What do you think? Is it AS or Autism?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
What do you think? Is it AS or Autism?
17
Mon, 12-11-2006 - 12:59am
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Mon, 12-11-2006 - 10:32am

That is interesting!

I do think the DSM IV if very vauge about the language aspect: There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years). Kyle had single words by age 2 but only about 10 and he'd often say a word once and then never again. He didn't say Mama in reference to me. But by age 3 you'd never had known-he was jabbering up a storm. Of course most of it was scripted with lots of repeating but I didn't even realize it most of the time.

The other thing I find confusing about the DSM IV is it says in section one: a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people). Then section 5 says: There is no clinically significant delay in curiosity about the environment in childhood. Those two seem contraditory to me.

Also section 5 says there is no delay in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior. I always thought that was a common problem for Aspies. I know it was for Kyle. Was I wrong?

I have always thought of Kyle as having AS even though technically he wasn't dx as AS. (his dx was ASD more indicative of AS at this time) But I've also always thought of AS as autism not something different from it, just a less sever form of autism. According to the DSM IV Kyle is not AS. He had a language delay (even though he was speaking single words by age two and pharses by 3), and he gets speach therapy now, he wasn't a curious child-he would not notice if someone rang the door bell & came in for a visit & I'm sure if I left the house for hours he wouldn't even know (I wouldn't do that). He need help dressing for years and still does on occasion, needs help brushing his teeth and washing his hair at age 11. Should I stop refering to him as having AS. I told him he has AS. hmmmm

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 2:30pm

~bump~

I found this very interesting and was hoping some others would share their views/experience with it.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 3:36pm

This came up again today.

I was talking to the diagnostic center people and they asked me if Mike was dx'ed Aspergers or Autistic. I told them that was the 1 million dollar question. I need to ask him what the difference is.

I told him that the problem here is that while Cait was language delayed and could officially be considered autistic due to those rules, she is currently at a much higher level than Mike as far as current langauge, adaptability, and autism in general. That where he is on the spectrum has been called to question and where do all those other things fit in? Sure his language wasn't "delayed" as in when he started to talk but conversing with the kid now and his language now....well.

The guy gave ma a contemplative "hmmmmmmm". I guess I will ahve to wait to hear his oppinion at our meeting tomorrow. I know when I read through the diagnostic criteria for autism Mike easily meets the criteria. When I read AS he does too except that he has delayes in self help and adaptive behavior but then they tell me that all aspies are delayed in that. THEN WHY IS IT IN THERE?

Oh well.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 9:35pm

I think it all should be Autism.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 9:50pm

Well, I just checked the DSV IV and Isaac fits the criteria for Autistic Disorder as well.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 10:28pm

Well, imho the DSM IV can be quite flawed.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 11:15pm

oh don't even get me going on the whole mood disorder diagnosing in kids thing. That is so not even close to right that most doctors don't even refer to the dsm when diagnosing childhood bipolar. There is only criteria for adults from my understanding so most docs don't use in when diagnosing. In fact I knwo there are books and such with what bp looks like but no actual criteria for COBP.

Talk about a book that needs updating. If this thing is THE document by which diagnosis are made and thus treatment is determined it aught to be less than 12 years old.

Ya know when doing my undergrad degree for education we were taught that texts over 5 years old where outdated. That most districts try to update thier texts to new versions at least every 5 years. Seems if 5 years is getting too old for 5th grade social studies then 12 aught to be a tad outdated for the diagnostic manual that is used for this purpose.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 12-12-2006 - 11:27pm
have you read The ADHD/Autism Connection?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2006
Wed, 12-13-2006 - 1:47am

This got me thinking.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Wed, 12-13-2006 - 8:07am

Well.. I think reading through all this makes me feel there *is* a 'difference' in the two..... Because my DS seems *to me* (no dx yet) to hit enough 'yes' (or at least 'I think so') answers on the AS qualifications to 'count', but is *just barely* under enough on the Autism list.

I think (again, if he gets an official dx at all) he would be the sort of kid that the distinction was made for... he certainly seems to be on the spectrum, but not 'enough' to comfortably call autistic. I even feel 'guilty' thinking of him as AS sometimes... like I'm just latching on to the latest thing so that he's not just 'odd'. (And the same for me as well... seeing myself as AS because I was a 'weird' kid and still not 'normal' and I'd like to have a *name* for it.)

I'd guess that the two 'ends' of the spectrum just blend as you go along the spectrum so much that there is very little way to pin down *one* dx unless you are just hanging on to one of the edges. My son and I... we are just close enough to the 'normal' end of the spectrum that I *serious doubt* you could get us classed as autistic... but even with my random doubts I see enough to call AS that we are persuing a dx for him. (Finally! Our family doc is sending the forms to the developemental center this week.)

Maybe I'm wrong because I'm still just so new to all this... maybe I'll change my mind in a few years. But for now I'm really glad we have both 'options' on the books.

Kristy

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