Is aspergers a fad diagnosis?

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I think its easy to get that impression when you spend the greater part of your life on WrongPlanet, where nearly everybody's an Aspie and there are new people joining seemingly by the hour, but I don't see that reflected in the real world, where there's still only the first glimmers of any kind of public recognition of what Asperger Syndrome even is.

Much like the media claims of an AUTISM EPIDEMIC, when the truth is, most of the newly diagnosed (whether formally or self-DXd) that I see, are grownups like me who are only realizing now what they've been living with for years. That's no 'epidemic', that's just a lot of existing cases finally being recognized.

Is there any reason to believe that this is happening? Anyone diagnosing on that basis would be guilty of professional incompetence, or misconduct.

Some kids with diagnoses do not have noticeable traits which suggests it might be happening. There's a risk of it happening, which could make it a fad diagnosis, for sure.

Absolutely not. A doctor should not be allowed to do that. But what evidence is there that any doctors have done that?

The person who started this thread noticed diagnosed kids without traits which led him to wonder if AS is becoming a fad diagnosis.

Not noticeable to whom? If the doctor notices them, then it doesn't matter if a classmate who also has a diagnosis disagrees. The only person who absolutely has to see the traits in order for the diagnosis to be accurate is the doctor.

I don't think it's a fad - it's possible to misdiagnose pretty much everything - AS included - doesn't make it invalid. It's just that with the re-definition and increased awareness - there are naturally going to be a lot more cases of children and adults being diagnosed with it.
As for people not "looking autistic," people learn coping skills, kids who are diagnosed now typically get social skills training and a lot of other interventions that can help them minimise their disabilities. There are things like executive dysfunction which isn't visible at all but is still very real and very difficult to deal with - which is why, I think, ADHD gets the "fad" diagnosis label so often.

The OP didn't actually say one way or the other but there was a poster in the middle who said "I see people diagnosed with Aspergers who I feel barely have any traits". But unless he sat down with these people and a copy of the DSM and went over the traits one by one and talked to them about what impairments they are or aren't experiencing how would he know?



Also, everything Celoneth said. How does he know they haven't been specifically taught how to cover those traits? How can he see whether or not they have executive dysfunction?

Not for nothing is it called the Invisible Disability.

Last edited by Janissy on 15 Aug 2010, 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

First off, I think there are many unintelligent people on the spectrum, although there definitely seems to be a higher percentage of intelligent people, when compared to the rest of the popular. It also depends on what you consider "smart".

Second, my life would probably be very different, if I had been diagnosed young, as well. However, you do have to think of the person you are and if you like that person. If the answer is "yes", you may want to think of the negative effects of having been diagnosed young and the possible differences in your personality. If the answer is "no" the same still applies, as even if you do not like who you are, which would be sad, I don't think anyone wishes to lose themselves. I'm glad that things happened as they did, because they made me who I am.



Oh no! I think I have the sister condition to that. I can't pick my nose with my left hand! I must be DISEASED! lol

But doctors are human and human beings are known to make mistakes. It might matter if people or other doctors disagree, known as a "second opinion" when it's another doctor, or just the musing of a dilettante when it's someone else.

I seriously doubt of that (but I am from a country where AS is almost unknown and many of the people with this diagnosis are incapable of independent living - then it don't have the "positive" appeal that can have in other countries). Seems much more probable that the parents will simply to want the child labeled as "gifted".

The opposite scenario (a diagnosis of AS with strong social problems, but not particularly restricted interests) seems more probable to me (specially because any personal eccentricity can easily be "transformed" in a "restricted interest" if you are searching for that).

I reread the thread, I meant what Frag typed. I was rushing thru the thread and thought the O P typed that post. I assumed kids because those are being diagnosed the most these days, by pediatricians.
He might know a lot about the diagnostic criteria for AS and is familiar with the DSM, and he might know more than one diagnosed Aspie, so he has experience there. He could actually have more insight and knowledge about AS than many in the medical professions based on firsthand knowledge.

Or I talk out of emotion without thinking. That happens a bit as well.

I re-read the thread too and realized that Frag is a 40 year old female, so I shouldn't have said "he" in my quotes. It also makes it pretty unlikely that Frag was referring to kids because usually an adult will say "kids" rather than "people" if they don't mean a fellow adult.

But whether she is referring to kids or adults, my point stands that regardless of how much she has researched AS (and I assume she's read a lot), that doesn't qualify her to undiagnose other people. Only another doctor can do that and only after interviewing and testing the person. That's the part that's missing. The diagnostic interview. She didn't do one on these people because she's not their doctor. So she has nothing to go on but a gut feeling.

As far as I know, ADHD and AS are the two dysfunctions that NT's seem to want to have. They think its fashionable to have them or they think they can say they have either one as an excuse to get out of a sticky situation! Eg - caught speeding in their car - "Sorry officer, its my Aspergers. Its makes me drive fast". What idiots. If only NT's really understood that having AS is living in a permanent prison, locked inside your own bloody heads and no one hears you scream for help.

And this happens a lot sometimes doctors will even say that is exactly what they are doing when they give a diagnosis. Sometimes the services are needed that badly.