11 Mar 2009, 2:44 pm
Sora wrote:
There's BAP too, you know. Broader Autism Phenotype.
Not an official diagnosis, because individuals with BAP usually do not have any significant impairments that those with a PDD have. They can also have those many traits that are often associated with AS, for example, but are not part of the criteria. (sensory issues, slight communication abnormalities and so on).
Not an official diagnosis, because individuals with BAP usually do not have any significant impairments that those with a PDD have. They can also have those many traits that are often associated with AS, for example, but are not part of the criteria. (sensory issues, slight communication abnormalities and so on).
That's worth considering from my perspective, I think, though possibly I'm just captivated by the idea of being a bap, which where I live is a bread roll.
Fo-Rum makes a good point though. I know that the basic criteria are elaborated upon in the DSM etc, but WP is a vast repository of hard knowledge about how these criteria are expressed in the experience of people living with AS. That could be extremely useful.
There's a legitimate difference of opinion about getting a professional diagnosis, and several plausible and valid reasons why people who could very well be diagnosed with AS or another ASD if they sought it may not do so. (I've observed a number of other threads on that topic so I won't rehearse all those points here). Increasing the level of confidence those people could have in a self diagnosis would be of great benefit to them. Even people who see no need to access any professional help or any form of disability allowance, and don't need a professional diagnosis as "credentials" in any other context could still benefit from applying the sort of strategies that are recommended to Aspies. But only if they can be as confident as possible that their self diagnosis is valid.
11 Mar 2009, 4:38 pm
LuckyBunny wrote:
I previously noted that the diagnostic criteria fit me vaguely, if at all. Now that I've dug them out (couldn't remember them all off-hand), I can elaborate, point by point:
DSM-IV DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S DISORDER
A.Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
* Unsure. I actually read a book ('Body Language' by Allan Pease) on the subject as a child. It used to be one of my favourite books, behind the Family Medical and Health Encyclopedia. I've noticed that the majority of the 'signals' described in the book do not actually occur in real life (or do I just not see them?). Feet indicate intent, palms up - honesty, nose touch - lying.... every time I've spotted these things, it's been incorrect.
DSM-IV DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S DISORDER
A.Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
* Unsure. I actually read a book ('Body Language' by Allan Pease) on the subject as a child. It used to be one of my favourite books, behind the Family Medical and Health Encyclopedia. I've noticed that the majority of the 'signals' described in the book do not actually occur in real life (or do I just not see them?). Feet indicate intent, palms up - honesty, nose touch - lying.... every time I've spotted these things, it's been incorrect.
for most people body language is automatic, so the fact that you went by a book rather than intuition is aspieish. do you have times when you say to people, 'oh why are you cross' and they say 'Oh Im not cross Im tired' (or whatever) Look up facial expressions tests (there is probably a link in a thread on here, use the search). I thought I was fab at reading people but when I did the facial expressions tests I was terrible! I could do happy and sad but not shocked or interested.
Quote:
(2) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
* Again, unsure. Usually, my friends are somewhat younger or older than me (with the exception of my flatmate, who is only 6 months younger). Also, the ratio of online friends to real life friends is close to 30:1. Off-topic, I'm sure, but I really don't 'get' what's being described in the criteria here.
* Again, unsure. Usually, my friends are somewhat younger or older than me (with the exception of my flatmate, who is only 6 months younger). Also, the ratio of online friends to real life friends is close to 30:1. Off-topic, I'm sure, but I really don't 'get' what's being described in the criteria here.
were you invited to lots of parties as a kid, did you have lots of friends in school or were you left out, did you play on your own. when you played with others was it on your terms did you get cross if they didnt play how you liked?
Quote:
(3) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
* Yes. I usually need prompting in this area.
(4) lack of social or emotional reciprocity
* Had to ask someone, but the answer came back in the affirmative
B.Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(1) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
* As previously mentioned, unsure.
* Yes. I usually need prompting in this area.
(4) lack of social or emotional reciprocity
* Had to ask someone, but the answer came back in the affirmative
B.Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(1) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
* As previously mentioned, unsure.
you started your own religion, of course you have specific interests of unusual intensity!
Quote:
(2) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
* Not certain. Again, I don't quite 'get' what's being described here.
* Not certain. Again, I don't quite 'get' what's being described here.
do you get ready for bed in the same order, do you set your meal up in the same way? a favourite plate or cup. Do you line up your ornaments? are your books lined up in a special way? Are you annoyed if people call round or phone up when not expected, are you annoyed if plans are changed at the last moment?
Quote:
(3) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
* If this includes playing with fingers and hands, and neck rubbing, then yes.
(4) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
* I can say no to this one.
C.The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
* I'm jumping on 'occupational', I've had few jobs, far between, and the longest time I've been employed is 3 months (probationary period). I spent 5 months as a courier, but that's technically a self-employed position.
D.There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
* I was reading children's books aloud by 3. Check.
E.There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
* To the best of my knowledge, no delay. Check.
F.Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
* Needs exploration.
So basically, there's a lot of uncertainty on my part as to whether I fit most most of these. Though I am near certain in my opinion, I disregard my opinion in favour of objectivity, and recognise that I am not exactly a professional.
That said, I recently saw professionals who seemed to show even less understanding than me. I saw an educational psychologist in 2006, who first flagged up AS as a possibility, but her instructions only asked for a test of cognitive ability, and I'm sure diagnosis would have required a separate appointment. She flagged up potential AS after doing Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, House-Tree-Person Test, Kinetic Family Drawing, and Thematic Apperception Test. There is a comment in her notes about good eye contact, which is where I sourced my previous mention.
The recent psychologists (a pair) sat with me for a half hour and declared me NT after no tests whatsoever. Their diagnosis seemed hugely flawed to me, as it seemed they chose some of the wrong questions to ask, and missed a lot of right ones.
Okay, I'll stop now, before I write a 50 page reference guide to my life. :-p
((((hugs))))
~LL~
* If this includes playing with fingers and hands, and neck rubbing, then yes.
(4) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
* I can say no to this one.
C.The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
* I'm jumping on 'occupational', I've had few jobs, far between, and the longest time I've been employed is 3 months (probationary period). I spent 5 months as a courier, but that's technically a self-employed position.
D.There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
* I was reading children's books aloud by 3. Check.
E.There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
* To the best of my knowledge, no delay. Check.
F.Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
* Needs exploration.
So basically, there's a lot of uncertainty on my part as to whether I fit most most of these. Though I am near certain in my opinion, I disregard my opinion in favour of objectivity, and recognise that I am not exactly a professional.
That said, I recently saw professionals who seemed to show even less understanding than me. I saw an educational psychologist in 2006, who first flagged up AS as a possibility, but her instructions only asked for a test of cognitive ability, and I'm sure diagnosis would have required a separate appointment. She flagged up potential AS after doing Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, House-Tree-Person Test, Kinetic Family Drawing, and Thematic Apperception Test. There is a comment in her notes about good eye contact, which is where I sourced my previous mention.
The recent psychologists (a pair) sat with me for a half hour and declared me NT after no tests whatsoever. Their diagnosis seemed hugely flawed to me, as it seemed they chose some of the wrong questions to ask, and missed a lot of right ones.
Okay, I'll stop now, before I write a 50 page reference guide to my life. :-p
((((hugs))))
~LL~
I would think that you do have it, if I was you I would meet up with other aspies and see if you related or did not. Ive met people who were so different to me I thought I could not have it , then met people who were so like me. So I think personality is so important in how we display our characteristiocs/symptoms and that the diagnostic criterior has to cover everyone so its vaugue and doesnt show the colour of the reality. If you go on Tony Attwoods website he has an austrailian diagnostic questionnaire which is very good and covers more of the symptoms
