Psych said I'm more classic autistic.

Post Reply New Topic

My psychiatrist said I "fit" more into the moderate classic autistic category than Asperger's. Explain what exactly she means by that? I can't seem to find specific criteria for "moderate" beyond the DSM 5 or ICD-10.

Classic autism does present differently from Asperger's in mostly subtle ways, and is the prime reason why many people still don't think AS = Autism.

Classic autism is generally more encompassing and typically involves far lesser social interest than Asperger's. One difference is that Kanner's is associated with being non-verbal while AS is not, and that's most likely the main reason your psychiatrist saw a better fit with the label presented (you prefer non-verbal).

I'm not too sure if the sensory differences in classic autism are more severe than AS, but I would assume that isn't the case by default. Classic autism also frequently presents with learning disabilities.

I think the change to an autism spectrum was a good thing. Used to be Kanner's autism on the one side, Asperger's on the other, with PDD-NOS (the grab bag) in the middle. Borderlines were mushy and somewhat subjective based on the doctor's observations.

Reality is that autistic people are quite different one to another, so for me the autism spectrum approach is a much better way to look at things.

If you want to know what she means, then really you should ask her. Either at an appointment or by email if that's easier. Anyone else would just be guessing what she might have meant.

Agreed.

I have barely any social interest tbh. Internet forums are mostly sufficient, although I do text people if I need help.

I haven't been diagnosed with a learning disability although I do have dyspraxia and I need daily support with day to day things. For example I struggle to leave the house alone and cooking / managing letters / using the telephone to call people like banks, GP / going to uni I need assistance with. I have support workers that help me with these things.

I'll ask my psychiatrist next time I see her.

That's the kind of things I have trouble with! Callng my bank, calling my insurance company, getting a letter in the mail, etc.

If I was rich, I would just hire people to help me with things like this.

One of my dreams is that we as people on the Spectrum will eventually have our own networking organizations and associations, which we run, and we'll recruit volunteers to help with these things. And since some volunteers might be helping with people's finances, we will need to vett them.

Last edited by AardvarkGoodSwimmer on 07 Jul 2014, 7:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

learning disability in the UK means intelectual disability,specific difficulties like all the *ias are called learning difficulties here.
the majority of us who have classic autism do have learning disability but it can also include the highest possible IQ.

ask her if she means are classic autistic OR if it just presents like classic autism,as they mean different things,a lot of aspies present with mutism and asociality for example.has she gone through developmental history with parents before?

^ I'll ask her although she wasn't the one who initially diagnosed me.