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/ Parenting, Autism, and the Pursuit of Being Awesome Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:51:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Tim http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-43452 Tim Mon, 16 May 2011 16:57:06 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-43452 Carrie - There has been a lot of discussion about whether Asperger's and PDD-NOS as separate diagnoses will be dropped in favor of broadening the umbrella of autism to include them. This may end up being a good thing in that it should expand opportunities for our kids to get services (theoretically). The DSM-V (the gigantic diagnostic guide to things related to 'mental disorders') is under revision and will probably be released in 2-3 years. I'm not sure where autism-related revisions are at this point, though. PDD-NOS really needs to go away in my opinion because all it really means is "Your child is delayed, we don't know what's going on, but here's a diagnosis. Have a nice day." Parents and kids need something more specific than that. I am conflicted about Asperger's possibly going away as a diagnosis, though. It's something we fairly readily understand when it comes up in conversation, and it is an important identity for a lot of people. If the DSM people capture the important differences between autistic persons (e.g., verbal, non-verbal, or to some degree verbal) for the sake of making an accurate diagnosis for each individual person, then I think we've accomplished something. The overhaul of our long-standing vocabulary is going to be really confusing, however. I think the jury is still very much out on this whole process. Carrie – There has been a lot of discussion about whether Asperger’s and PDD-NOS as separate diagnoses will be dropped in favor of broadening the umbrella of autism to include them. This may end up being a good thing in that it should expand opportunities for our kids to get services (theoretically). The DSM-V (the gigantic diagnostic guide to things related to ‘mental disorders’) is under revision and will probably be released in 2-3 years. I’m not sure where autism-related revisions are at this point, though. PDD-NOS really needs to go away in my opinion because all it really means is “Your child is delayed, we don’t know what’s going on, but here’s a diagnosis. Have a nice day.” Parents and kids need something more specific than that. I am conflicted about Asperger’s possibly going away as a diagnosis, though. It’s something we fairly readily understand when it comes up in conversation, and it is an important identity for a lot of people. If the DSM people capture the important differences between autistic persons (e.g., verbal, non-verbal, or to some degree verbal) for the sake of making an accurate diagnosis for each individual person, then I think we’ve accomplished something. The overhaul of our long-standing vocabulary is going to be really confusing, however. I think the jury is still very much out on this whole process.

]]> By: carrie http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-41218 carrie Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:46:11 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-41218 i am hearing they are taking out pdd-nos and aspergers , my son was JUST diagnosed with pdd-nos first it was aspergers and then we went to an autism clinic and they said pdd-nos and are doing a social situation test on him tuesday april 26th to see if he fits anywhere else with a more definate answer, BUT WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT GETTING RID OF PDD-NOS OR ASPERGERS/?????? CAN ANYONE GIVE ME ANY INSIGHT INTO THIS????????????? i am hearing they are taking out pdd-nos and aspergers , my son was JUST diagnosed with pdd-nos first it was aspergers and then we went to an autism clinic and they said pdd-nos and are doing a social situation test on him tuesday april 26th to see if he fits anywhere else with a more definate answer, BUT WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT GETTING RID OF PDD-NOS OR ASPERGERS/?????? CAN ANYONE GIVE ME ANY INSIGHT INTO THIS?????????????

]]> By: PDD-NOS Autism http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/2009/02/19/the-clinical-definitions-of-autism-aspergers-and-pdd-nos/comment-page-1/#comment-16969 PDD-NOS Autism Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:23:59 +0000 http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/?p=666#comment-16969 Hi, Nice post :). I'm blogging about autism to, can we exchange link? Hi, Nice post :) . I’m blogging about autism to, can we exchange link?

]]> 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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