Ignoring a Problem Does Not Make it Go Away

Most in the autism community are aware that there will be new criteria that the DSM-5 will impose for an individual to qualify for an autism diagnosis.  In reading the changes, it seems to me that one of the goals is to simplify matters by grouping the "spectrum" diagnoses (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, Austism) into one group and just calling it Autism.  I celebrate this idea!  I have always thought it was unnecessarily confusing to have so many different names for what is essentially the same group of challenges.  Son 1 has Asperger's Syndrome and Son 2 has Autism proper, but was first diagnosed with PDD.  Personally I think professionals tend to use the PDD diagnosis to merely soften the blow for parents, but I digress.  While my sons are both unique and wonderful individuals with very different levels of functioning, I see many of the same challenges and gifts (YES, there ARE gifts that autism brings!) in both of them, and I have always considered them as both having the same syndrome, just to varying degrees.

I have two big problems with the new criteria.  The first is that there will be new levels describing the extent of the individuals functioning and the severity of autism.  I think it is inherently dangerous to further compartmentalize people within a diagnosis.  Why?  Like all people, folks on the spectrum are individuals, with a unique level of functioning, and slapping a Level 3 Autism diagnosis (requiring very substantial support) on a two year old is questionable at best.  For the record, Son 2 would probably have gotten a Level 3 diagnosis at age 2, which is when he received the PDD diagnosis.  This is likely to promote the mindset of "oh well, he's a level 3, what can we really do?" on the part of both professionals and parents.  It could impose a limit on thier potential that may not necessarily exist!  If we had adopted that mindset with Son 2, there is no way he would be where he is now!  The second thing that really chaps my posterior is that some of the higher functioning "border" diagnoses (Non-verbal Learning Disability, Semantic-Pragmatic Language Disorder, Broad Autism Phenotype, and some Asperger's Sydrome) will no longer be considered as being under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders.



I read one of the Docs state "This will do so much to address the growing autism epidemic."   Uhhhh......WHAT?  So we're dealing with the problem by re-defining who and who does not qualify to get help?  Essentially saying that since these are higher-functioning diagnoses, these folks don't count.  Nice.  Well these folks will still need early intervention and educational supports to fulfill thier potential and have a better chance to become independent, fulfilled, tax-paying citizens.  Without appropriate supports, they are far more likely to have to live on public support.  Ignoring a problem will NOT make it go away!!

How will this affect our family?  I'm not sure.  While I am confident that Son 2 will continue to amaze everyone who knows him with his progress, I do not think he will ever "lose" his autism diagnosis, even under these criterion.  I am hopeful that Son 1 will continue to get the supports he needs, so that we won't one day consider the fact that he is high functioning to be unfortunate in any way.  :)