Re: Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

[Guest guest]

Ok, I'm learning here as well, so can someone clarify what is HFA? Shirley

From: bridget <beanniferj@...> Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 11:54:27 AMSubject: ( ) Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

Hi all,I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a "twice exceptional" child, he is perhaps not very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is a dx for people who are "spectrum-y" (as our developmental therapist says), but do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is this an accurate interpretation? Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH, they consider AS and HFA to be the

same thing, and that it is her understanding that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx, the point may become moot!Thanks for your help!Bridget

[Guest guest]

What does PDD-NOS stand for, I am new to all this

From: bridget <beanniferj@...> Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 11:54:27 AMSubject: ( ) Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

Hi all,I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a "twice exceptional" child, he is perhaps not very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is a dx for people who are "spectrum-y" (as our developmental therapist says), but do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is this an accurate interpretation? Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH, they consider AS and HFA to be the

same thing, and that it is her understanding that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx, the point may become moot!Thanks for your help!Bridget

[Guest guest]

299.80 Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Including Atypical Autism)

This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder. For example, this category includes atypical autism --- presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age of onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.

so yes " spectrum-y " sounds right

On Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 2:54 PM, bridget <beanniferj@...> wrote:

 

Hi all,I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a " twice exceptional " child, he is perhaps not very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is a dx for people who are " spectrum-y " (as our developmental therapist says), but do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is this an accurate interpretation?

Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH, they consider AS and HFA to be the same thing, and that it is her understanding that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx, the point may become moot!

Thanks for your help!Bridget

-- -mommy to Emma, Becca, , , , and Leah

[Guest guest]

ok, High Functioning Autism,

Cathleen

From: Shirley <shirleycarter80@...> Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 12:01:17 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

Ok, I'm learning here as well, so can someone clarify what is HFA? Shirley

From: bridget <beanniferj@...> Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 11:54:27 AMSubject: ( ) Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

Hi all,I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a "twice exceptional" child, he is perhaps not very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is a dx for people who are "spectrum-y" (as our developmental therapist says), but do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is this an accurate interpretation? Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH, they consider AS and HFA to be the

same thing, and that it is her understanding that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx, the point may become moot!Thanks for your help!Bridget

[Guest guest]

pdd-nos is pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise  specified, basically autism symptoms but not enough or severe enough to get an autism or aspergers diagnosis.  hfa is high functioning autism, similiar to aspergers except to get an autism diagnosis you have to have a speech delay prior to the age of 3 whereas aspergers you cannot have had a speech or cognitive delay.  hfa is not an actual diagnosis though, in other words it is not listed in the dsm (diagnostic manual) and so doesnt have a diagnostic code.  according to codes/manual its either autism or not so to be hfa you have to meet the diagnostic criteria for " autism " , hfa just refers to a mild autism, sometimes ppl use it to refer to a child who has autism but speaks in understandable sentences, has an iq over 80, is mainstreamed, only meets 6 or 7 criteria for autism, only just qualifies on the ados, cars or such, etc etc.  so basically it means different things to different ppl but in jest it means just what it sounds like, a person with autism who functions highly

On Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 3:01 PM, Shirley <shirleycarter80@...> wrote:

 

Ok, I'm learning here as well, so can someone clarify what is HFA? Shirley

From: bridget <beanniferj@...>

Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 11:54:27 AMSubject: ( ) Difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA?

 

Hi all,I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a " twice exceptional " child, he is perhaps not very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is a dx for people who are " spectrum-y " (as our developmental therapist says), but do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is this an accurate interpretation?

Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH, they consider AS and HFA to be the same thing, and that it is her understanding that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx, the point may become moot!

Thanks for your help!Bridget

-- -mommy to Emma, Becca, , , , and Leah

[Guest guest]

My thoughts...

Autism spectrum disorders are considered to be on a spectrum/continuum in

regards to severity with autism being more severe and Asperger's being at the

less severe end. Additionally, there is a lot of variation when it comes to

symptoms. There's a common phrase 'if you've seen one person with Asperger's,

you've seen ONE person with Asperger's.' So roughly speaking PPD-NOS is a

category for someone who is on the spectrum, but doesn't meet the firm

diagnostic criteria for autism or Asperger's. My understanding is that someone

with PDD-NOS could have more severe issues while not meeting the diagnostic

criteria for the other categories. The latest version of the DSM (the

classification manual) is likely going to do away with these categories and

simply replace them with a more inclusive classification " autism spectrum

disorders. "

IMHO, it is important for someone with a PDD-NOS diagnosis to get a 2nd opinion

from someone very familiar with people on the spectrum. I was reading Tony

Attwood's book recently, and it appears that in making a diagnosis of Asperger's

he doesn't strictly follow the DSM criteria and has somewhat different

standards. Generally speaking it isn't easy to diagnose people on the spectrum

which is why they are considering making it all just one category.

-

PS The first 50 pages or so of Attwood's book, the Complete Guide to

Asperger's Syndrome might help you sort a lot of this stuff out.

>

> Hi all,

>

> I was wondering if someone could please clarify for me the difference between

PDD-NOS and Asperger's/HFA? My son finally had his initial intake appt. at our

local TEACCH center yesterday, and the counselor did agree to refer him for an

ADOS test and evaluation for autism spectrum. Our belief all along has been that

our son has AS, and the counselor could see why, but she also asked me if I had

heard of PDD-NOS. I think that as a " twice exceptional " child, he is perhaps not

very easy to classify or to pin down a dx (the child psychologist from early

intervention referred to him as a puzzle!); it is my impression that PDD-NOS is

a dx for people who are " spectrum-y " (as our developmental therapist says), but

do not clearly fit into the diagnostic criteria for AS or classic autism - is

this an accurate interpretation?

>

> Just to make matters more interesting, the counselor mentioned that at TEACCH,

they consider AS and HFA to be the same thing, and that it is her understanding

that the next edition of the DSM is likely going to no longer list AS as a

separate dx from HFA. She added that they may also lump PDD-NOS into autism too

in the next edition. As soon as I figure out the differences between these dx,

the point may become moot!

>

> Thanks for your help!

>

> Bridget

>