WP Diagnosis Drop-Down Options

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I was just updating my profile and recalled the "diagnosis status" drop-down menu that offers options for various diagnostic states. It reads; "Aspergers - Diagnosed"; "Aspergers - Undiagnosed"; "Other Autism Spectrum Disorder"; etc. I've been here a while and never really gave it much thought before, but this time around I realised that it kind of bothered me a little that Asperger's should be the default diagnosis, and that everyone who doesn't have AS (translated nowadays to "high functioning autism") has to settle for identifying as "other".

It's a small thing, but personally I'd like to have the option of identifying what kind of autism I have (be it classic or AS/high functioning), and whether or not it's diagnosed. What do you think? Does it matter to you? I think I'm just going through a minor identity crisis because I identified as Asperger's for so long, but am now realising that the term is too mild to fit me appropriately.

I'm bothered by it too. The common diagnosis on WP is autism, so you'd have thought autism would be listed in the diagnosis drop-down menu. It doesn't seem fair to have to select "other autism spectrum disorder" if you're autistic. It doesn't make sense to me.

The options should be updated to reflect the current diagnostic terminology. which include ASD levels. Aspergers should remain as that term is still widely used.

Undiagnosed should be split into self diagnosed and suspect ASD.

I do not know why it matters since the information is not displayed anyway and one could put diagnostic status in one’s signiture.

@ASPartofMe: Alex might well be collecting these stats on the members of the forum. He has access to this info presumably.

I don't know whether functioning labels should be available in the drop-down menu. My take on the best options are:
*Autism -- diagnosed
*Autism -- suspected
*Aspergers -- diagnosed
*Aspergers -- suspected
*Non verbal learning disorder
*Other learning difficulty
*NT

I wish I could vote for both options: Having options for "Autism Diagnosed / Undiagnosed", as well as the levels.
I was just thinking about this the other day and wondering if anyone else found it strange to call themselves "Other" on an autism forum.

Signed,
Other

I'm too literal so 'Other' was the only option for me ( Not too strange ). I was even questioned about my choice saying I should pick Aspergers ( did't feel right as my Dx is ASD )

Signed An Other

Technically, no one diagnosed in the past five years has Aspergers (or a level, but that's another topic).

The main issue I would have is with suspected and diagnosed. There are a group of members although they do not have a diagnosis from an accredited professional “know” they are autistic or aspie, these people are self diagnosed. What about the people who were diagnosed with Aspergers under the old manual but do not prefer Aspergers anymore for any reason? Under the DSM their diagnoses was supposed have been automatically upgraded to ASD. What about those that have been diagnosed with “high functioning autism”? While that diagnostic label is not in any manual it has become a common enough replacement for Aspergers that it is more than “other”. How about a NT family/friend/partner of someone on the spectrum or suspected to be? Do they belong in a different catagory from those NT’s that are interested in Autism for academic and curioisity reasons?

All the complications and controversies are why it is best if it is not going to be displayed to drop the question and let people use their signature for that purpose if they so choose.


That is not true if they were diagnosed under the ICD manuals. The upcoming ICD manual drops Aspergers.

It is coming: ICD-11 released

Other: I like them the way they are, because I prefer the old terminology, and hope they will be reinstated in a later DSM, and because I think it's safe to say Asperger's is by far the most common diagnosis here, and the only one people will be likely to be self diagnosed with, possibly along with good old PDD-NOS as well.

That said, I wouldn't mind if more were added, but it's not an issue for me at all.

Updated to autism
But I don't really want the levels just because they don't fit