Thanks...........

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Funny, it took 65 years to find the perfect fit for my symptons - Aspergers!
Of course, now they're scrubbing the word out of official exsistence, to no longer be a legitimate
syndrome. Great, where do I sign up to give thanks?

And they wonder where the anger comes from!

Rich W

There, there.

Yeah, I know. I only first heard about Asperger's about 8 years ago, and immediately thought that was me. I continued reading occasional articles about it, with each one reinforcing the feeling that this was me. I had a lot of other stuff going on in my life at the time, so I wasn't able to get around to doing more in depth research until a few years ago. I now know I have Asperger's, but it does get confusing when they can't seem to make up their minds on terminology. I know I don't have Classic Autism, I heard about that in the late 70s or early 80s, but never made any connection to myself on that one, because that isn't me. I also don't fit HFA. Based on my research they are all part of that Autism spectrum, though. If the psych docs want to lump them together, fine, but I will add a hyphen for myself:

Asperger's-Autism.

They can call it whatever they want, but so can I.

The primary concern I have regarding this decision is that it will likely have implications for those of us with the condition. Such negative effects can be a loss of assistance, funding (for those who need it), and disability status. Persons who are affected more by their condition will possibly not have access to medications, therapy, or help in finding and maintaining a job. They need to just leave it be or call it Asperger's Autism or something similar.

Shall we all sing soft kitty now?

But to be serious, I waited 36 years for it but I'm just trying to be grateful we're just getting smushed together and not eliminated. Call me what you will, all I know is that there are others out there and that in and of itself is something I never thought would ever be.

I'm happy on principle to see any change towards considering all people as on a spectrum that autism is just one end of.

That's what we're here for.

Rebel Nowe-I'm happy on principle to see any change towards considering all people as on a spectrum that autism is just one end of.

What's the other end of this spectrum with autism at one end?

The coming change won't take away most people's diagnosis - people with Asperger's now, will be classified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder, and rated on a severity scale.

"The work group is proposing that this disorder [Asperger's] be subsumed into an existing disorder: Autistic Disorder (Autism Spectrum Disorder)." source: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/P ... spx?rid=97