tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post2563185663976471219..comments2024-02-13T21:31:57.980-04:00Comments on Facing Autism in New Brunswick: DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder: 3 Domains Become 2 and Exclude Intellectually DisabledAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05838571980003579163noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-37721364097487825192011-08-05T21:31:47.713-03:002011-08-05T21:31:47.713-03:00I think one of the biggest problems with all of th...I think one of the biggest problems with all of this (IMHO) is that the label “ID” still carries such a negative stigma. After generations of people working to change the stigmas of 'autism', people now hear the word 'autism' and think “there's so much we can do to improve this persons life” (and it's true). When we hear the word 'ID' we think “Mentally retarded. So sad. This person will never be worth the money they cost us.” I think it's the label 'ID' that needs an update! It's easier for people to dismiss the ID population- or those who score low on an IQ test- as being 'idiots' then it is to accept that they're just trapped in a body that doesn't work for them. <br /><br />I think most of us don't care what label they put on our children as long as it accurately reflects their challenges and helps them get appropriate supports. What happens if/when our 'low-functioning' kids outgrow their ID diagnosis and have lost years of education and/or a chance at a fulfilling life? “Sorry honey, everyone thought you were worthless”. Are we going to throw out another generation(s) of people because some professionals wanted to 'improve' something during a midlife crisis. They should buy a sports car and leave the DSM alone!trainspotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07808920446636134809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-20544674779726558632011-08-05T18:09:14.136-03:002011-08-05T18:09:14.136-03:00I wonder how this is going to work in practice onc...I wonder how this is going to work in practice once the new DSM is published. How can you separate children who appear to have ID because they have limited communication and social awareness from children who have limited communication and social awareness because they have ID?<br /><br />For example, if you gave my twin daughters an IQ test, they would likely test very poorly, possibly below the ID threshold. A clinician could easily give them an IQ test and declare that because they had a low IQ and deficits in functioning that they have ID instead of autism. <br /><br />But, if you spend any amount of time working with them, you would quickly see that they have at least normal intelligence and it is the severity of their communication problems that makes it seem like they don't. Or in other words, they would have the appearance of ID because they literally don't understand what is going on most of the time.<br /><br />Maybe the solution is going to be for clinicians to determine what the core or root of the problems are and assign a label based on that. But that seems like it would make a diagnosis more arbitrary instead of less.<br /><br />I also have to wonder whether this revision is going to shrink the autism population since it will remove the single largest known cause of autism - fragile x. I believe fragile x accounts for somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of all kids with autism and all of these kids would be disqualified under the DSM v because they would, almost by definition, have ID.M.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12033918835169823548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-72389573321042948972011-08-04T16:12:28.308-03:002011-08-04T16:12:28.308-03:00I'm already planning the launch of my first bo...I'm already planning the launch of my first book "How to cure your severely autistic child of autism in a single day". I'm also thinking about throwing a party to celebrate my daughter's emergence from autism ... of course I may need to send a fruit basket to my neighbours who just found out their 6 year old son has "slight Aspergers" as their child will now be considered "autistic". I'm sure the "severe disability" part will crush their "slightly disabled" consolation speech.<br /><br />The only inconvenient part is that instead of writing "autism" on my daughter's paper work, I'll need to write 6 different disorders in the blank to accurately reflect her challenges that were once covered by the one label. More paperwork makes me grumpy. I should think about ordering a second fruit basket for myself.trainspotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07808920446636134809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-8059035038790114692011-08-03T14:38:46.449-03:002011-08-03T14:38:46.449-03:00The latest on "Wrong Planet" features an...The latest on "Wrong Planet" features an adult recently diagnosed with ASD says she knew nothing about Autism, really - just that it was a terrible thing... drooling, non-speaking... blah blah. Now she's very excited about her new community....blah blah.<br /><br />I've only seen drooling when seizures are going on - how come they always cite drooling?<br /><br />And, call me old-fashioned, but getting excited and writing at length about community, validation, blah blah invalidates an autism diagnosis.<br /><br />Call me perseverative, but APA's DSM is allowing professionals to seek increased billable hours by expanding the population, and now I'll add they're clearly working on cutting back interactions with "challenging" patients: a win-win for their membership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com