Re: Changes proposed in how psychiatrists diagnose

[Guest guest]

I'm not pleased at all with the elimination of Aspergers as a valid diagnosis in

the DSM V. I think shoving everyone under a very large umbrella isn't going to

be helpful.

I know insurance concerns are partly behind the change. Some of the

psychiatrists involved have mentioned that children with autism can get support

services in California and Texas but those children are not eligible if

diagnosed with Aspergers. Getting needed services is a valid concern, but this

seems to be the tail wagging the dog method of addressing the problem.

I even heard Temple Grandin and the recent movie about her being used as a good

reason to lump everyone together since she's had a successful career while

diagnosed with HFA. That was on an NPR show addressing the release of the DSM V

draft.

I know my son and the members of his social group identify strongly with their

Aspergers diagnosis. They have a generally positive view of themselves and

their diagnosis. I don't think my son at least will take being reclassified

very well.

Bronwyn

>

> The article talks about how the American Psychiatric Association is proposing

to change their " diagnostic bible " including the elimination of subdiagnosis in

the autism spectrum. The proposed change does away with the autism, asperger's

syndrome, and PDD labels and simplifies the diagnosis to autism spectrum

disorder.

>

> http://news./s/ap/20100210/ap_on_he_me/us_med_mental_disorders

>

> " The draft manual, posted at http://www.DSM5.org, is up for public debate

through April, and it's expected to be lively. "

[Guest guest]

But Asperger's is still going to be a diagnosis, right?

I guess, I think of when I'm explaining my son to people. I always start with, "He has a form of autism. It's called Asperger's"......

So,,,,,,,,having a "basic" diagnosis of "autism spectrum" doesn't really bother me, I guess.

I even think to when he was first getting classified at the school and medically, through insurance. The basic term used was AUTISM. And then, further into the paperwork, it went into more detail listing Aspergers, Tourettes, etc.

I guess if ASPERGERS is totally being eliminated,,,,then it'd be different for me.....

(Didn't mean to offend by this post,,,,,,maybe I'm not seeing the same way?????)

It really is simple. Just treat others kindly and with respect.

Robin

From: Bronwyn <bronwynbluedog@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Changes proposed in how psychiatrists diagnose Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 7:04 PM

I'm not pleased at all with the elimination of Aspergers as a valid diagnosis in the DSM V. I think shoving everyone under a very large umbrella isn't going to be helpful.I know insurance concerns are partly behind the change. Some of the psychiatrists involved have mentioned that children with autism can get support services in California and Texas but those children are not eligible if diagnosed with Aspergers. Getting needed services is a valid concern, but this seems to be the tail wagging the dog method of addressing the problem.I even heard Temple Grandin and the recent movie about her being used as a good reason to lump everyone together since she's had a successful career while diagnosed with HFA. That was on an NPR show addressing the release of the DSM V draft.I know my son and the members of his social group identify strongly with their Aspergers diagnosis. They have a generally positive view of themselves and

their diagnosis. I don't think my son at least will take being reclassified very well.Bronwyn>> The article talks about how the American Psychiatric Association is proposing to change their "diagnostic bible" including the elimination of subdiagnosis in the autism spectrum. The proposed change does away with the autism, asperger's syndrome, and PDD labels and simplifies the diagnosis to autism spectrum disorder. > > http://news. / s/ap/20100210/ ap_on_he_ me/us_med_ mental_disorders> > "The draft manual, posted at http://www.DSM5. org, is up for public debate through April, and it's expected to be lively."

[Guest guest]

So far as the criteria -- don't many on spectrum have problems with development

in ways that might not fall under " communication " ? Like having problems/needing

help other kids don't that are the same age (or younger) - like dressing

themselves, hygiene (bath, teeth...), decision-making, using microwave,

adjusting water temp for showers, independently fixing something to eat

(sandwich or microwave...), many with motor skill weakness.... I'm trying to

say where it seems to be more than understanding communication, what is

expected, that it is still a hardship for them in ways it's not to " typical "

kids. Don't know if I'm explaining it well, but with my 3 sons it was just

apparent with my Aspie and then having read other parents stories over the

years, seems many have difficulty in same areas, and it just doesn't seem to me

to fall under communication or social cues, etc.

Just something I was thinking about,

>

> I'm not pleased at all with the elimination of Aspergers as a valid diagnosis

in the DSM V. I think shoving everyone under a very large umbrella isn't going

to be helpful.

>

> I know insurance concerns are partly behind the change. Some of the

psychiatrists involved have mentioned that children with autism

[Guest guest]

Honestly, I'd like to see some sort of dual diagnosis system in which once they

are identified as being on the spectrum, the doctor can at her discretion

further identify them as being autistic, aspie or ppd-nos. I think the

motivation for making it less specific is that there is so much variability in

these kids that it is very hard to make a diagnosis. A child might clearly be

on the spectrum in the holistic sense, but based on DSM, they might get

identified in some other category. In my area there is a 3-6 month wait to see

a good Dev. Ped who is capable of making a Aspie diagnosis, and to get evaluated

at a good clinic/facility, it can be nearly a year.

-

> >

> > The article talks about how the American Psychiatric Association is

proposing to change their " diagnostic bible " including the elimination of

subdiagnosis in the autism spectrum. The proposed change does away with the

autism, asperger's syndrome, and PDD labels and simplifies the diagnosis to

autism spectrum disorder.

> >

> > http://news./s/ap/20100210/ap_on_he_me/us_med_mental_disorders

> >

> > " The draft manual, posted at http://www.DSM5.org, is up for public debate

through April, and it's expected to be lively. "

>

[Guest guest]

News article is athttp://news./s/ap/20100211/ap_on_he_me/us_med_asperger_s_diagnosis/printProposed revision by American Psychiatric Association (APA) is athttp://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=97My comments I submitted to the APA are as follows:As a parent of a high-school-aged child with Asperger's, I do not support the proposed revision.A

separate classification for Asperger's is incredibly helpful in

communicating my child's situation to his educators. It is indeed "a

very useful shorthand". To replace this diagnosis with "autism

spectrum disorder, high functioning, social impaired, restricted

repetitive behavior, good language..." or something similar is simply

absurd despite the proposed rationale. It would be like getting rid of

the term "strawberry" because it is a member of the fruit spectrum that

can be described by distinguishing traits. Also, your own

rationale states that only 44% of children given Asperger, PDD-NOS,

atypical autism, or ‘other ASD’ label actually fulfilled criteria for

Autistic Disorder. This is unacceptably low, in my opinion.The proposed revision should be rejected. Thank you for your consideration,Jim Hoerner--

Hold the door for the stranger behind you. When the driver in the adjacent lane signals to get over, slow down. Smile and say "hi" to the folks you pass on the sidewalk. Give blood. Volunteer. Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now.

[Guest guest]

From what I've read, Asperger's will be taken away as a diagnosis

and your child will be diagnosed as autistic at a certain level.

No more PDD either. I've always felt like it was a totally different

type of disorder than autism anyway so this is opposite toward

what my intuition feels! I also do not see why this is not ALL

treated by neurologists rather than psychiatrists as it is a

neurological disorder. No neurologist in the progressive area of

FL I live in will treat autism. I do not feel it is or should be

in the mental area. I do not feel it should be treated with

antipsychotic medication such as abilify. MHO. Abilify raises

weight, cholesterol, and risk for diabetes. It is an anti-psychotic

drug!! AAAGGG Jo

> >

> > The article talks about how the American Psychiatric Association is

proposing to change their " diagnostic bible " including the elimination of

subdiagnosis in the autism spectrum. The proposed change does away with the

autism, asperger's syndrome, and PDD labels and simplifies the diagnosis to

autism spectrum disorder.

> >

> > http://news. / s/ap/20100210/ ap_on_he_ me/us_med_ mental_disorders

> >

> > " The draft manual, posted at http://www.DSM5. org, is up for public debate

through April, and it's expected to be lively. "

>

[Guest guest]

One other issue I have with changing the diagnosis is that it will be harder to

look at long term trends in the population. We wont be able to compare the old

data to the new data to determine if Asperger's is increasing in the population.

>

>

> News article is at

>

http://news./s/ap/20100211/ap_on_he_me/us_med_asperger_s_diagnosis/prin\

t

>

> Proposed revision by American Psychiatric Association (APA) is at

> http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=97

>

> My comments I submitted to the APA are as follows:

>

> As a parent of a high-school-aged child with Asperger's, I do not support the

proposed revision.

>

> A

> separate classification for Asperger's is incredibly helpful in

> communicating my child's situation to his educators. It is indeed " a

> very useful shorthand " . To replace this diagnosis with " autism

> spectrum disorder, high functioning, social impaired, restricted

> repetitive behavior, good language... " or something similar is simply

> absurd despite the proposed rationale. It would be like getting rid of

> the term " strawberry " because it is a member of the fruit spectrum that

> can be described by distinguishing traits.

>

> Also, your own

> rationale states that only 44% of children given Asperger, PDD-NOS,

> atypical autism, or �other ASD� label actually fulfilled criteria for

> Autistic Disorder. This is unacceptably low, in my opinion.

>

> The proposed revision should be rejected.

>

> Thank you for your consideration,

> Jim Hoerner

>

> --

>

> Hold the door for the stranger behind you. When the driver in the adjacent

lane signals to get over, slow down. Smile and say " hi " to the folks you pass on

the sidewalk. Give blood. Volunteer.

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free.

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