Fwd: Proposed Autism Diagnosis Changes Anger Aspies

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*Proposed Autism Diagnosis Changes Anger " Aspies " *

Originally printed at http://www.kauz.com/news/local/84303417.html

CHICAGO (AP) -- In the autism world, " Aspies " are sometimes seen as the

elites, the ones who are socially awkward, yet academically gifted and who

embrace their quirkiness.

Now, many Aspies, a nickname for people with Asperger's syndrome, are upset

over a proposal they see as an attack on their identity. Under proposed

changes to the most widely used diagnostic manual of mental illness,

Asperger's syndrome would no longer be a separate diagnosis.

Instead, Asperger's and other forms of autism would be lumped together in a

single " autism spectrum disorders " category. Some parents say they'd welcome

the change, thinking it would eliminate confusion over autism's variations

and perhaps lead to better educational services for affected kids.

But opponents - mostly older teens and adults with Asperger's - disagree.

Liane Holliday Willey, a Michigan author and self-described Aspie whose

daughter also has Asperger's, fears Asperger's kids will be stigmatized by

the autism label - or will go undiagnosed and get no services at all.

Grouping Aspies with people " who have language delays, need more self-care

and have lower IQs, how in the world are we going to rise to what we can

do? " Willey said.

Rubinstein, 23, a graduate student from Massapequa, N.Y., says she

" vehemently " opposes the proposal and will think of herself as someone with

Asperger's no matter what.

Autism and Asperger's " mean such different things, " she said.

Yes and no.

Both are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism has long been

considered a disorder that can range from mild to severe. Asperger's

symptoms can vary, but the condition is generally thought of as a mild form

and since 1994 has had a separate category in psychiatrists' diagnostic

manual. Both autism and Asperger's involve poor social skills, repetitive

behavior or interests, and problems communicating. But unlike classic

autism, Asperger's does not typically involve delays in mental development

or speech.

The American Psychiatric Association's proposed revisions, announced

Wednesday, involve autism and several other conditions. The suggested autism

changes are based on research advances since 1994 showing little difference

between mild autism and Asperger's. Evidence also suggests that doctors use

the term loosely and disagree on what it means, according to psychiatrists

urging the revisions.

A new autism spectrum category recognizes that " the symptoms of these

disorders represent a continuum from mild to severe, rather than being

distinct disorders, " said Dr. Edwin Cook, a University of Illinois at

Chicago autism researcher and member of the APA work group proposing the

changes.

The proposed revisions are posted online at

http://www.DSM5.org<http://www.dsm5.org/>for public comment, which

will influence whether they are adopted.

Publication of the updated manual is planned for May 2013.

Dr. Mina Dulcan, child and adolescent psychiatry chief at Chicago's

Children's Memorial Hospital, said Aspies' opposition " is not really a

medical question, it's an identity question. "

" It would be just like if you were a student at MIT. You might not want to

be lumped with somebody in the community college, " said Dulcan who supports

the diagnostic change.

" One of the characteristics of people with Asperger's is that they're very

resistant to change, " Dulcan added. The change " makes scientific sense. I'm

sorry if it hurts people's feelings, " she said.

Harold Doherty, a New Brunswick lawyer whose 13-year-old son has severe

autism, opposes the proposed change for a different reason. He says the

public perception of autism is skewed by success stories - the

high-functioning " brainiac " kids who thrive despite their disability.

Doherty says people don't want to think about children like his son, Conor,

who will never be able to function on his own. The revision would only skew

the perception further, leading doctors and researchers to focus more on

mild forms, he said.

It's not clear whether the change would affect autistic kids' access to

special services.

But Kelli Gibson of Battle Creek, Mich., whose four sons have different

forms of autism, thinks it would. She says the revision could make services

now designated just for kids with an " autism " diagnosis available to less

severely affected kids - including those with Asperger's and a variation

called pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.

Also, Gibson said, she'd no longer have to use four different terms to

describe her boys.

" Hallelujah! Let's just put them all in the same category and be done with

it, " Gibson said.