Why is everything now just ASD?

[Anonymous]

Like a kid with a MERLD diagnosis would NEVER have been diagnosed with Asperger's.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They changed the diagnostic codes and eliminated Asperger's and PDD-Nos. Now everything is coded as ASD, but with degrees of severity.

OP here, I know that, was just wondering what the reasoning was. It seems counterintuitive to me to go from more specified diagnoses to more generalized so I just didn't know why they went that direction.

Because the previous distinctions weren't helpful. For example, the difference between aspergers and high functioning autism was whether there was a speech delay before age 3. That does not provide any meaningful guidance for what a 10 year old needs. Calling it autism but having levels based on how much support someone needs at that time is more helpful and specific.

And Asperger's was often used as a label to indicate that a kid didn't have any IQ deficits, when that isn't in the criteria at all and not what it meant.

The label high functioning autism was just confusing for patients and families because the researchers used it to mean a patient with language impairments and an IQ greater than 70, but lots of parents didn't think of that as "high functioning" compared to a neurotypical kid. And it really didn't say anything clear about the kid with autism and a testable IQ over 100.

A language impairment is different than autism.

This again? Yes, we know that MERLD kids do not have autism. But some kids with autism do have language impairments and delays and under DSM IV, whether a kid (who met the other requirements of autism) had a language delay or not was the difference between autism and aspergers.

MERLD falls under Social Communication Pragmatics Disorder under DSM V. In case, you actually care about diagnosing your child correctly. (Other than it's not autism, of course.)

Never heard that Mixed Expressive and Receptive Language Disorder is the equivalent of Social Communication Pragmatics Disorder!?! Thought MERLD meant that the person had issues with expressive and receptive language skills that were more severe than just problems with social communication and pragmatic language. For instance in the DSM-IV, kids who got diagnosed with Asperger's had no delays in language (was verbal without expressive/receptive language delays) other than pragmatics.

MERLD and Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder are two different things, but they are both classified under Communications Disorders. MERLD is not necessarily more severe, just a different diagnosis. It's true that in DSM-IV, an Asperger's diagnosis meant you had delays in language, but this was dropped from DSM-V because they found that the lack of language delays wasn't really meaningful once the child gets older.

In the US. In Britain, Pragmatics Disorder is not used as a DX and a diagnosis of autism is given. Researchers don't agree.

Now please stop highjacking this thread.

Whatever but since we are talking about a bunch of diagnosis that no longer exist, MERLD, Asperger's, etc, we may as well clarified how it worked under the old DSM-IV.

[Anonymous]

If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

As a healthcare professional is is alarming how many kids are being diagnosed with ASD who don't actually have it. I agree that from a therapy perspective it can be quite helpful for coverage. But I also believe there is just general over-diagnosis. It has become a catch all when there isn't an obvious answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

Uh, my kid actually was diagnosed with MERLD and PDD-NOS b/f the DSM change. The developmental pediatricians don't give a sh*t what your insurance coverage is. They aren't in cahoots with health insurers, you paranoid nincompoop.

You will get a Social Communication Pragmatics diagnosis now if your kid isn't on the spectrum. Don't let your fear of the autism "label" keep you from actually getting the help your kid needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

Uh, my kid actually was diagnosed with MERLD and PDD-NOS b/f the DSM change. The developmental pediatricians don't give a sh*t what your insurance coverage is. They aren't in cahoots with health insurers, you paranoid nincompoop.

You will get a Social Communication Pragmatics diagnosis now if your kid isn't on the spectrum. Don't let your fear of the autism "label" keep you from actually getting the help your kid needs.

Your are charming. My kid has all kind of diagnosis from MERLD and PDD-NOS to now Autism and who knows what. The only way our insurance pays for therapy is with the autism category. They refused us under MERLD. Our developmental ped works for the insurance company so yes, they care what the insurance is as that is who dictates what they can do. Your insurance is probably different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

Uh, my kid actually was diagnosed with MERLD and PDD-NOS b/f the DSM change. The developmental pediatricians don't give a sh*t what your insurance coverage is. They aren't in cahoots with health insurers, you paranoid nincompoop.

You will get a Social Communication Pragmatics diagnosis now if your kid isn't on the spectrum. Don't let your fear of the autism "label" keep you from actually getting the help your kid needs.

Your are charming. My kid has all kind of diagnosis from MERLD and PDD-NOS to now Autism and who knows what. The only way our insurance pays for therapy is with the autism category. They refused us under MERLD. Our developmental ped works for the insurance company so yes, they care what the insurance is as that is who dictates what they can do. Your insurance is probably different.

The only doctors that are actually hired by the insurance company in this country work for Kaiser. To my knowledge, Kaiser doesn't have any developmental pediatricians.

None of the developmental pediatricians that work for Children's or KKI work for a specific insurance company. So yes, I think you're paranoid and/or that your kid is truly on the spectrum. Don't be ashamed of the diagnosis. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

Uh, my kid actually was diagnosed with MERLD and PDD-NOS b/f the DSM change. The developmental pediatricians don't give a sh*t what your insurance coverage is. They aren't in cahoots with health insurers, you paranoid nincompoop.

You will get a Social Communication Pragmatics diagnosis now if your kid isn't on the spectrum. Don't let your fear of the autism "label" keep you from actually getting the help your kid needs.

Your are charming. My kid has all kind of diagnosis from MERLD and PDD-NOS to now Autism and who knows what. The only way our insurance pays for therapy is with the autism category. They refused us under MERLD. Our developmental ped works for the insurance company so yes, they care what the insurance is as that is who dictates what they can do. Your insurance is probably different.

The only doctors that are actually hired by the insurance company in this country work for Kaiser. To my knowledge, Kaiser doesn't have any developmental pediatricians.

None of the developmental pediatricians that work for Children's or KKI work for a specific insurance company. So yes, I think you're paranoid and/or that your kid is truly on the spectrum. Don't be ashamed of the diagnosis. Get help.

Then, here's an idea, you do not know everything. My kid is not on the spectrum. The only way our insurance pays is through autism. We have tried under language categories and got denied. Our developmental ped. is through our insurance. We have no choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a diagnosis used in Britain, then move there. Stop living in denial and/or fear that your kid will actually be diagnosed with autism. If it's actually "MERLD," then you won't get an autism diagnosis.

Yes, you can. Insurance will pay for autism, but not MERLD. Autism is an easier diagnosis than MERLD as the testing is different and needs to involve non-verbal tests many are not trained or willing to do. Regardless this isn't a MERLD thread. The issue is why are so many kids being diagnosed with autism.

Uh, my kid actually was diagnosed with MERLD and PDD-NOS b/f the DSM change. The developmental pediatricians don't give a sh*t what your insurance coverage is. They aren't in cahoots with health insurers, you paranoid nincompoop.

You will get a Social Communication Pragmatics diagnosis now if your kid isn't on the spectrum. Don't let your fear of the autism "label" keep you from actually getting the help your kid needs.

Your are charming. My kid has all kind of diagnosis from MERLD and PDD-NOS to now Autism and who knows what. The only way our insurance pays for therapy is with the autism category. They refused us under MERLD. Our developmental ped works for the insurance company so yes, they care what the insurance is as that is who dictates what they can do. Your insurance is probably different.

The only doctors that are actually hired by the insurance company in this country work for Kaiser. To my knowledge, Kaiser doesn't have any developmental pediatricians.

None of the developmental pediatricians that work for Children's or KKI work for a specific insurance company. So yes, I think you're paranoid and/or that your kid is truly on the spectrum. Don't be ashamed of the diagnosis. Get help.

Then, you don't know everything including what is best for another poster's child. Our developmental ped. works for our insurance and there is more out there than Children's and KKI.

[Anonymous]

Yes, our insurance doesn't pay either b/c my kid isn't on the spectrum. So here's a thought: Stop your whining and implying that doctors are out to diagnose your kid with autism if he doesn't actually have autism.

[Anonymous]

Kaiser does have at least one dev ped in the area - Conlon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kaiser does have at least one dev ped in the area - Conlon

Yes, as of 2012: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/90/27159.page

He used to be at Children's. But bet you dollars to donuts that the "MELRD" mom isn't with Kaiser and that Dr. Conlon with his considerable history in dealing with SN kids doesn't hand out autism diagnosis based on where he works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kaiser does have at least one dev ped in the area - Conlon

Yes, as of 2012: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/90/27159.page

He used to be at Children's. But bet you dollars to donuts that the "MELRD" mom isn't with Kaiser and that Dr. Conlon with his considerable history in dealing with SN kids doesn't hand out autism diagnosis based on where he works.

Plus, the DSM V was published in 2013. The MERLD mom just doesn't get her kid re-evaluated b/c she's chicken.

[Anonymous]

And even health insurance given through the military, the developmental pediatrician is still not working for the insurance company. Given how much the VA blows off veterans, it's still not a grand conspiracy to give your kid an ASD diagnosis b/c insurance reimburses for therapy.

So yeah, you can run off to the Camaratas and cling to your supposed MERLD diagnosis.