Categories of Autism

Post Reply New Topic

Now I'm sure this an issue that has been raised before as it does related to identity and what people like to be referred to as I.E. A person with autism or an autistic person etc...

Regardless of the DSM V dropping Asperger's and other related syndrome's from the spectrum what are people opinions on autism categories? With the knowledge that there are very few perfectly specific boxes to fit people in what categories or terminology do people like? not just for themselves but in general.

Obviously we have labels like Autism, Infantile Autism, Asperger's, Low Functioning Autism, High Functioning Autism, Kanner's Autism and others tags but what are peoples opinions on them, what do you like or not like?

Its all rather confusing as I believe someone can be 'high functioning' but have severe autism and vice versa but sometime severe autism tends to mean 'low functioning'

Throw some ideas out there people.
Thank you

But those labels don't exist anymore because they realized that everyone with autism is different and don't need labels. So it's now called Autism Spectrum Disorder. Or Autism Spectrum.

I think one of the problems is that different groups want the labels to indicate levels of completely different categories. For example:

• Doctors want the labels to indicate something that they can test for and objectively quantify (medical history, IQ test scores);
• The general population unfamiliar with autism want the labels to indicate something that they can easily see and subjectively qualify ("You do not look low-functioning");
• Autistics, and people who take care of them, want the labels to indicate how, and how much, they struggle and how much support they need ("I cannot work and I need help with daily living").

These are just examples; I understand that there are probably more categories and some people may not fit these generalizations.

_________________
31st of July, 2013
Diagnosed: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auditory-Verbal Processing Speed Disorder, and Visual-Motor Processing Speed Disorder.

Weak Emerging Social Communicator (The Social Thinking-­Social Communication Profile by Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke and Stephanie Madrigal)

"I am silently correcting your grammar."

The Asperger and Autism labels helped me get rid of misconceptions about myself, further explain myself to myself, and informed me that there are others out there with similar core traits.

As mentioned earlier labels are used in different ways by different people, some people use Autism labels to convince themselves or others what can not be done, others used them to insult and bully people.

Thanks for the opinions guys.

Yes I find label's have been useful but fully understand that the label's tend to present a set of criteria that just won't be applicable to everybody.

I get the line that 'everybody with autism is different' for me that goes without saying. I prefer to tow the line that every human is different. With that in mind the label's autism or Asperger's do tell us something about any person in question.

Yup, the label thing doesn't exactly make me feel great. It is not so much a label but having an answer to many of the difficulties faced throughout life. However for those not on the spectrum, trying to explain social awkwardness, taking things literally, resting biatch face etc can be a little confusing, so saying i am aspie helps a little rather than having to go into a deep detailed explanation that they are not going to understand anyway. The biggest problem due to incorrect myths that are somewhat set in stone amongst the general populous is using the analogy that from an aspie point of view ( my view anyway ) that being aspergian is like a Van Gough where the NT's view it as a Pollock. It can be hard to paint the picture to someone that doesn't experience that way of life and takes up alot of energy, but even today i had a conversation with someone about the spectrum and after 10 mins he mentioned that i gave him a totally different picture than what he previously thought based on what others have said that are not on the spectrum... Sometimes the road up hill is a long one and if it means educating one person at a time and they listen, then it is worth the effort. I do not have a disorder, i just think and view things differently. Any disorders i do have are reflective of past interpersonal associations and peoples rather messed up mentalities. Being aspie as it stands i am somewhat grateful for being, but sometimes the human issues i face daily can really put a spanner in the works!