by Tim on November 5, 2009
It’s that time again when they update us on the progress of how the clinical definitions of autism may be redefined in the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. (Read more about this in our The Clinical Definitions of Autism, Asperger’s, and PDD-NOS post from a while back.)
The Neurodevelopmental Disorders working group for the DSM-V (V = 5th Edition) has an interesting list of issues related to ASDs that they are trying to reach conclusions on before the 2012 target date. (Note this is an older version of the list, but it’s still a fascinating read.) To say that whatever is ultimately approved for inclusion in this manual will affect the lives of both parents of autistic children and autistic persons is a serious understatement.
There has already been a lot of commentary and some controversy about this process. It does seem, however, that the working group assigned to revise the DSM for autism have tried to be methodical. careful, and sensitive to all the issues involved. Honestly, I think they were given an almost impossible task here. We won’t really know how well they succeeded until we see the first draft.
This NY Times article describes the latest controversial issue in this process as well as some ongoing ones. This most recent one has already drawn a ton of reaction and might easily be among the most talked about when the draft is released.
The big question being discussed now is whether Asperger’s as a specific, separate diagnosis will be left out of the next DSM. ‘PDD-NOS’ may also be going away. Without the draft actually existing yet, it’s hard to really dig into the real-world meaning of this, but for whatever these are worth, here are my comments about this and some other points.
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by Tim on February 19, 2009
As a preamble to the upcoming sequel to “What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like?” (coming very soon!), I thought we should first go straight to the source in which the diagnoses are defined – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition or DSM-IV. (Technically, it’s DSM-IV-TR, where TR stands for ‘text revision’, but whatever.) The people who evaluate your child don’t sit there with just this list and check off boxes, though. The diagnostic tests they do are far more nuanced, but they are in their own ways based on these criteria.
This is one place where those five-digit codes – known as ICD-9 codes – you might see on medical forms and reports (e.g., 123.45) come from. For the record, ‘Autistic Disorder’ is 299.00 and Asperger’s is 299.80, in case you were wondering.
[Standard Disclaimer - This is not some diagnose-it-yourself kit for you to use on your child. A formal diagnosis must be made by a qualified, experienced professional. This is just to give you some idea of what you are looking for. If you suspect your child may have autism, read our "Five Things You Can Do If You Think Your Child Has Autism" post, and especially note the M-CHAT questionnaire. Don't just say, "My kid only gets 5 out of 6 so there's nothing to be concerned about." It's important that you go over any questions and concerns with qualified people; don't just go 'by the book'.]
This is what that text says (below, or “Click to Continue” if you’re reading this as an excerpt). I will say one thing before plowing ahead – our children and their challenges are far more complex than what can be covered in a diagnostic manual. Think of this like a starting place where the road that follows is full of difficulties, surprises, challenges, unknowns, adventures, and joys.
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by Tim on August 11, 2008
Far and away, the most popular post we’ve had is “What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like?” – the one that lists the specific autistic ‘traits’ or ‘symptoms’ our son has and to what degree. After talking to other parents, the reason why that post is so popular is abundantly clear – parents are afraid and want to know for sure what’s going on. We know; we’ve been there.
With it coming out this past week that Britney Spears is concerned that her son is autistic, the awareness to the issue that brings makes it seem like a good time to cover some steps you should take if you are concerned that your child has autism. There are more than five, of course, but based on our experience, here are some good starting points people either suggested to us or that we wish they had in the midst of all of our confusion.
A few notes first:
1. We are by no means authorities on this subject. This is no substitute for professional advice and your own common sense and expertise about your own child.
2. I know we have some readers outside the U.S., but honestly I don’t have a clue how your local, state, and national governments provide services. Some of this will still apply to you regardless. We’d love input from our readers in other countries.
3. This is primarily geared toward parents whose kids are under age 3.
OK, on with the list.
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