How will the DSM-5 affect me?

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As many on here know, my AS is very mild. While I had nearly all the symptoms as a child, over the years, I have managed to overcome the majority of them. The main issues I have are with some of the sensory stuff, but I have overcome nearly everything else.

However, with the DSM-5 changes, I am curious as to how the revisions will affect my diagnosis.

The new diagnosis criteria takes into account past behaviours (I'm fairly certain)... Also, I don't think they'll be looking to re diagnose people.

Yeah isn't there an updated version that says "an individual must meet this criteria now or by history" or something to that effect?They might want a re-diagnosis or confirmation of diagnosis if you're applying for services but I think you'll be able to get it if you met the criteria as a child.

If your not in the USA you could always refer to the ICD-10. I'm from Australia and think it should make no difference if your receiving support from the government. But the proposed changes seem to ignore key points between "Autism" and Asperger's. I don't want to go into detail, just google it lol. The worse outcome would be an Asperger's child getting no support because they don't meet the new guidelines. Also it seems to say if you have a decent to high IQ you most likely won't meet the new criteria.
Hmm maybe its that the USA doesn't want to support people with a higher IQ and autism spectrum disorders?
A reason I believe it should stay on the DSM is because the DSM (and the ICD ) are ways that people with Asperger's can get support to help them achieve their potential.
In Australia like any other good European nation people with a "disability" (a very loose term - it should really be people with different needs or summat) can get support like a disability pension, support to get work, support while studying and legislation that protects your rights.....etc (BTW i do know Australia isn't in Europe).
Also off topic how many people with Asperger's have ADHD?

Personally, I'm more annoyed by the new ADHD criteria. They lower the number of criteria an adult needs for diagnosis, with the assumption that everyone will have a decrease in ADHD symptoms with age. While I'm sure many do, in my case the three ADHD criteria I meet, I've always met, and no more.

I don't see that as a problem. Adults often do lose the overt fidgety behavior of their childhood years, replaced by a sort of restlessness that they can keep under control but that's still distracting. If the adult with ADHD still has as many symptoms as they did when they were a child, they can still be diagnosed. It prevents adults from having to be given the "inattentive" subtype even though they were Combined type in childhood, because people don't usually switch types like that--they just learn to stay in their seats.

Back on topic, though: Tim_Tex, if your autistic traits are entirely composed of sensory issues, you may either remain in the "autism spectrum disorder" category by history, or else you could be switched over to "sensory processing disorder". Either way, you could get whatever sensory accommodations you need with the diagnosis, so I wouldn't worry about it. SPD isn't technically an autism spectrum disorder, but in cases where there are sub-clinical autistic traits too, it might as well be. In the worst case, you might need to explain to new doctors that your SPD label is what remains of an autism diagnosis, rather than something that's existed by itself all along.

Not the end of the world, really. If a diagnostic system gets us the therapy and accommodations we need, I'm cool with it.

It sort of upsets me.

I think we need a more defined way of looking at Aspergers and autism not a broader way.

I know we are not all alike but I have friends who are very very similar, and we learn the same way.
We could be grouped for education purposes.
It took years tio get AS in the DSM IV. is it hurting someone other than the insurance companies???

Of course they will still avg our PIQ and VIQ together for no reason what so ever.
So why remove a helpful diagnosis, $$$$$$$$$

How would "we" know based on what you've posted? For example, do you lack social reciprocity? Do you have an intense interest that you spend an inordinate amount of time on? Some of these things you probably wouldn't be able to determine, as most don't know if they lack social reciprocation or not until it's pointed out, for example. This is why you see someone if you're having problems with things; if you're having no problems, there'd be zero point in even bothering with a mental disorder.

If you meet the DSM-IV-TR now, you'd most likely meet the DSM-5.

I'm being diagnosed like...right now. is it under DSM IV or DSM V?

I mean I think I meet the criteria for both (just got a yes on a preliminary test/index thing wednesday, taking a final/more intensive one this coming wednesday and anticipate it being officially official...though I think my therapist basically told me yes already) but I'm just curious.

Lets get real. AS is a cloak. It always has been. AS has always been on the autism spectrum. It's never been anything other than on the autism spectrum. In my mind if people want to use the cloak AS to keep from bad public reaction to the word 'autism' more power to them, whatever makes life easier living. Lets not continue to make it look like it's anything other than what it is though. AS is no different from autism (high, med, low - all on one spectrum, period)

AS is considerably different from autism proper.

DSM is pathetic - Neuroscience and brain scans are the way forward.

DSM5 is to reduce rates - simple as that

That looks like a pretty easy set of guidelines of diagnois to meet, I meet all easly. I also with respect wonder how well people who say they have overcome most sympoms of AS really have completely? I mean if you show your friends a statemant like the OP's I wouldn't be surprised if they disagree and say well you're much better off then you were when I first met you but I still see the signs everyday. Its all relitive to you and your personal expirence, If your on meds just check what there for as thats not overcoming, thats a band-aid. I know I miss most of my issues if I don't get negitive reaction of somekind. Not sure self diagnois is the right way to go about dealing with this,

I'm just finding out/learning about this now, as for the classifacation I always as told Asperger's Syndrome was a mild form of Autism from when I was age 10, so the seperate listing came is a surprise, from a book keeping view point. I don't see the AS name going anywhere soon even if DSM drops it. Heres another perspective though, with mild AS people in fear of having services cut will thoses of us well in the middle of the spectrim maybe see our service leval increse now that we are seen in simular light as classic low functioning autism? i'm no expert just under the weather and rambling.

I would not meet the new criteria even though I arguably met the dsm-iv criteria.