Which is the best way to diagnose Aspergers?
There are so many ways to diagnose Aspegers that in one criteria I was almost considerd an Aspie. Read the criteria for each on the second page of this:http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/44608/10803_2005_Article_BF01046332.pdf?sequence=1 As for suggested DSMIV A and B, I made these suggestions below:
Suggested DSM IV A)
(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity
(II) Qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
A) marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
B) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
C) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
(III) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
(IV) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
(V) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)
(VI) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development and adaptive behavior (other than in socio-communication interaction).
This is Suggested DSMIV B below)
(A) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people, (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the description, it gives the following as examples: not actively participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary activities, or involving others in activities only as tools or "mechanical" aids )
(B) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. history of delay in the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
2. marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
3. stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
4. lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
(C) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
D) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
E) There is good current functioning in language, cognitive and adpative functioning
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RAADS-14 score is 23.
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While not as wide as the "ASD" spectrum Aspergers is also a pretty wide spectrum. So some sort of combination of the above would be best. I like Gillberg because he recognizes motor coordination issues and allows early speech/language delays which is may not to be relevant to middle age adults and his criteria is closest to Hans Aspergers cases. The stringency of Gillberg's criteria while closest to me, if it were the standard would not recognize most of the "highest functioning"/"mildest" Aspies. As much as I like dislike the DSM 5 it's advantage over everybody else is recognizing sensory sensitivities.
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DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
So you mean there is a spectrum connected to a bigger spectrum? Well, I developed nuerotypically (spoke at age 1) until age 2 1/2 and at that age, I had a rare and very unusual developmental regression very much like what happened to Owen Suskind. I was diagnosed Aspergers at age 6, a year after I got back my speech. So that dramatic regression I had is considered a speech delay. Isn't it?
I almost fit Christopher Gillberg's criteria for Aspergers and for Suggested DSM IV B criteria for a suggested way of changing Aspergers?
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RAADS-14 score is 23.
ASPartOfMe
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Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,190
Location: Long Island, New York
Yep. Most "Aspies" are not geniuses. Aspergers was diagnosable with a IQ > 70 not 120 or above. Some "Aspies" are extroverted. Some are "mild" enough to "pass" as neurotypical (not without great cost) and some can not come close to passing (despite in some cases thinking they can). My "official" diagnostic report says moderate-severe Aspergers. Now that Aspergers is not "official" anymore socially awkward genius stereotypes is the "colloquial" and common definition excluding me and many if not most aspies. We still meet the the criteria, we are Aspies, we are Autistics
(or have Autism if you prefer). And we are not all despite what is stated over and over again and rarely challenged around here ASD Level 1.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
It also tends to be the fact the geniuses and Aspies get mixed. But the prime difference is that while aspies usually have uneven skills, genius in one area and behind in another, gifted people (without autism or aspergers) are gifted in every area which is why they skip grades.
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RAADS-14 score is 23.
But ICD 10 specifies more usual detail about Aspergers because they say they usually have absorbed retrsicted interets and clumsiness, which makes it different from DSMIV. DSMIV, ICD10, and Hans Asperger, himself, cited that Aspergers syndrome has no speech delay at all or cogntitive development. I would not fit DSMIV/ICD10's and Hans Asperger's critieria for Aspergers because of my sudden regression at age 2 1/2. But I would just about fit Lora Wing's and Christopher Gillberg's criteria for Aspergers, because they allow speech delay and my Owen Suskind-type of early development and autistic regression at age 2 1/2 does qualify as a speech delay.
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RAADS-14 score is 23.