Newer and Revised DSM-V Criteria w/ Severity Labels

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I like the revision, I feel it speaks more about autism than the DSM-IV did, and it looks all around less " stereotyped" . I too am getting tired of this word, it feels insulting.Also, i can see how they would think that our special interests get in the way of us getting interested in other things, but i'm not totally sure this is how it works, although i don't really know how to express HOW i think it works exactly.
If you know what i mean and are better able than myself to put it clearly, be my guest!

How did it change. Well here is the rundown. The most important changes were as such. One line used to require Deficits in Verbal and Nonverbal communication. Verbal communication was cut out. I think this is critical, as it brings in NVLD which has been in sort of a limbo state in the DSM. Secondly sensory aspects were brought in, again this brings in NVLD into the spectrum, but also many women.

Another point that was eliminated is the one that required lacking of social and emotional reciprocity. As many have pointed out "Lacking" was extremely flawed and would take many people out of the diagnostic criteria. It is now called as Deficits and has included a wider range of example behavior. I think this helps girls and women on the spectrum, as it broadens the possible behaviors. In addition Deficits is a much broader terminology that can include a range of behaviors rather than "Lack of" which as many pointed out was overly restrictive and can actually be exclusionary of many aspies and those with PDD-NOS.

Changing the terminology to deficits encompasses both those who are PDD-NOS and AS, but also many who have NVLD, but may have not fallen under AS.

I will say I like this definition. I think it is as close as appropriate as they are going to get.

I read the tables as well. I think that still needs work for a level 0, for people who may need intervention and therapy, but that intervention is limited and perioditic in nature. Basically "Requires Limited Support".

I still think this is helpful for adults because while "child focused" it is much more flexible to adult realities. In that things that were "lack of" are now listed as broad deficits.

The new criteria read more like they passed through a human brain before being written down. I approve.

I meet most the Criteria but never met all of it, but did nore so as a child.
I never met the no imaginitive play one as I am very creative and had a tendancy to get lost in my imaginations as a kid and could not get out of them.

I was diagnosed at 8 with severe PDD with autistic traits because I did not meet the no imaginitive play thing.

I'm unsure about whether or not I think the DSM V is an improvement from the DSM IV. It's good that they mention different functioning abilities, but I still disagree with the DSM's tendency to have a certain minimum number of symptoms in each category to be considered for a diagnosis. Instead of checking off quantity of symptoms off the list, they should go by quality of functioning in each symptom that is present.

Also, before reading this I never realized that obsessive smelling or touching of objects counts as hypo or hyperactive sensory sensitivity (I'm unsure which one this would be). I like to smell different bath products and scented candles. And whenever I'm shopping I like to touch many of the things that I see without always wanting to buy them. I especially like the feel of things that are soft or rubbery. In addition to that I've lately come to the realization that my sense of smell is more sensitive than others around me. It's interesting because I never considered myself to have sensory issues due to the fact that many of the other people I know with sensory issues mainly have issues with loud sounds.

Anyway, I was looking at other things while at it. I disagree about the new DSM proposing to get rid of Rett's disorder. And, I don't disagree with them not including a language learning delay as a part of the diagnosis of autism due to the fact that it's its own separate category called Late Language Emergence. In the description they state that it could be a risk for any number of disorders including autism, ADHD, along with quite a few others.

I found this proposed ASD continuum in DSM-V interesting:

Symptom severity for ASD could be defined along a continuum that includes normal traits, subclinical symptoms and three different severity levels for the disorder. One possible model:

Most severe ASD
-Minimal or no social communication
-Nearly constant, complete preoccupation, strongly resists interference with ritual

Moderately severe ASD
-Some social communication but interactions noticeably disturbed
-Frequent and interfering rituals, repetitive behaviors and fixated interests

Less severe ASD
-Clear impairments in social communication.
-Meets all diagnostic criteria including symptom severity greater than threshold
-Occasional rituals, repetitive behaviors and fixated interests; some interference

Subclinical AS Symptoms
-Has some symptoms from one or both domains but no significant interference or impairment.
-Odd mannerisms, some excessive preoccupations but distractible, may have ritualized behaviors but they don't interfere with daily activities

Normal Variation
-Socially isolated or "awkward"
-Some ritualized behaviors and preoccupations but these are normal for developmental stage and cause no interference

http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Research/ ... eport.aspx

I can still see myself in the revised criteria.

No matter how you slice it, it comes up peanuts!

OK, EVEN looking at all the examples...

revision

A:1-3
B: 1 and 4, though I could make a case for the others to a degree
C YEP! The school brought it up at 6, and I do remember the lights, TV, alarms, etc....
D: YEP

Severity
Level 1. I always said it was mild

By comparison with IV:

1. ALL
2 couuld be b and d
3 could be a and b
B 1
C. NOPE, no other.

Okay:

A: 1, 2, 3
B: 1, 2, 3, 4
C: Yes
D: Yes

Severity: Mostly 1, probably, but deceptively so.

Seemed easier than the previous criteria.