20 Feb 2013, 6:12 am
Dillogic wrote:
Quote:
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Including Atypical Autism)
This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction associated with impairment in either verbal or nonverbal communication skills or with the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder. For example, this category includes “atypical autism” – presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.
This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction associated with impairment in either verbal or nonverbal communication skills or with the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder. For example, this category includes “atypical autism” – presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.
That's all the DSM-IV-TR has on PDD-NOS.
Some clinicians have come up with quasi-official subtypes like the above "atypical autism", such as:
Atypical Asperger's
Residual Autism/Asperger's
Mixed Autism and Asperger's
Broader Autism Phenotype (yep, some include this under PDD-NOS; "subthreshold symptomatology" would be why they do, really)
Thanks, I appreciate that information, and am fascinated by the broader autism phenotype as it seems that somewhere in the 10 to 15% range score in the autistic traits range of the AQ quiz but only about 1 percent are diagnosed with an actual disorder.
I suspect that in many cases it is stress and the social environment that makes the difference. I think I could have been diagnosed before age 22, if there were a diagnosis then, but not likely between ages 22 and 45, particularly because I never saw a doctor. My AQ score is over 40 now, and likely over 40 before age 22, but in working with literally thousands of people in the general public, I adapted to a point that it was likely around the high 20's somewhere in those two decades plus.
I think though that I could have been diagnosed with Gillberg criteria through the whole course of my life, as it was so evident that people saw me as an alien form of life, per language, movement, restricted interests and routines, and social reciprocal interaction even though I was happy, and happy to be alive.
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I didn't see my difference as disability, but it was far from an invisible difference to others, much farther than I could see in myself. It was though quite disabling at times even when I would not admit it to myself. At least for me it was good not to see limits or personal scores in life, at least for a few decades.
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I did not end up in the tragic shoes of Adam Lanza, but he so reminded me of myself when I was in middle school with the unusually big head for the body, unusually large head of hair, anorexic looking body type, intense stare, and not belonging anywhere, in any social category, in any place.
There has to be neuroplasticity in mind, body, and spirit, as the last kid picked on any sports team ended up as an Athletic Director at a military installation. It still wasn't a place I belonged but I ended up there.
