Comments on: The Clinical Definitions of Autism, Asperger’s, and PDD-NOS http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/ Two parents, one autistic toddler, a new baby, half a clue, and just enough light to see by Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:37:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Tim http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-3690 Tim Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:17:46 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-3690 Oh, and seriously, if there's ever a type of autism a little bit 'higher' up the list than Asperger's, I bet there's a good chance I'd fit in there somewhere. Oh, and seriously, if there’s ever a type of autism a little bit ‘higher’ up the list than Asperger’s, I bet there’s a good chance I’d fit in there somewhere.

]]> By: Tim http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-3689 Tim Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:16:21 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-3689 I've been meaning to do a little digging and see whether children diagnosed with PDD-NOS encounter particular obstacles when seeking school services. When you get "Autism" stamped on your file, most of the rest of the conversation is haggling over how many services you get. I've been wondering whether PDD-NOS makes that conversation - like at the IEP level - a lot more challenging, or is it treated by the schools similarly to autism but perhaps with fewer services or less school hours, or what? This is an area in which I show serious gaps in my knowledge. I'd be interested in your insights. The doctor who diagnosed our son actually refuses to give out PDD-NOS diagnoses at this age. His philosophy was essentially, "If I can't tell you it's autism, I'm not going to make up a label for it." He wasn't into that vague, gray area stuff. I know with the DSM-V revision they're working on (supposedly debuting in 3-5 years), the goal is to greatly refine the categories so that descriptively they make more sense and reflect the reality of what our kids are experiencing. It sounds like one of their major goals is to get rid of PDD-NOS in favor of more specific diagnoses. I'd bet the farm that the number of types of autism described in the manual will go up significantly. How they'll come up with those 'types' is a task I don't envy them at all for. What I'm very fascinated to see is whether they really do add a severity label to a diagnosis. Right now, 'severe', 'moderate', 'high functioning', etc. are all essentially made-up terminology without any clinical definition. One goal of the working group is clearly to remedy that if at all possible. I did find this link that discusses what all they are investigating; it's an interesting read. <a href="http://psychiatry.org/MainMenu/Research/DSMIV/DSMV/DSMRevisionActivities/DSMVWorkGroupReports/NeurodevelopmentalDisordersWorkGroupReport.aspx" target="blank" rel="nofollow">Report of the DSM-V Neurodevelopmental Disorders Work Group</a> I’ve been meaning to do a little digging and see whether children diagnosed with PDD-NOS encounter particular obstacles when seeking school services. When you get “Autism” stamped on your file, most of the rest of the conversation is haggling over how many services you get. I’ve been wondering whether PDD-NOS makes that conversation – like at the IEP level – a lot more challenging, or is it treated by the schools similarly to autism but perhaps with fewer services or less school hours, or what? This is an area in which I show serious gaps in my knowledge. I’d be interested in your insights.

The doctor who diagnosed our son actually refuses to give out PDD-NOS diagnoses at this age. His philosophy was essentially, “If I can’t tell you it’s autism, I’m not going to make up a label for it.” He wasn’t into that vague, gray area stuff.

I know with the DSM-V revision they’re working on (supposedly debuting in 3-5 years), the goal is to greatly refine the categories so that descriptively they make more sense and reflect the reality of what our kids are experiencing. It sounds like one of their major goals is to get rid of PDD-NOS in favor of more specific diagnoses. I’d bet the farm that the number of types of autism described in the manual will go up significantly. How they’ll come up with those ‘types’ is a task I don’t envy them at all for.

What I’m very fascinated to see is whether they really do add a severity label to a diagnosis. Right now, ’severe’, ‘moderate’, ‘high functioning’, etc. are all essentially made-up terminology without any clinical definition. One goal of the working group is clearly to remedy that if at all possible.

I did find this link that discusses what all they are investigating; it’s an interesting read. Report of the DSM-V Neurodevelopmental Disorders Work Group

]]> By: Ecki http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-3626 Ecki Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:42:41 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-3626 My older daughter has a PDD-NOS diagnosis and I hate it. It's so vague, it's not really a diagnosis. It's just something so that she can receive some services in school. Personally I think the PDD-NOS criteria are so silly that just about everyone could have that diagnosis!! My older daughter has a PDD-NOS diagnosis and I hate it. It’s so vague, it’s not really a diagnosis. It’s just something so that she can receive some services in school. Personally I think the PDD-NOS criteria are so silly that just about everyone could have that diagnosis!!

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