Re: DSM IV criteria for Aspergers--two questions for Kristie (or Laurie)

[Guest guest]

Kristie,

Just curious--do you know if Asperger's symptoms can manifest in

varying degrees of severity over a spectrum, as in other forms of

autism, or does it tend to be more uniform?

Has the genetic basis for Asperger's been defined, as in mutations

identified?

As a former teacher, I've had a long-time interest in autism. The

best book I've ever read on autism (and I've read many!) is A Slant

of Sun: One Child's Courage by Beth Kephart. Here's a brief blurb

about the book: " Named a Best Book of the Year by Salon magazine and

The Philadelphia Inquirer, A Slant of Sun was praised for its

incandescent prose about the experience of loving a child who brings

tremendous frustration and incalculable rewards and for its

extraordinary resonance. " In fact, I would highly recommend this

book for anyone who has a child with a " difference. "

Thanks.

Barbara

> For all those interested the following are the DSM criteria for

Asperger's:

>

> A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by

at least TWO of the following:

> 1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal

behaviors such as eye to eye gaze, facial expressions, body postures

and gestures to regulate social interaction.

> 2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to

developmental level.

> 3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests

or achievements with other people.

> 4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

> B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,

interests and activities as manifested by at least ONE of the

following:

> 1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and

restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity

or focus.

> 2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional

routines or rituals.

> 3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

> 4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

> C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in

social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

> D. There is no clinically significant delay in language.

> E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive

development or the development of age- appropriate self-help skills,

adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

> F. Criteria are not met for any other specific Pervasive

Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

>

> Please note you must meet all the requirements A-F.

>

> Kristie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Barbara

There is a wide variation or spectrum within the classification of

Aspergers. You might say that severe autism is at one end of the spectrum

and Aspergers is at the other end in varying degrees. I have students with

that diagnosis who have terrible social problems and others who just act a

little strange. One thing they have in common in my experience is sticking

to one topic over a long period of time. My neighbor was stuck on dinosaurs

for about two years and then switched to something else. Another student has

been stuck on Egypt. I get involved when the students are starting to have

academic problems due to the autism or Aspergers. In Michigan, they are all

classified as autistically impaired for the school classifications.

I know of no gene that has been found. They know it is a malfunction in the

brains neuro-transmitters. A friend has a son who is extremely bright who is

autistic and he has responded well to some of the same things I have. Things

like folic acid and some diet restrictions have made him less difficult to

manage, although I love being around him. He sure makes me feel dumb.

An adult I know who has Aspergers says it is like being in a foreign country

where you don't know the language or customs. I also have an interest in

autism. One year I had 5 Kindergarten students who were autistic, all in one

school. I got a crash course that year.

laurie

>

> Reply-To:

> Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 15:44:13 -0000

> To:

> Subject: Re: DSM IV criteria for Aspergers--two questions for

> Kristie (or Laurie)

>

> Kristie,

>

> Just curious--do you know if Asperger's symptoms can manifest in

> varying degrees of severity over a spectrum, as in other forms of

> autism, or does it tend to be more uniform?

>

> Has the genetic basis for Asperger's been defined, as in mutations

> identified?

>

> As a former teacher, I've had a long-time interest in autism. The

> best book I've ever read on autism (and I've read many!) is A Slant

> of Sun: One Child's Courage by Beth Kephart. Here's a brief blurb

> about the book: " Named a Best Book of the Year by Salon magazine and

> The Philadelphia Inquirer, A Slant of Sun was praised for its

> incandescent prose about the experience of loving a child who brings

> tremendous frustration and incalculable rewards and for its

> extraordinary resonance. " In fact, I would highly recommend this

> book for anyone who has a child with a " difference. "

>

> Thanks.

> Barbara

>

>

>

>> For all those interested the following are the DSM criteria for

> Asperger's:

>>

>> A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by

> at least TWO of the following:

>> 1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal

> behaviors such as eye to eye gaze, facial expressions, body postures

> and gestures to regulate social interaction.

>> 2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to

> developmental level.

>> 3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests

> or achievements with other people.

>> 4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

>> B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,

> interests and activities as manifested by at least ONE of the

> following:

>> 1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and

> restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity

> or focus.

>> 2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional

> routines or rituals.

>> 3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

>> 4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

>> C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in

> social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

>> D. There is no clinically significant delay in language.

>> E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive

> development or the development of age- appropriate self-help skills,

> adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

>> F. Criteria are not met for any other specific Pervasive

> Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

>>

>> Please note you must meet all the requirements A-F.

>>

>> Kristie

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Tks, Laurie. I appreciate your insights. The hang-up on certain

topics is fascinating.....sort of a perseveration of the mind? And

then the striking gifts side by side with striking impairments, as

in your super-smart student. What interesting days you must have!

(And challenging!)

Barbara

> >> For all those interested the following are the DSM criteria for

> > Asperger's:

> >>

> >> A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested

by

> > at least TWO of the following:

> >> 1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal

> > behaviors such as eye to eye gaze, facial expressions, body

postures

> > and gestures to regulate social interaction.

> >> 2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to

> > developmental level.

> >> 3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests

> > or achievements with other people.

> >> 4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

> >> B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,

> > interests and activities as manifested by at least ONE of the

> > following:

> >> 1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and

> > restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in

intensity

> > or focus.

> >> 2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional

> > routines or rituals.

> >> 3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

> >> 4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

> >> C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in

> > social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

> >> D. There is no clinically significant delay in language.

> >> E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive

> > development or the development of age- appropriate self-help

skills,

> > adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in

childhood.

> >> F. Criteria are not met for any other specific Pervasive

> > Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

> >>

> >> Please note you must meet all the requirements A-F.

> >>

> >> Kristie

> >>

> >>

> >>

[Guest guest]

Barbara

Never boring and never two days alike.

laurie

>

> Reply-To:

> Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 18:51:26 -0000

> To:

> Subject: Re: DSM IV criteria for Aspergers--two questions for

> Kristie (or Laurie)

>

> Tks, Laurie. I appreciate your insights. The hang-up on certain

> topics is fascinating.....sort of a perseveration of the mind? And

> then the striking gifts side by side with striking impairments, as

> in your super-smart student. What interesting days you must have!

> (And challenging!)

>

> Barbara

>

>

>

>>>> For all those interested the following are the DSM criteria for

>>> Asperger's:

>>>>

>>>> A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested

> by

>>> at least TWO of the following:

>>>> 1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal

>>> behaviors such as eye to eye gaze, facial expressions, body

> postures

>>> and gestures to regulate social interaction.

>>>> 2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to

>>> developmental level.

>>>> 3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests

>>> or achievements with other people.

>>>> 4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

>>>> B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,

>>> interests and activities as manifested by at least ONE of the

>>> following:

>>>> 1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and

>>> restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in

> intensity

>>> or focus.

>>>> 2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional

>>> routines or rituals.

>>>> 3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

>>>> 4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

>>>> C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in

>>> social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

>>>> D. There is no clinically significant delay in language.

>>>> E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive

>>> development or the development of age- appropriate self-help

> skills,

>>> adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in

> childhood.

>>>> F. Criteria are not met for any other specific Pervasive

>>> Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

>>>>

>>>> Please note you must meet all the requirements A-F.

>>>>

>>>> Kristie

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>