Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

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Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Morrigan on Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:11 pm

A friend of mine sent this to me today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/healt ... ef=science
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby hyke on Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:15 pm

Thanks Morrigan,

Somehow, this article makes me happy. Makes much more sense to me, to label the whole spectrum as Autism. And then have an individual look at each Autistic person.
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby aliengirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:04 pm

I see your point hyke and I do very much like the idea of "uniting" rather than dividing autism. Highlighting our divisions is a tactic often used by those who wish to undermine the autistic rights movements.

My concern is what will happen to those people whose diagnosis (which many of them have had to fight for) is Asperger Syndrome? Will their support providers withdraw provision for people with the diagnosis on the basis that "your condition doesn't exist"?

I know from my advocacy experience that statutory services are very reluctant to provide support for people with AS - in some cases it has required legal action. There seems to be a misconception among some circles that people with AS don't genuinely have support needs and certainly cannot be considered disabled.

I am very concerned that if AS is excluded from the DSM then statutory services will withdraw support from people with AS regardless of how significant their support needs are (and I know people with AS who have substantial support needs).

The simple solution could be to get people re-diagnosed as autistic - but bearing in mind how difficult it is to get a diagnosis in the first place, how feasible is it that they will be able to get a re-diagnosis? The diagnosticians that are out there are already inundated - they may well feel that they have no choice to turn down people who already have a diagnosis and are seeing re-classification to access support.

While I do think that uniting people under the label "autism" is a good idea, I'm worried about how this could be used and manipulated by those agencies who care about saving money and nothing else.

btw, another article is http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/ ... -dsm/6025/
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Pikajedi3 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:50 pm

I'd assume they'll be grandfathered in.
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Chosen on Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:22 pm

I am not quite sure how to respond. I am not sure if they are saying asperger is not autism or if they mean asperger should be treated the same as autism.
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Lady Ashmire on Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:01 pm

I have pretty much the same concerns as Aliengirl---there is not enough information there on how they are going to USE this change and it could be very life-threatening if they do stuff to remove support from me. The article doesn't make it sound like that, but I'm not sure at all...
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby hyke on Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:02 pm

Pikajedi3 wrote:I'd assume they'll be grandfathered in.


That's what I assumed too`(if I read that expression right, that is).
Thought Asperger and PDD-Nos would be put under the umbrella of Autism by default.

And that would be a good thing I think.

Of course, there will be organisations denying the existence of Aspergers and PDD-Nos after a chance in the DSM. Anything to deny people support they need. But, it will not be all organisations. I do have an optimistic view sometimes.
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby hyke on Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:04 pm

Lady Ashmire wrote:I have pretty much the same concerns as Aliengirl---there is not enough information there on how they are going to USE this change and it could be very life-threatening if they do stuff to remove support from me. The article doesn't make it sound like that, but I'm not sure at all...


Maybe I am naive, I hope not. And you and AG are right that we need to be on our guard.
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Morrigan on Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:08 pm

I have really mixed feelings and cannot exactly process the whole article at the moment. Too much other stuff going on. I know that both my Aspies need assistance and I surely hope that they will not become "too normal" to get help when the DSM changes. I see some positive things too, not so much room to be spending forever on a label which can delay help. Not sure, still thinking...
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Re: Asperger's To Be Removed from DSM?

Postby Stefano on Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:04 am

I'm not quite sure what to think of the proposed change either. It sounds like a good thing - and it is what we've been advocating for.

The way the article made it sound, I envisioned many Aspies going to get re-diagnosed and running up against, "Autism? Autism is serious. You're nothing like that!" - from professionals. I've already got that from people, and a few doctors.

Also, I don't think the scales they plan to use are standardized enough. I mean, if one of the reasons they are putting Autism, Aspergers, and PDD-NOS under the ASD umbrella is because different diagnosticians may put the same person under different labels - what makes anyone think they will be any better getting the scales right?

I don't know. Maybe it's just the virus still fogging my brain more than usual.
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