A Vanishing Diagnosis for Aspergers Syndrome - NYTimes.co

Post Reply New Topic

Clinicians can call me what they like, provided that they recognize me, my circumstances and provide me with the resources to understand myself.

That being said, I am taking possession of the label. Whether Asperger's Syndrome continues to be a diagnostic label or not, I will likely continue to refer to myself as an Aspie, because that is what connects me to my peers in this community.

It would most likely go in one ear and out the other.....

Applying some "empathy" to the proposed changes might reveal a hidden agenda. The Asperger's dx has let the cat out of the bag*. They have unleashed a wave of self-diagnosis (apparently mostly valid) and have therefore lost control. Surely it is a source of embarrassment. The inmates have taken over the asylum. I think they want to take control back.


* Hey look a metaphor!! ! I cant have AS **
** Sarcasm too. Definately no AS here.

Holy sh*t Batman I like your style!! !

I was struck by this quote:

Is there any truth to Aspies feeling superior to autistics? Probably more than we would like to admit. Or maybe not superiority, as much as a desire to differentiate ourselves. The reality is that the word "autism" carries more stigma than "Asperger's."

I first heard the word "autistic" maybe 20 years ago. A classmate asked me if I was, and I took offense, as if he'd called me a ret*d.

It was many more years before I first heard the word "Asperger's," and longer still before I worked up the courage to learn what it was and consider that it could apply to me. It was then that I learned it was all one continuum. Suddenly I saw autism in a new light and I felt a kinship with those with more severe symptoms.

I'm glad to have learned about the continuum, and if society at large could do the same, it would certainly be a good thing. If the word Asperger's goes away, that might move us in that direction. On the other hand, my willingness to open my mind started from the fact that there was a word distinct from autism. So I'm not sure which side of the debate I come down on, but it's a fascinating question.

I find that I can have days when i function at a high level and days when i barely function at all. I think that HFA is probably an OK designation for what ails us as long as they bear in mind that people move around on the spectrum. I dont make a point about advertising my diagnosis so it doesnt really matter to me in that regard.

I guess its not really about any label, but recognition of difference and support as needed and that can vary greatly for each individual, so maybe we should all be assessed for strengths and weaknesses to include intellectual learning, mental, sensory and neurological differences etc... because on or off the spectrum there are many co-morbids and differences, Aspergers one part of my neurological complexities, I could have many labels, but feel I will never quite fit into any box as such, simply markers for the professionals to do the assessments!

They're not taking it out, though.. they're just re-naming it. They're doing exactly what we do here-- making it part of a spectrum, rather than a stand-alone diagnosis. They're making HFA the same as AS, but besides a select few people who make the distinction, there is no distinction. There may be some subtle differences, but not enough to actually be separate diagnostically.. they're mostly used interchangeably, or based on which diagnosis would get the services that somebody needs. So if an insurance company will pay for a particular treatment for HFA but not for AS, or the other way around, the shrink would diagnose the one that would get the person the treatment.
Like with osteopenia vs. "developing osteoporosis." Osteopenia is developing osteoporosis. But a lot of insurance companies won't pay to treat osteopenia, but will pay to treat "developing osteoporosis," so a doctor will call it "developing osteoporosis" because that's what it is, even though osteopenia would the actual correct term.

One problem I can see is the halo, as Wired said, Geek Syndrome, The Engineer Disease, which explains a lot of people working in technology.

It explained a lot for me, and I think the group that is like me is larger than the entire Social Services group.

Being in tech, talking to psych is like talking to marketing. Anyone who reads Dilbert can see the problem.

All we want is open access to the Source Code. We do not reach Clinical Impairment standards, are rejected as some "Superior Asperger's Identity", and number in the millions.

I have seen Autism Speaks say that Asperger's is not real Autism. Psychology seems to work only the Government paid Disability cases, Self Advocacy Groups, all five members, want nothing to do with us.

Asperger's does lead to social rejection.

Also the maturity thing, as children they all want a part of us, but by mid twenties they all deny we exist.

They are all claiming one thing, they own, define, and get all of the money for Autism.

None of these groups want to even acknowledge the Autism clusters around Technology, Universities, and Business. The educated and employed undercut their case for funding. They want to define Autism as those poor helpless people they help.

I see it as a Neurology discovery that does explain the talents, focus, drive, that has always propelled knowledge, the economy, and as Asperger said, "A touch of Autism is needed in Science and the Arts,"

If a line is drawn only for those qualifying for funded services, most of Asperger's will be left out.

Rejected, left out, sound familier?

What I have learned on Wrong Planet should continue being spread.

A lot of people have said the communication here is a first for them, speaking with others who think the same. It seems to be pure Neurology, a type, and Wrong Planet is growing rapidly.

Wrong Planet fills a need none of the other groups want to even acknowledge exists. They activily exclude us from their groups.

On the other side many come here and say, I have a very mild case, I have some traits, but they do not identify with Autism. They still come seeking knowledge and help, and they find it.

It is not just me, is liberating.

Parents come, knowing little, but going through all the medical, psych, Autism Speaks, Quack sites, and coming to Wrong Planet they meet what their children will grow to be, and like it. A civil and intelligent group that will not only help, but will support.

There is a large social value here that is outside of all the other groups.

We are Dilbert's Garbageman.

If anything, keep Asperger's and throw out PPD-NOS, which seems redundant to AS. Taking out Asperger's is just downright stupid, though.

I for one am outraged. I am NOT autistic. I have Asperger's.

As long as it doesn't let them pull something like saying were NT or something,now that would be in insult.

As long as it doesn't let them pull something like saying were NT or something,now that would be in insult.

I don't have a problem with classifying it as autism per se. However, what needs to be done is to raise awareness that autism is a spectrum disorder. Like they said in the article, people say "I can talk, I have friends.. I'm not autistic." I've mentioned to a couple of people briefly about how I think I have a form of high-functioning autism and they gave me very weird looks and brushed it off like no way. Because autism = LFA.

Most of my life I thought autism = LFA. I had read some books with autistic characters and had identified with those characters although I am clearly more aware of the real world. I often told my family when I was growing up "If there was such a thing as 'a little bit autistic' I think I'm it" because I did not know such a thing existed even though I always felt autistic. (Meaning I always felt like I was out of touch with reality and in my own little world that was different from other people's. More interested in the things in my head than real life. Identifing with inanimate objects rather than people. Which is the discription of autism I had read as a child.) No one took me seriously as a child because no one around me knew there was such a thing as an autistic spectrum!

Personally, I like the terminology of Asperger's Syndrome as oppose to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Not a single one of those fails to be insulting.
I do not lack order and I have no malfunction.
I am not impaired; I'm odd.

Wow, it's a small world here. We were both 24, you were diagnosed in 1997 as I was and you were probably 12 also when diagnosed.

The Case of the Disappearing Aspie topic

Asperger's Syndrome is disappearing.

I am diagnosed AS.

I am worried.