: 26
Posts: 3854
Location: Central USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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Er, that's actually an old feature; it's always been inclusive of any physical conditions people have. The current DSM lists general medical conditions under Axis III; so, for example, you might be:
Axis I: 299 Autistic Disorder
Axis II: Mild Mental Retardation
Axis III: K52.2 Allergic and dietetic gastroenteritis and colitis
Axis IV: Bullied at school; recently divorced parents
Axis V: GAF 45
That's how the DSM is supposed to be used, except sometimes they just slap up an Axis I and II diagnosis and call it done. They should be considering a person's physical health, social environment, and general coping-with-life skills; but all too often, that stuff gets dumped in your file and never looked at again, when it's actually just as important as Axis I and II.
You can't treat a patient without taking physical stuff into account, either when you prescribe meds or when you teach people new skills--physical problems have to be taken into account (for example, if you're teaching somebody to cook, you better take into account that they shouldn't be allergic to the food!).
If you're talking about autistics having physical problems more often than people with other developmental disabilities, we don't. The problem isn't that they're comorbid more often, but that when they are present, we're more affected thanks to sensory integration problems. A sensitive autistic person, functioning at 98% capacity to do what an NT does at 30% capacity, will be affected a great deal more by, for example, a pollen allergy, because it'll push the demand on him past 100% of what he can give, when it might only push the NT to 40%.
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