According to numerous sources, the APA is proposing major changes today to the DSM-V. Asperger’s Disorder is likely to be eliminated, causing a more symptom-driven diagnosis. All autism-related disorders will be placed into a general category known as Autism Spectrum Disorders. “Dimensions” will now differentiate ASD including current language functioning and intellectual level/disability. One possibility is the use of autism – mild/moderate/severe, with Asperger’s being referred to as mild. PDD-NOS and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder will also now be subsumed under ASD.
Here are a few links for reference:
having a teen with severe asperger’s, and teaching an ec-classroom, i have to agree that it’s a mistake to eliminate the asperger’s classification. there are already enough aspies in autistic- and bed-classrooms misplaced. they will fall unneccessarily thru the cracks. all gains educating professionals, and the public will stop, and the aspie’s forgotten… my son went from hating school (pre-diagnosis, age 12), to planning for college (now, age 15). he would have been placed in an autistic class if we kept him in the public school system!!! he just finished neuroscience and constitutional law hs-courses, both with high a’s. it should be under the asd-umbrella, but specified. when will we move forward, instead of taking steps back…all in the interest of the mighty dollar… which will be costlier, supporting adults later, because we chose to forget them as kids, or moving forward and raising productive, self-sufficient members of society….sorry, i didn’t mean to go on so long…why didn’t anyone pull out my soapbox…
The Asperger child’s needs and skills are so different than other types of Autism, that they continue to need a category of their own. if they are not specifically identified, their treatment within the school will be similar to that of the lower functioning Autistic child. Not every school system is addressing the individual needs of the child. They are doing what is cheeper and quick. Teacher’s will not be as highly trained to be able to address the individual needs of the Asperger child if the category is meshed in with the Autism Spectrum . As long as the category is individually identified, colleges will address the need. Take the category out, and the information will not be of concern, as there will not be any money there to study that particular child. Thank you
This idea is one of the worse I have heard of in reference to making changes to the DSM ???. It is ain’t broke, then why does the APA keep trying to fix it? It feels like every time I turn around I have to purchase another DSM ???, which is why I now buy the small spiral copy.
Thanks for giving me a safe place to vent my frustrations!
Sincerely,
E. Noble