Asperger's to ASD?

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Hola folks, been a solid few years since I've been on here.

About 16 years-ish ago now I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. For non-medical reasons (mostly related to grants) I needed a current diagnosis, so I got re-tested. I just recently found out this was changed to 'Autism Spectrum Disorder'

I heard something about with the new DSM 5-6 years ago Asperger's officially went away, but practically I guess this doesn't mean anything differently for me? Not sure.

I consider myself pretty high functioning and haven't been medicated or following up much on it for years now, so I can't say I'm well versed on the nuances as to any differences.


thanks!

The reasons for the change have been discussed at length in various threads here. See also the following article from Spectrum News: Why fold Asperger syndrome into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5? by Francesca Happé, 29 March 2011.

Welcome back to Wrong Planet.

Welcome back

Even though it is coming up on 7 years since the "Aspergers Disorder" diagnosis was subsumed into the "Autism Spectrum Disorder" diagnosis "Aspergers" and "Aspie" are still widely used by people on the spectrum and elsewhere. Under the current manual there a 3 levels of severity. The diagnosis of "Autism Spectrum disorder Level 1 without intellectual and language impairments" is considered the equivalent of the old Aspergers diagnosis.

An autism diagnosis in some cases might make it less difficult to receive benefits and supports due to stigmas and stereotypes.

The first chapter of "Aspergers - An Intentional Life" describes a little of the history starting with "Minimal Brain Dysfunction" to explain why some children had difficulty in the industrial processing that education had become after WWII.

http://christianpioneer.com/blogarchiev ... e_2017.pdf

It was never questioned that its was the children who were defective rather than the approach to education that assumed that the uniform assembly line processing of children was the best way to educate.

One reason for considering Aspergers as part of Autism is that there is no physiological "defect" that can be observed with Aspergers. Classical autism was discernible with autopsies that showed significant brain malformation or damage that explained behavior. In a way, sweeping Aspergers into the Autism category is like relabeling it as "miscellaneous". It allows keeping the assumption of defective children.

The medical industrial complex has a vested and financial interest in the labeling and treatment of such "defective" children and adults. In addition to continuing the myth that traditional schooling is optimal, associating Aspergers with Autism expands the number of people for whom services can be provided and charged.

If one were to consider that normal (non-pathological) neuro-physiology has a wide variability such that a more sensitive, faster, or diverse sensing and processing could present in some, one should expect a wide variety of response to uniform stimuli. (people will be different)

If one looks for "treatment" or advice from those who are financed by a system that controls the definitions, one might be disappointed. More useful information would be available here from those who through life experiences have accumulated management techniques and coping strategies.