DSM-V Question

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I agree. I really like the idea of just having an autism spectrum, instead of the term "asperger's". Never been a fan of it. It's like a thread I remember reading a long time ago... someone suggested that the term asperger syndrome suggests that there's something wrong with us, and said that for that reason he prefered using "asperger autism", as opposed to kanners. But the new DSM sounds like the best option, if they really decide to do that. I don't want the needs of fellow aspies to be neglected, just because they're verbal and have a high IQ. I think we're all struggling, regardless of "level of functioning" and we also have many gifts and things to contribute to society, if only we can get the assistance we need to succeed in this confusing world.

It seems logical to me for there to be a standardization of the terminology associated with ASDs; it makes no sense for an adult with high functioning autism and one with Asperger's to not have the same diagnosis, since the only real difference seems to be when they started speaking as children.

In an ideal world, all on the autistic spectrum would just be diagnosed with autism, classified by the level of severity and it wouldn't be that big of a deal; I have no problem with the term. Unfortunately, the word "autism" has a stigma attached to it; the average person thinks of a kid banging their head in a corner. Asperger's ("ass burgers" jokes notwithstanding) does not have that same stigma, so it may be best to diagnose high functioning forms of autism as Asperger's and low-functioning forms as autism.

However, perhaps merging everything into one spectrum could revitalize the word in the public eye.

That's just my opinion; I'm certainly no professional.

I get in trouble for saying we are Aspies/Auties....proudly. Apparently I have to say "people with Aspergers/Autism", but TO ME, that makes it sound like a disease, when I see it more as a culture/way of thinking/being.

I have found MOST people with this brain type (in ins varying individual forms) are fine with identifying as on the spectrum....not someone WiTH a disorder! BUT "experts" tell me it is offensive to say someone is an Aspy person. I see it as no different to saying someone is Italian. All Italians are different, but they also share some common cultural things. Yet we wouldnt say someone had "Italian disorder" for their differences. AND growl at Italians who refuse to say they have a disorder or call their culture a "syndrome".

Another positive angle on the proposed changes to the DSM is that an ASD diagnosis is inclusive of biological co-morbidity: GI problems, allergies, etc. It's refreshing to know that the psych community will no longer treat autism as being "all in the head".

Er, that's actually an old feature; it's always been inclusive of any physical conditions people have. The current DSM lists general medical conditions under Axis III; so, for example, you might be:

Axis I: 299 Autistic Disorder
Axis II: Mild Mental Retardation
Axis III: K52.2 Allergic and dietetic gastroenteritis and colitis
Axis IV: Bullied at school; recently divorced parents
Axis V: GAF 45

That's how the DSM is supposed to be used, except sometimes they just slap up an Axis I and II diagnosis and call it done. They should be considering a person's physical health, social environment, and general coping-with-life skills; but all too often, that stuff gets dumped in your file and never looked at again, when it's actually just as important as Axis I and II.

You can't treat a patient without taking physical stuff into account, either when you prescribe meds or when you teach people new skills--physical problems have to be taken into account (for example, if you're teaching somebody to cook, you better take into account that they shouldn't be allergic to the food!).

If you're talking about autistics having physical problems more often than people with other developmental disabilities, we don't. The problem isn't that they're comorbid more often, but that when they are present, we're more affected thanks to sensory integration problems. A sensitive autistic person, functioning at 98% capacity to do what an NT does at 30% capacity, will be affected a great deal more by, for example, a pollen allergy, because it'll push the demand on him past 100% of what he can give, when it might only push the NT to 40%.