Ah-ha. That last bit might just explain it.

You see, you offended me with your first statement on this thread. You informed a member of another organisation that

Now, I understand that you might have been using the royal "we", a throwback to the good old days.

I know that there have been some discussions on various threads about the DSM V but I am unaware of any decisions or proclamations on this. The front page still states that it is opposed to the grading of people with autism. The DSM V is simply changing grade names for grade numbers. (with a bit of tinkering at the parameters)

The SS (social services hisssssssss) already have and use such a grading system. Autistics are all labelled 1 to 4 according to need; mild, moderate, severe and critical.
Those numbers are used to stop people getting the support they need and as barriers to prevent people getting the opportunities they deserve.

Now you might be happy to swop your name for a number or whatever that number might one day be labelled but I believe you went beyond your remit if that offending "we" was representing the view of AFF.

At the time my finger was itching to press that report button but I'm pleased that we have had this chance to discuss this and for you to make clear your (IMO) naively optimist views and make clear what the stance of AFF is.

No. 1's For Freedom

Ahh but you must be graded.

So is that a hint of difference, a smudge of difference or a dollop?

I am a shade indifferent myself.

Release date is May 18th of 2013


and
DSM-5 Draft Criteria Open for Final Public Comment

May 2nd through June 15th, 2012

http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx  will lead you to a page that has stuff like this:
  
"...For the next 6 weeks we are pleased to once again offer the opportunity to submit comments on the draft fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This commenting period marks the third and final time DSM-5 draft criteria will be available for your feedback. Following this period the site will remain viewable with the draft proposals until DSM-5’s publication..."
Did not read the thread additions yet so sorry if redundant.

oh the recent updates page - http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/RecentUpdates.aspx

This post was last modified: 05-14-2012 06:17 PM by windy.

Had to post - thankfully - the pre-existing health condition clause is in effect (and will make it through the supreme court)... so "we" cannot be uninsurable due to a diagnosis - catch 22 /meanwhile nothing related was provided by insurance to begin with - dumb insurance system) in other words I agree with your post.

Lol reading thread in reverse now...

This post was last modified: 05-14-2012 06:29 PM by windy.

THIS is one way to comment
http://www.dsm5.org/proposedrevision/Pag...rders.aspx

I found something relevant from the APA (American Psychiatric Association) website http://www.dsm5.org/Research/Pages/Autis...08%29.aspx

"The fifth panel addressed the question Asperger’s Disorder – is it Autism? In her introduction, Francesca G. Happé, Ph.D., (London, UK) raised some of the key questions that have arisen regarding the diagnosis of Asperger’s Disorder, which was introduced into DSM-IV in 1994. These questions include: is there an ‘Asperger’ subgroup of autism with distinct cause, course, cognitive profile, and intervention needs, and if so, what is its relation to other ASDs? Asperger’s disorder is essentially defined as meeting criteria for autism without the language impairment. Lorna Wing introduced the term in 1981 to aid recognition of the part of the autism spectrum with good IQ and language [italics added]"

Apparently, Happé makes a very clear distinction between Asperger's and Autism (of which HFA is a subset), namely the language component with Aspergers having no language delay but Autism having language deficits as one of its core characteristics.  For example, when I was three I was echolalic therefore I would not meet the Dx criteria for Aspergers (if that Dx had existed in the DSM back in 1974 when I was Dx'd).  However, I can see how someone who might have been like me in many ways but had no language delay might not get Dx'd until later (retrospectively?) when Asperger's became official in the DSM-IV.
Lydia

WHy is it ONLY a language delay - that "papers" use as the criteria? and Yet,  due to the constraints of the diagnostic criteria of the last decade or tw0 - for example, my dx'd aspie son DID have language delay, and yet since by the time I allowed him to be dx'd (needed it at arounf age 10/11) the delay was then gone.  is he wrongly dx'd then? (I say the distinction is of no use)

So  why did they decide ASsergers, even with delay in his history ?(Who knows why I think it may have been because of his IQ) Yes there were bills from speech and language pathologist (ages 3, 4 and 5) and CPD amd SID (occupational therapists ...) and all that so WHY did they come up with aspergers? Just because.  THEREFORE, dx's do not matter.  HFA and ASpergers AND average autism ASD is almost exactly like PDD-NOS depending on the doctor/s involved in dxing.  ALso, we went to a nuerologist specializing in ADD and guess what he was dx'd ADD (only recently hjave I seen this may be true). My son HAD** language issues/delay - he had a bunch of words by age 1 1/2 and then stopped speaking altogether - just babbling for YEARS. Yet, he is "officially" aspergers (and other dx's depending on when he is seen.... )  


My point? Short version: Language delay< so what? Some people "catch up" Just becasue Kanner did not see it does not mean it didn;t happen with his study group, Asperger, same thing... I think autism is autism. It is a spectrum.  The whole LOW/High thing is highly subjective anyway. Yes, some kids have "severe" issues, are autistic with multiple co-morbids, food allergies, digestive issues, etc., "Clear distinctions" ther aren't any. There must be thousands of stories like this.

LNB1771 - great post - Your last sentances make my point exactly.

This post was last modified: 05-14-2012 08:53 PM by windy.

Hi Windy, nice to see you and a nice summary.

A diagnosis of autism is all that is needed.

Autism is a neurotype, a way of thinking, people and their needs change, their neurotype doesn't.

Somebody with a dx of autism no. 1 could rapidly turn into a no.3 in the wrong circumstances and wrong environment.
Equally, treat a no.3's comorbids and in the right circumstances and right environment they could appear to be a no.1

As we travel on the rollercoaster of life our needs change. Tucked away in our ill-fitting neat little compartments we have to derail and come crashing down to earth before we can begin the battle to change to a more comfortable compartment where we can get the support we need. This is often a humiliating, stressful and lengthy process.

We don't need no catagorisation
We don't need no thought control

SOurce: APA News Release, March 27, 2012

I agree that demonstrating a language delay before age 3 is an unnecessary distinction in the HF/Aspie who is 12 through young adult, speaking well, but not getting the jokes, sarcasm, perspective-taking, and social flexibility needed for daily interactions at school/work. Pragmatics is one of the area of language in which we need to gain proficiency to succeed, but is not easily discernible in <3-year-olds.

It would be lovely to describe ASDs by the level of support needed to interface with the world and allowing movement up and down the levels as needed. Not assign someone a label to carry around their whole life whether it is valid or not.

But people always find a way to muck things up.

heterodox Wrote:

or even autism hint, smudge, dollop

I like this one!!

seconded.

Suggested talking points for DMS V public comments (full list at https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPu...96ccd54098)

What do you think?

This post was last modified: 05-25-2012 03:17 AM by awiddershinlife.

i think skyblue1 created a thread about that ^

So its in two places. Its on topic here, too.