DSM-5 Proposed Draft

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by violaine

i have not really wanted a separation of AS, because in my own experiences with living on the spectrum, i am in fact, all over the spectrum- exceptionally high functioning some areas, as well as medium to low.


Eliminating the Asperger's diagnosis won't mean that people in that category will lose access to services, Grinker says. That's because "almost anybody with an Asperger's diagnosis also could qualify for what is called autistic disorder," he says, adding that the change could make it easier for some parents to get help for a child with Asperger's.

Right now, states including California provide services to children with autism but not those with Asperger's, Grinker says. "So removing Asperger's really removes what is a false barrier to parents getting care for their kids."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=123527833

Hi, belle.

When I heard about this potential change at work today, I didn't think about the positive that you mention above (some people not being able to get services). Thanks for that thought.

Instead what I thought about was my concern that those parents who struggle with the idea of accepting that their child has Aspergers will have an even harder time accepting an Autism diagnosis (due to the stigma of that recognizable diagnosis), and that more children will become untreated (that may have been treated) if they had been "labeled" with the "lighter" diagnosis of Aspergers (meaning, parents will be less likely to follow through with treatment if they are told that their child has "autism")

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.