How severe is your autism by proposed DSM-V severity levels?

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I have no idea where I would lie on the new scale. That's really only something an outsider could judge.

I think there's potential that this DSM-V revision can be a very good thing, as long as it doesn't go at the cost of the individual. I agree that the streamlining of ASDs could benefit those who are diagnosed in the future (and those who've already been diagnosed now), but only IF the integrity of each individual case is taken into consideration. I fear that it, in some cases, it might lead to a generalisation of the approach toward autistic children, where before, the different diagnoses offered an opening into a more individualised aid.

As it is not yet known what precisely causes autism, or the exact details of the neurological aspects of what we now recognise as different spectrum disorders, I wonder if this revision is justifiable from a purely scientific point of view, or if other concerns are at play here.

Exactly! My son (19 now) has absolutely no living skills whatsoever and would not be able to live on his own. He has been assessed by the Washington DVR and it was determined that he'll never hold a long-term job without long-term support. He can't drive, is afraid to drive, doesn't ever want to drive. He has executive dysfunction, sensory issues, shutdowns (extreme anger meltdowns), etc.

There's no mention in the levels (as shown in this thread) about all that. If that's the way it's going to be laid out then they need another scale for adults, for those who have to make it in the world somehow.

Errgghh!!

Hi Pensieve!

I was wondering if you're able to provide a link to the finalized list of criteria? I can't find one anywhere and was told that the DSM folks took it down from their website.

I'm assuming there are other issues addressed as well but I can't find the finalized list anywhere.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Have a great day!
Diane

Sensory issues are listed in the RRB section.

Hi Verdandi!

Do you know where I can find a complete finalized list of the issues covered?

What I'm really trying to find out is what other issues besides sensory are listed in the criteria for Autism.

I mentioned sensory because that's what was mentioned in the post but I'm more concerned with the other things I listed in a different post here in the same thread:

Life/living skills (self-care is pretty much all he can do, he possesses no other life skills)

Executive dysfunction

Over-the-top and uncontrollable anger to the point of meltdowns that can require psychiatric hospital stays - e.g. last Friday the volume on his iPod wouldn't work and he went into major adrenaline/anger mode and impulsively completely bent the metal, broke it apart, gouged his palms in the process, and was almost put on a 72-hour hold (he's 19 years old)

Etc.

He definitely has autism but all I'm finding in regard to "issues" are the social difficulties and RRB behaviors (of which he has both).

Thank you so much!
Diane

Here's the proposed criteria:

https://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news ... -disorders

The final criteria will be in the DSM-5, which will be out in a few weeks.

Excellent, thank you so much, that is exactly what I needed.

PS: Love "Buffy"!

This kind of thing can actually get one put on a 72-hour hold?

I've had meltdowns like that, many times.

In my son's case it's because he's stated to his counselor as well as to other professionals that he's afraid he's going to kill me in a fit of rage.

Not because he's mad at me but because I'm the only constant in his life, the only target, and his striking out is always impulsive. When I ask him what's wrong, why is he mad, it makes him madder (as I now know so I don't ask) and that's where my risk lies.

He's recognizing his ever-increasing difficulty at controlling his anger (he destroyed 4 play stations in less than a year) and he's not himself; it's like he's gone and someone else has taken over his brain when he gets that angry and everything is impulsive which is dangerous to say the least.

He's gone so far as to tell me that if it ever did happen that he killed me then he'd turn around and kill himself because he wouldn't be able to live with himself after having killed me.

His counselor and I aren't ever really certain what's going to happen and it had been building (his anger) and we weren't sure how bad it might get. So we talked him into letting me take him.

The idea was that the ER would get him an "emergency" appointment with his new psyche instead of having to wait until July 19 (which ended up being a "no-go" so they hooked us up with another "temporary for my son" psychiatrist who will keep his prescription going until his appt. with the new psyche).

But when we originally got to the ER they started talking 72-hour hold which just made things worse. Eventually he was able to calm down and he agreed to sign a "contract" with the person who determines whether or not someone goes on a hold (it has to be per Washington RCW's) and they sent him home with me with his new prescription because at that point it was determined that neither he nor I were in imminent danger.

If he hadn't have been able to calm down or if he had made any threatening statements while in the ER they would have kept him and sent him to one of our "lovely" psyche hospitals here. I don't know if you've ever seen Fairfax but he stayed there for 11 days in 2007; that place is horrendous! (or at least it was in 2007, I don't know if they've made it nicer or not since then)

I'm still at a loss about what "support" means. Support for/with what? Do my headphones I wear everywhere count as support? I've never been helped with really anything, so I'm at a loss. I've pretty much figured everything out on my own.

If I had to say what level I'd be at, a one maybe? I definitely have impairments, but I honestly have no idea what support would do. It's not like introducing something or someone will automatically make me not impaired.

edit: Looking over the OP again, I might fit under level 2 as well. I'm not sure how noticeable it is to others...

If meet it, it will be level one but otherwise I seem to slip on and off it and they are only talking about social communication and interests and routines.

When they mention support are they talking about SSI,seeing a therapist and case manager,and Shrink or do they mean can you live by yourself?
On GAF my last was 45.

I marked myself as a 1, but it really depends on the day's events. If the day goes smoothly I'm golden. If any type of stress enters the picture, my issues start to raise their ugly heads. I'm almost positive that, had AS been in the open in the 60s and 70s, I would have easily received a diagnosis. But it's harder to say now, because I've learned to "cope" with many of my traits.

One of my issues with all of this is what exactly is meant by "impaired". I lived for a number of years alone without too much problem -- I could care for my wants and needs, pay bills, etc.. But at the same time problems were evident -- fear and lack of social knowledge kept me from attending parties and nights out with friends so I spent the majority of my time alone; executive function issues kept me disorganized and hygiene-deficient, I could get jobs but couldn't keep them, anxiety (now full-blown panic disorder) and self-esteem issues kept me from having confidence in myself and improving my lot in life. EDIT TO ADD: My clumsiness has sent me to the ER with broken bones and other injuries more times than I can readily recall. There are some things I'm afraid to do on my own (climbing ladders, taking showers, utilizing stairs) because I'm afraid I'm going to fall and severely injure myself.

So a rhetorical question -- am I "impaired" or not? I can function without support, but would I be better off WITH some type of support? And if so, what kind? A therapist? Can't afford that. I live with my mother, but she isn't particularly supportive -- oh, she understands AS now and how I fit into it, but she spends more time trying to "train" me out of it rather than trying to help me with it. Could support mean something like schedules and lists to help me get things done? All this is SO confusing to me.....

Last edited by Webalina on 08 May 2013, 12:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

Well, that's concerning.

I agree with getting rid of Asperger Syndrome and having a diagnostic criteria using a scale system of severity - as others have said this is unclear, there's no mention of other symptoms effecting us (although if my assessment is anything to go by the autism experts have always been unaware of these things), and autism changes over time.

I'm officially diagnosed as Autistic based not only on my current symptoms (more severe than 5-6 years ago) but also on my severity as a child; as a child I'd have fallen into level 3, but as an adult even with my current problems looks I'd barely be on level 1, if at all.

Is this system different to the main diagnostic criteria?
(it's late, forgive me for just scanning)

Ah, yeah, that's very different, then. I don't lash out at people. Objects suffer from my meltdowns if it's that kind of meltdown. I'm more likely to just cry.



I hope he gets the help he needs and can get this under control. That sounds terrible.