Washington Post on identification of distinct autism subtypes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am seeing the Facebook memes about girls with autism, and I ticked all the boxes when I was younger.

But I am not autistic. It's ludicrous to say I am.

If you are a functional adult, you aren’t either. The DSM specifically says that the condition must impact daily living.

The categories are a mess and written in a way that people are DXed with ASD when they actually have a genetic condition like Downs or Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Maybe these categories will prove fruitful down the road but there is still a lot of work to do.

Is this true? Because I have a cousin diagnosed asd and he is able to hold a job, socialize, take care of a home and so on. Yet you'd know he was asd upon meeting him (no eye contact, facial tics, talks about his own interests and doesn't make conversation well.) In the past he'd just be an oddball. If his daily living isn't impacted is he normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am seeing the Facebook memes about girls with autism, and I ticked all the boxes when I was younger.

But I am not autistic. It's ludicrous to say I am.

If you are a functional adult, you aren’t either. The DSM specifically says that the condition must impact daily living.

The categories are a mess and written in a way that people are DXed with ASD when they actually have a genetic condition like Downs or Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Maybe these categories will prove fruitful down the road but there is still a lot of work to do.

“Functional adult” isn’t the test. Significantly impaired in a basic function is. You can be a functional adult with no friends, for instance. Or a functional adult who regularly changes jobs. Or a functional adult who is unable to go on vacation due to restricted eating patterns. That’s all significant impairment.

But I continue to think that the diagnostic criteria are a mess and this study doesn’t shed that much light on it.

+1
I am certain many people think my young kid is not really autistic, but every trained therapist she has ever worked with has noticed she is not NT and suspected autism. Just because you as a layperson can't see the impairment, doesn't mean the person doesn't have one. Other people's opinions really don't matter at all. If it bothers you that my kid is called autistic and she doesn't fit with your stereotypes of what autism is, I do not care. If they choose to call what my kid is something else besides autism, that is completely fine with me. Whatever happens, we will continue providing supports that we are lucky to be able to pay for, supports that make it possible to have friends and participate in the classroom. And that's something we would never have known she needed indefinitely without the diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

My story is very similar to yours.

I was honestly extremely shocked to recently find out that I’m autistic and it is still hard to accept. But a lot of things about how I was clicked — sensory issues, overstimulation, rigid thinking, needing routine. I just thought these things were apart of my personality.

I’m a fully functioning adult: I’m a mom of four kids 10 & under, graduated from a top school, earned a graduate degree, and now work as a lawyer. To most people, I’ve always appeared “normal,” and I still do. But looking back at my childhood, it’s striking to me now. Before Pre-K, I very obviously showed autistic traits and appeared autistic. As I got older—by around age 8—I learned to mask extremely well. I don’t remember learning how to mask, but as I got older it was just something that I subconsciously did. I was a very mature, intelligent child, and those strengths helped me adapt so no one including myself noticed.

I do think we can acknowledge both Level 1 ASD and profound autism at the same time. Both are real, and both deserve recognition. I strongly believe research and resources should be primarily focused on profound autism and high support needs, and should not ignored. Autism can be incredibly hard, and that reality shouldn’t be minimized.

At the same time, being “high functioning” doesn’t mean being unaffected. Even those of us who are outwardly successful still experience real challenges. There’s room for nuance here, and recognizing the full spectrum matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

It’s been hard to figure out because she does understand social cues & has a good sense of empathy, but I recently watched a video of a kindergarten performance, and she seemed really anxious and looked out of place. She was fidgeting, putting her fingers in her mouth, moving & looking around. She’s always had just one close friend, and that friend's friends were more like acquaintances to her (not really). The friend she’s comfortable with is usually very similar to her. She also has a tough time with change, like the end of the year is always difficult for her because it signals the start of a new one. In terms of independence, she is capable of driving and working, but she feels too young for that level of freedom, if that makes any sense.

This sounds exactly like DS. We’ve wondered if he could be on the spectrum too but there different neuro psych evaluations (ages 5, 10 and 17) found him to have ADHD and anxiety, which can present similarly to autism. From what I understand, the biggest difference and why DS didn’t get an autism diagnosis is he understands reciprocal behavior (a friendship is one where both parties give and take), can read social clues and understand sarcasm and shows empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am seeing the Facebook memes about girls with autism, and I ticked all the boxes when I was younger.

But I am not autistic. It's ludicrous to say I am.

If you are a functional adult, you aren’t either. The DSM specifically says that the condition must impact daily living.

The categories are a mess and written in a way that people are DXed with ASD when they actually have a genetic condition like Downs or Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Maybe these categories will prove fruitful down the road but there is still a lot of work to do.

“Functional adult” isn’t the test. Significantly impaired in a basic function is. You can be a functional adult with no friends, for instance. Or a functional adult who regularly changes jobs. Or a functional adult who is unable to go on vacation due to restricted eating patterns. That’s all significant impairment.

But I continue to think that the diagnostic criteria are a mess and this study doesn’t shed that much light on it.

None of what you described is being a functional adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

If how you described yourself is autism, then that tent is pretty big.

That sounds exactly like what Level 1 ASD is.

It really does not. even level 1 is supposed to be apparent across multiple domains (so you wouldn’t expect to just not be evident at work) and cause clinically significant impairment.

Please tell me what makes you qualified to be the arbiter of who is impaired enough to be deemed autistic or not… why are you so concerned?

The blatant ignorance people have about this is crazy.

[Anonymous]

In the workplace I have a set role to fill and I am working with a United Nations-diverse group. This is way easier to navigate than a group of women my age, my SES, my national origin. So many unwritten rules that I never learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the workplace I have a set role to fill and I am working with a United Nations-diverse group. This is way easier to navigate than a group of women my age, my SES, my national origin. So many unwritten rules that I never learned.

Believing that you are “not like other girls” is not a neurodevelopmental disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

If how you described yourself is autism, then that tent is pretty big.

That sounds exactly like what Level 1 ASD is.

It really does not. even level 1 is supposed to be apparent across multiple domains (so you wouldn’t expect to just not be evident at work) and cause clinically significant impairment.

Please tell me what makes you qualified to be the arbiter of who is impaired enough to be deemed autistic or not… why are you so concerned?

The blatant ignorance people have about this is crazy.

Huh. How about ask any group of practicing psychiatrists and PhD psychologists whether they think autism (and ADHD for that matter) is overdiagnosed. I don’t mean that one grifter making their career out of autism being everywhere. I mean the profession as a whole. It is almost universally understood now that the DSM 5 revisions plus social media lead to a huge uptick of overdiagnosis and adults convinced that they have ADHD or autism who actually have other issues they don’t want to acknowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the workplace I have a set role to fill and I am working with a United Nations-diverse group. This is way easier to navigate than a group of women my age, my SES, my national origin. So many unwritten rules that I never learned.

Believing that you are “not like other girls” is not a neurodevelopmental disorder.

DP but female friendships can be incredibly difficult and complex, I'm not surprised they make some people believe the are neurodivergent, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

If how you described yourself is autism, then that tent is pretty big.

That sounds exactly like what Level 1 ASD is.

It really does not. even level 1 is supposed to be apparent across multiple domains (so you wouldn’t expect to just not be evident at work) and cause clinically significant impairment.

Please tell me what makes you qualified to be the arbiter of who is impaired enough to be deemed autistic or not… why are you so concerned?

The blatant ignorance people have about this is crazy.

Huh. How about ask any group of practicing psychiatrists and PhD psychologists whether they think autism (and ADHD for that matter) is overdiagnosed. I don’t mean that one grifter making their career out of autism being everywhere. I mean the profession as a whole. It is almost universally understood now that the DSM 5 revisions plus social media lead to a huge uptick of overdiagnosis and adults convinced that they have ADHD or autism who actually have other issues they don’t want to acknowledge.

I thought Psychologists and Psychiatrists wrote the DSM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

If how you described yourself is autism, then that tent is pretty big.

That sounds exactly like what Level 1 ASD is.

It really does not. even level 1 is supposed to be apparent across multiple domains (so you wouldn’t expect to just not be evident at work) and cause clinically significant impairment.

Please tell me what makes you qualified to be the arbiter of who is impaired enough to be deemed autistic or not… why are you so concerned?

The blatant ignorance people have about this is crazy.

Huh. How about ask any group of practicing psychiatrists and PhD psychologists whether they think autism (and ADHD for that matter) is overdiagnosed. I don’t mean that one grifter making their career out of autism being everywhere. I mean the profession as a whole. It is almost universally understood now that the DSM 5 revisions plus social media lead to a huge uptick of overdiagnosis and adults convinced that they have ADHD or autism who actually have other issues they don’t want to acknowledge.

I thought Psychologists and Psychiatrists wrote the DSM

Yep. By committee of mainly academics. The clinical practicioners feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people that seem to care are the parents of kids who have more difficult symptoms/experiences.

I’m not sure that’s quite true. I got diagnosed recently as an adult… I’m very high functioning (have a doctorate, high paying career, etc) but have struggled socially forever and sought a diagnosis after pretty much realizing it for myself a few years back. My mother refuse to accept I have autism because her vision of autism is the very high needs, low functioning type…

What symptoms did/do you have?

I’m asking because I believe my 18yo DD might be on the spectrum. She’s never really completely fit in with other girls her age. She’d try and like the same things but it wouldn’t come natural to her, at 13/14 when other girls were experimenting with makeup/fashion, she felt too young and wasn’t as interested, and now regularly says she still feels 12 and can’t imagine having the independence to do adult things like drive, work, etc.

I’m fiercely independent so not like your daughter in that way. I have always, always been perceived as weird by the people around me and was severely bullied pretty much my whole life. In high school I had a girl pretty much tell me to my face that she didn’t want me to come to a social gathering because I was weird. I never understood social cues and would end up trying to mimic things I saw on tv shows to try to fit in which just made me weirder. In my adult life I don’t have many friends. I am married (my husband is also neurodivergent and accepts my weirdness). I also get really easily frustrated at things. Oh and I never realize how loud I am especially when I get excited about what I’m talking about… my husband always has to shush me, lol.

But as I said besides socially I’m prettt successful… I’ve always been smart and excelled academically and in my career. Professionally I’m able to mask and fake my way through being collegial and I supervise a ton of folks who have all raved about me as a manager, so it doesn’t manifest there…

If how you described yourself is autism, then that tent is pretty big.

That sounds exactly like what Level 1 ASD is.

It really does not. even level 1 is supposed to be apparent across multiple domains (so you wouldn’t expect to just not be evident at work) and cause clinically significant impairment.

Please tell me what makes you qualified to be the arbiter of who is impaired enough to be deemed autistic or not… why are you so concerned?

The blatant ignorance people have about this is crazy.

Huh. How about ask any group of practicing psychiatrists and PhD psychologists whether they think autism (and ADHD for that matter) is overdiagnosed. I don’t mean that one grifter making their career out of autism being everywhere. I mean the profession as a whole. It is almost universally understood now that the DSM 5 revisions plus social media lead to a huge uptick of overdiagnosis and adults convinced that they have ADHD or autism who actually have other issues they don’t want to acknowledge.

I thought Psychologists and Psychiatrists wrote the DSM

Yep. By committee of mainly academics. The clinical practicioners feel differently.

Actually the people who wrote it are sorry they wrote it in a way as to be so confusing.

Level 1 is severe. It is just less severe than level 2 or 3.

There is also a portion regularly ignored: if there is a diagnosis that fits better than they are supposed to use that one, not ASD.

[Anonymous]

One thing that puzzles me about the subtype that becomes noticeable in late adolescence - were the brain differences there since infancy and just become apparent in the teen years? Or was there a trigger in adolescence that altered a neurotypical brain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that puzzles me about the subtype that becomes noticeable in late adolescence - were the brain differences there since infancy and just become apparent in the teen years? Or was there a trigger in adolescence that altered a neurotypical brain?

I think the gene became expressed in adolescence. It turned on at that point. Why? That’s a million (trillion?) dollar question.