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New Autism Definition
I assume this is talked about more in my field, but wasn't sure if people had read any of the artiles, like this one
Based on the information I have received through professional list servs, etc. the chatter is that this is going to majorly cut back on the number of people diagnosed.
There are so many services kids get in the schools based on the diagnosis that other children are not eligible for. I think this is going to have a major backlash as kids are having their services removed.
I listened to an interview on NPR with one of the original writers of the DSMV categorization of Autism 17 years ago, who is credited as being the father of Asperger's diagnosing, and he says he regrets making it so easy to be diagnosed.
Also, under the new definitely, there would no longer be a PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise SPecified) diagnosis and I believe that is what Alex has as a diagnosis, right hezz?
I have been thinking of him and hope that this does not cause a problem with his services since I know you have already been struggling enough with that.
Have you heard any chatter about this in your area?
Re: New Autism Definition
That's a lot of people. We get a lot of parents that say "My child obsesses over the Cars movie. He's autistic isnt he?"
Parents who crave an autism diagnosis are plenty and bother me.
I haven't heard anythiong from the school yet, and I imagine this is going to be one of those things that doesn't proactively get discussed through the sc hool. I imagine it will be, "we don't know, we don't know, we don't know. wait and see, wait and see, wait and see. Woops! No services, no services, no services!" And the very last second. They aren't publishing this till next year, right? So, I would assume they would have to follow through with his IEP for 2012 and honor it into the end of school year in 2013. Fall of 2013, I think he'll be eligible for Kindergarten, and we wanted him to be intergrated anyway... so, we'll see. The BA for the school is coming to our house on Wed for his eval. I'm not expecting much, if anything...
Basically, I've heard all the hubbub and it leaves me squicky. I don't know how they can just change the definition and leave all the people high and dry. But, I've been feeling kind of high (heheee) ande (not so) dry since Al turning 3, sooooooo.... Fvcked in one hand, bent over in the other?
Hezz, I assume the testing guidelines are the same there, that they do testing every 3 years. So, his current diagnosis for education should stand until that expires, even when this switches over. It's not like the schools are going to retest every kid just because the change goes into affect.
But, even for our kids who are mainstreamed, we have an Autism supplement that has a bunch of supports in place, including in home training that are not availabel to others. So that's going to be an issue for a lot of kids. And I don't think this is going to affect the low incidence population, but there are lots of high incidence kids diagnosed on teh spectrum that I see it affecting.
I see both sides. I think it is good in many ways that they are being more specific about the diagnosis because I think I have seen it applied too loosely many times, but I also feel weird about just dropping all the supports a kid may have had in place for all these years.
Brett and I talked about this the other day. I also heard that NPR interview and found it really fascinating.
Based on his interview, I would say narrowing it (and clarifying it) is a good thing. I know they're working on the NOS stuff for other disorders (Bipolar NOS for sure). I don't think people with that diagnosis will just be told "welp, sucks for you." I think part of the reasoning is that just saying NOS isn't really useful for a lot of people, so this is kind of forcing their hand into making a more definitive choise?
Also, the depression subgroup is getting narrowed a lot as well. And they're considering making a change that would move everyone with major depression and mild manic symptoms to the bipolar group.
I'm extremely fascinated by how they edit and update the DSM.
we all fall down sometimes
brass and ballet flats