New DSM and autism

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I don't have a problem with the point you were making. Just ran across this information the other day, and thought it might be of use to those who may have concerns of losing their diagnosis when the new DSM comes out. While you weren't intending any harm with the statement I thought it might be useful to add that point for someone that might take it literally.

Ok I'm high functioning and have been to school. I'm also married and have kids. I'm also unable to function without my mother, social worker, or social skills teacher to check on me weekly to REMIND me to take SHOWERS and wear Deodorant. I can't manage money. I am afraid of new places and can only go to certain places and can't be out for more than 2 hrs in a crowded place w/out SEVERE sensory overload. I have Autism and ZERO friends. I also have NO job, and need to "be taken care of" by my husband b/c I can not live alone OH and his English was not good when we were dating.

People that know Autism can instantly tell I have Autism...apparently there is a certain look? Anyways I make all kinds of horrible horrible mistakes socially. Does that mean I should get NO support? I need those social skills classes, I need someone to teach me social cues. Just b/c I can do a lot of stuff doesn't mean I don't deserve some help! I'm also the mother of a child with Autism and another which I suspect is an Aspie. I'm totally overloaded and guess what happens when I have a meltdown? I end up sitting in a corner hitting myself, screaming, and banging my head on a wall. But hey I'm high functioning so I don't need help? If you walked in on that exactly what would you think? I need my medication and I'm going to take ALL the help I can get. I never asked, wanted, or needed to be different. I knew when I was offered the chance to get diagnosed I should take it b/c the life I have is very stressful and I need to have people know I can't handle everything a NT mother could b/c I have processing issues with information and emotions...and I need some slack.

The difference between high functioning and very high functioning is substantial. These folks attending college and doing quite well and that are insulted about the image of autism need to take a seat and listen to professor (poster above), Professor Nathan Young (me) and some common sense parents. Also they need to be seen as special interest about the abortion issue because once you bring in the selective abortion issue with equality and autism image issues (positivity) it's biased to hell. There is advocacy organizations that are prominent leaders that are headed toward a political brick wall using socio-political peer pressure like the abortion issue and I am quite upset with them and worried about their behaviors affecting my life somehow.

I'm a bit confused... In the DSM criteria for autism it says they have to have had a delay in speech; in the DSM for Asperger's it says they have no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years) does this mean that people who met the criteria for Asperger's before won't be diagnosed with anything now or are they going to change it so that asperger's fits?

Very high functioning people will likely be dropped. Autism is a disability that causes major life problems. If you are very mild and want to tell the world what a gift it is that reduces our assistance then the ability to fit in is reducing (fan club). They are right Asperger's is not a disease it's simply a nerdy difference like others brag about. Those diagnosed with A.S before whom do well and are a bit socially off will simply fit a new category being created about social problems I heard of. Until a blood test of sort is developed for reasons of receiving services I think those with substantial life impairment will be given the ASD diagnoses and if you are not in need of help your autism symptoms no longer qualify.

I want behavioral research conducted with concern to integration therapy, sensory exposure conditioning and these kinds of services mandated. I would like executive dysfunction researched and mal-adaptive behavior researched as well. If you want it to just be a personality of an aspie which is quite like allot of people with strict interests (OCD) or general dedication no one is trying to take that away. But please leave me and others alone that need help and want improvements with your harassing malicious politics and mainstream abortion politics.

Thank You!

The DSM-V criteria no longer specifies speech delays. Instead it specifies marked deficits in nonverbal and verbal communication.

http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/P ... spx?rid=94

There are supposed to be more to the criteria, with dimensional features based on severity. Unfortunately, the severity part hasn't been revealed yet.

Nathan, I don't think you can judge that someone is "very high functioning" because they have jobs or go to college. I know of people who would be described as low-functioning who have done either or both. Meanwhile, I'd be described as high-functioning, but I have only succeeded in dropping out of college three times just from being overwhelmed. If I were to go back, I could probably get somewhere with accommodations now that I know what is going on, but that wouldn't change the fact I have issues in just about every area in my life. I also don't think everyone who holds the views you dislike would be described as high (or "very high") functioning, and it's too easy to collapse these political perspectives into black and white opposition.

No one wants to reduce available services. Most self-advocates I know of who are also against earlier and earlier identification (which would lead to a majority of autistic children being aborted - and there are politics here that mean that this still wouldn't strictly be a matter of choice) want to increase services. This is the point I've made before, about not spending so much on earlier identification and chasing a vaporware cure, and putting that money into treatments and services for autistic people, especially adults.

For reasons of service funding allocation if someone can hold a job and function well in life they do not need services period. We all know the inability to speak can cause perceived cognitive impairment when none is present. This is a severity of a certain symptom manifest and for this if one chooses of course services can be provided. The danger in these politics is the unreasonable anger and malicious behavior toward so called N.T's politically and these are the folks that people want funding from and to continue funding services. Somehow the malicious autism politicians have to be put in their place and I am fully able to do this especially when they combined the selective abortion issue and call others Nazi's or imply something in that sort way like genocide and then demand services while comparing others to the KKK. These folks advocating out of the spirit of anger and social separatism from other humans I think others in a responsible community of individuals with autism should speak against.

People without autism just are not that bad and unlike many other communities the autism community has shown some really poor judgement whilst at times politically pressuring the mainstream in horrible and offensive ways. It of course does not represent the whole community or all members thereof. I'm advocating for political maturity, responsibility and accountability. Where I live I've garnished the attention of thousands and without such in-crazed anger and guilt trips.

For reasons of priority I believe individuals with autism who are VERY high functioning and are functionable who do not need services should not receive services to protect those in need who may otherwise become institutionalized without services or may die due to a lack of services. I've been hospitalized before and should have been other times because I did not receive services so I want to protect those that are high functioning in perception like me as well. Individuals like Ari and within (ASAN) who control the organization seem to fair off very well and I do not trust them due to their tactics. They use the selective abortion issue to politically advance themselves and I do not believe is in the best interest of individuals. Should it be needed I will launch a massive saturating radio campaign at the next local Ohio protest outlining the groups anti-abortion agenda preventing unrelated research into understanding autism with grossly irrational rhetoric like saying I'm not a puzzle as if anyone ever thought I was a puzzle.

Folks this is getting serious and no one is going to guilt the public into handing over unknown millions to higher functioning individuals because they use insult politics. I have no loyalty to no one but my country and like Mr. MLK said judge by the character and not the skin color but in this context the neurological configuration. If folks want a political battle and don't want to sit down and reason I'll bring one to them and one they cannot win.

Nathan, since you admit to not reading the new criteria, here it is for you and the person concerned about what would happen to a person with a current asperger diagnosis; it clearly indicates that those with a current diagnosis would be absorbed into the new classification. This is from the DSM V website regarding aspergers syndrome and the proposed changes.

If you have any factual basis for making the statement that high functioning people will likely be dropped you may present it but the facts below suggest otherwise.

If it is just your opinion please state it as such.

No I read it today and talked to a autism specialist as well. Again just being political like others do but I'm not calling anyone a nazi. I don't really like labels but enjoy analysis and strategy. The autism politicians want people with autism to feel persecuted and they use this anger to make themselves more popular and to serve their own agenda. End of game is what I am saying.

Okay, but it is not fair say that people that are highly functioning will likely be dropped because you present no evidence to back this up, whereas I have presented evidence from the DSM V that indicates they will not be dropped. There are people with a current diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome that are considered highly functioning that struggle with social and communication issues. They continue to work and the diagnosis provides them protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I understand you have issues with some people diagnosed with Aspergers, but there is nothing you are going to say that is going to take their diagnosis away from them if they have one.

Earlier in the post you stated that you were just being a provacateur in saying that some would be "booted". Now you seem to be standing by the statement. There are many people on this website that are highly functioning with a diagnosis; they may share your views and support many of the goals that you have. It is really not fair to them for you to say that highly functioning people will be dropped unless you really have some kind of concrete evidence that you can present in this forum to back it up. Saying you talked to an Autism Specialist doesn't back anything up. I'm speaking for the highly functioning asperger people I personally know, including my sister, who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.

Last edited by aghogday on 19 Jan 2011, 9:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Obviously my initial post was not based on fact and was to incite reaction. Had you been treated very poorly over the past years, banned from groups for not being insulted, had your family politically attacked for advancing others opportunity (by aspies) and called as many names as I have been then you might see why I posted something like that. Fact is social impairment is not in of itself life threatening. During the recession I do not support services for individuals with simply social impairment over that of critical services. While a diagnoses may be a diagnoses I believe advocacy should be separated between sub-groups clinically and government social services should be allocated to those most in need first and not because of the insult, persecutory and abortion guilt trips. I also believe some take the label to seriously and in their politics effect the real lives of those most in need because of malicious political behavior.

If a label is so very important to someone for reasons other then to receive services I do not get why. People have had imagination claiming me and others are a species, a lost tribe and akin the the Jewish in WWII. I think some folks just need to chill out and find more important things in life then a diagnostic label.

Nathan Young

And to clarify a label of very high functioning does not exist; only a label of high functioning autism exists. In general the label high functioning autism means having an IQ of 75 or above, but it is not clearly defined and is not considered a diagnosis; only a label. The actual DSM IV diagnosis for someone labeled as having high functioning autism would be autism. There is only one label or diagnosis for Aspergers and that is Aspergers. Their level of functioning in life as far as working and taking care of their needs is irrelevant to the diagnosis as long as they meet the diagnostic criteria. And according to the criteria set by the proposed DSM V, all of these people that have a current diagnosis will be aborbed into the new Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The DSM is simply created by a bunch of folks obsessed with pathology and stereotypical thinking as what was seen in the past DSM criterion for A.S in part. It's government that sets the standards for those in need of services and not psychobabblists dictating it to tax-payers. Are we understanding each other now in context to the multiple concerns implied? DSM has nothing to do with mandated services nor obligations of the tax-payers in whole but only in part.

I only meant to cause a momentary identity crises for some to think about behaviors they have seen online of some of the autism politicians. It's just as bad as the vaccine people in rhetoric and assumptions just a different beast. No harm done by inciting your and others attention for improved ethics, rationality and humane behavior toward everyone including those without autism.

Yes, but when you stated it again, it was no longer obvious that you were just inciting reaction. It was in response to another question and could be interpreted as somewhat misleading and possibly harmful to those that may worry about losing their diagnosis when the DSM V goes into effect.

From the response about your initial post, my understanding is that you were basing the statement that very highly functioning people will likely be dropped as an opinion also, not based on fact.

I can't imagine how emotionally charged this issue is for you considering your past. I can understand why you may be upset at some peoples actions but the fact that some of these people may be able to function in life, is of little to no consequence to their diagnosis. You said you can't imagine why people would want the label if they didn't need services. There are some people that do really need the diagnosis that don't need services to live but do need the protection from the "American's With Disabilities Act" in their employment.

People get services based on how disabling their condition is. This is where the ability to function comes into play and work experience. It is extremely hard for someone with the condition of Aspergers that has struggled through life, working without any help, to get assistance if they lose their ability to work. They are subject to the same disability requirements that everyone else faces. Very often it is a co-morbid condition that qualifies them for assistance.

Last edited by aghogday on 19 Jan 2011, 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

A week ago I read others with some forms of A.S at least will be dropped from the autism category and giving another diagnoses simply protected as well by the ADA I'd assume. I've also been told never believe things on the internet so I went with it to make a point. Anyways saying something is cobrid is a way to deflect so a more positive image of autism is perceived. I have nothing else aside from autism and in a more severe sense in some ways then others and am much higher functioning then others with even more severe manifestions of core symptoms.

Are you and others done with the identity crises or like other small matters prepared to scream bloody murder and call others including me Nazi's. See that is sarcasm but others with autism say calling normal people 666 N.T disorder is sarcasm as well. People hide behind so called symptoms like rudeness and then say people are misunderstanding them because it's autism and not just being a well an explicit rear end word (here).

This issue has nothing to do with the ADA and I never said those being booted were not disabled in another way but some people with autism claim autism is not a disability all the time. These folks are tied to the anti-abortion agenda. So what gives. The internet is simply full of false fact but then again the establishment is the Nazi's or something so do I believe them?

Gosh.

Thank you, I appreciate you pointing out that your infomation might not of been from a reliable source. If a highly functioning peron were to lose their diagnosis they would lose the protection in the workplace afforded by the ADA, so if for no other reason than that the statement needed to be clarified.