For People with a DSM-5 Diagnosis (Poll)

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What Level are you?

I think I would be a level 1, but sorry no "official" dx yet, just a verbal. The funny thing is, I have the entire DSM 5, but my psychologist is still using the DSM IV-TR.

Yeah, the transition will be gradual. However, the new DSM-5 codes will be required by the end of the year.

I got a letter confirming that I meet the DSM criteria for ASD even though I have an Asperger's diagnosis from when I was a child. The change in the criteria made me nervous even though I do agree with it and I wanted to make sure that I had it for when accessing services does require the new diagnosis. My severity level is 2. My psychologist wasn't sure which level to give me at first because level 1 was supposed to correlate with the old diagnosis of Asperger's but when she read the criteria for DSM 5 and the descriptions of social/communication problems and RRBs at the three severity levels she thought my social and communicative problems were at level 2 and my RRBs were at level 1. Then she realized that sensory issues are one of the RRBs in DSM 5 and decided that my sensory issues were at level 2 severity so she gave me that level. My verbal IQ is in the superior range and I spoke early as a child but in spite of this some of my symptoms are quite severe.

Last edited by daydreamer84 on 09 Jul 2013, 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I need to look into getting my levels coded. I think I am 2 on RRB (especially sensory, but interests and such too), and 1 or 2 on social.

daydreamer84,

Have you noticed how frequently people state the assumption that an AS diagnosis means severity level 1 in both categories?

I'm pretty sure that some studies showed that people with current diagnoses of Asperger's who also met the diagnostic criteria for ASD in the DSM 5 were most often at severity level 1.( I can try to find these studies if you like.) So, it's probably just an over-generalization from that. The average person with an AS diagnosis would fit the criteria for ASD at level 1 severity but that doesn't mean thateveryonewith AS would and that no one with AS requires more support or has more severe symptoms. In my case I think my co-morbid conditions, like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, have exacerbated my ASD symptoms in some ways.

Although I haven't been categorized yet, I'm pretty sure I'd be at Level 1 with some Level 2 sensory/obsessive tendencies...
I am able to function with a pretty high degree of independence, but definitely need the help of some supportive people (these days, this rarely extends beyond having a supervisor who is understanding and patient...)

Yeah, I was commenting on statements that AS diagnosis automatically means level one severity.