Let's clear this up...

[chaoticidealism]

When I say I am "Autistic":

I use "autistic" as a general term for the entire autism spectrum. I think Asperger's and other types of autism are too similar, with too much overlap between them and no clear dividing line, with too many cases on the borderline between them, to be truly separate entities. Certainly you can pick examples of other types

Comments

[ext_174713]

I agree - for similar reasons I refer to everyone as plain "autistic." I see the abbreviation "autie" being used this way too, which is interesting since some people are still using "auties and aspies" separate nickname lingo, and some people just say "autie" short for "autistic person"...

[ext_174713]

Buhh... everyone ON THE SPECTRUM, rather. Not "Everyone" everyone.

[ext_174713]

I do not think anyone is competent to diagnose, either clinicians or researchers unless they understand the inherent social construction of this phenomenon and there own social/economic and cultural position within this manufactory of autism.

Autism is only the extent to which a category of diversity and humanity does not fit within prevailing paradigms and norms.

I don't care what anyone wants to call it, because for all there ADOS and "gold standard" diagnostic schedules they have effectively invented something to keep themselves in a job and a position of perpetual uncertainly and questioning.

The last thing the professionals actually want is an answer because there are effectively on a boojum hunt.

Larry

stephanielynnkeil.blogspot.com

[anonymous]

I'm going to just start saying "ASD." I mostly do this already and I think this helps this problem more. "I have an ASD." Or how about, "I'm an ASD." There. We have a new term...

I do have a problem with people who are diagnosed with Asperger's saying, "Well, I COULD be diagnosed with Autistic Disorder according to the criteria, but I'm not. I COULD be though."

According to the DSM, Autistic Disorder "trumps" Asperger's. If you meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder than you can't be diagnosed with Asperger's; it says it in the DSM.

So, if a doctor actually follows the DSM and you are diagnosed with Asperger's that means you don't meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder.

But, to solve this, let's just use ASD.

So, people with Asperger's have a "mild ASD" and people like my couisn, who is profoundly LFA, have a "profound ASD."

Re: stephanielynnkeil.blogspot.com

[ext_174713]

Interestingly, I hear they're doing quite a bit of reorganizing the whole autism/PDD section in the DSM-V. I'm curious how it's going to work when they're finished. I hope it works better than their current system. Systems always could stand improving (if it can be found), especially something like this.

Re: stephanielynnkeil.blogspot.com

[chaoticidealism]

"According to the DSM, Autistic Disorder "trumps" Asperger's. If you meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder than you can't be diagnosed with Asperger's; it says it in the DSM

Re: stephanielynnkeil.blogspot.com

[anonymous]

So, I guess this is the doctor's fault then. I don't have this problem, I have an IQ over 80 and use spoken language (definitely not very well) but I have a diagnosis of Autism, not Asperger's; I also had a much more severe form as a child.

I really think doctors need to go by the book; it's THERE for a reason.

I guess they must not follow this, then:

"Asperger's Disorder is not diagnosed if criteria are met for another Pervasive Developmental Disorder or for Schizophrenia."

I definitely think that a person with severe autism as a youth can grow up to be much more successful than someone with Asperger's, which is why I, personally, think they are different types of ASDs. I've noticed many differences between myself (and other people diagnosed with autism) and people diagnosed with Asperger's. There seem to be different cognitive "things" going on in the brains of people with AS vs. HFA. I know most people think the only difference is a speech delay but, from my experience, I REALLY disagree with that.

[ext_132625]

Yep. I use "autistic" generically too, for the same reasons.

(Also, with the diagnostic-category overlap, you also have to factor in at what point in time the person is diagnosed. I was evaluated before the DSM-IV came out, and thus was tagged with PDD-NOS rather than Asperger's, which didn't exist yet).

[ext_191603]

This is so excellent, I'm gonna link to it next time I get some of that Aspie/Autie nonsense. That's been annoying me for quite a while now.

[anonymous]

I am ok to refer to myself as Aspergers (and yes, I do have a formal diangosis). I am verbal, I have perfectly fine understanding. What I do have is very significant difficulties in being able to initiate things, which include talking, to be aware of what others are doing around me and what they are thinking and doing in relation to me (this is very hard for me to explain, but I'll give it a go in a minute) and to express myself. This doesn't just mean I get a little awkward or shy in social gatherings, it means that I can't ask for drinks or food or painkillers. I can't say when something is bothering me. Now, probably one reason why I would not be considered severe in terms of communication is that if someone approaches me to talk, then I can usually talk back to them. But if they don't I will remain doing my own thing. After 15 years with my husband I still find it very difficult to initiate talking with him. I've said before on other sites that it is also as though the words are locked in my head, it is annoying when I'm waiting

[chaoticidealism]

(If you've heard this fifty times before, feel free to ignore.) With initiating conversations, have you tried a non-speech method, like maybe PECS? If you can't ask for something you really really need, that could be very annoying. It might be hard to use with strangers (you could get an "I have Autism" card to use for that, though), but with your husband, you could just tell him what you were up to and have some back-up for emergencies. This is assuming that physical actions are easier for you than speech production, so handing somebody a card would be easier than talking to them. Any kind of "I want to talk to you" signal should work, if he knows how to get a conversation going, right

[anonymous]

Well, if it's something that I have to talk about and I haven't been able to verbally do so I do either send an email, or write a letter. It's almost certaintly something psychological going on rather than physical as I find it a lot easier to initiate talking with children (though not when I was a child, obviously). As an adult a lot of the issues are ok, as, as I said, if someone talks to me first I do ok and I can get most things myself that I need, so I rarely need to ask for help. It was more problematic when I was growing up as I wasn't as independant.

[ext_132625]

Wow, Bullet; you sound just like me!

Apart from all the stuff you mention, I don't think to volunteer information. I have to be asked directly, and usually in very specific terms, before I'll think to tell somebody something. And, especially if it's something I have trouble perceiving or understanding, like a feeling or a bodily sensation, I won't even be able to describe it if asked. Usually, I just assume that whatever I am feeling --- even something like pain, dizziness or severe nausea --- is perfectly normal and everybody gets it. (Or, alternately, I'll know something is *wrong*, but won't think to articulate it. Or be able to articulate it even if the notion to do so should occur to me).

I also cannot always talk back to someone, though. And sometimes my speech is quite halting and broken --- my verbal abilities are really uneven.