Is ASD a useful label or is it we don’t know we will lump it under an umbrella term?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With Blood Pressure, there is a clear method of checking and diagnosing. ASD is a subjective checklist done by others and its easily skewed if one wants it to be. It also discredits the kids who are moderately to severely impacted with kids mixed in with very minor things or just a bit quirky. When you say ASD, many just assume very high functioning and quirky when the true ASD (or at least for me) are those far more impacted.

Yes, it’s a spectrum and yes, understanding of what ASD is continues to evolve. I don’t see how that “discredits” anyone. My child is level 2 and clearly not just “quirky”. If anything, these sort of debates sound to me like parents of less impacted kids who want to emphasize how much better off their child is than mine. And maybe they are right, but I still find it hurtful.

Or, your kid has ASD, theirs is misdiagnosed or so mild the diagnosis really isn't appropriate. There are clear cases of ASD, but I question so many of the new high functioning where the concerns as the kids get are so mild. ASD cannot be cured. Kids can get more functioning with services and parental help but if a child is cured they are misdiagnosed, especially if it was an early diagnosis.

Or maybe kids you've never met have a condition you have no training or experience with.

Some of us do have professional training and experience in it. Some of us have it personally too. You may not, but do not assume it about everyone. That is how I knew what was going on with my child, which is why I got help early on and mine is thriving.

Okay, so you knew enough to diagnose your own child. That still doesn't qualify someone to make judgments about other children you've never met, claiming that their concerns are "mild." Even if you've met them, you may not know what that kid is dealing with in daily life. My kid is considered high functioning, so the concerns are "mild" only compared to lower functioning kids, but she is nowhere near NT. My kid has improved with help, but nobody speaks of a "cure." The most they talk about is that as an adult she may be able to function well enough to be independent. That's not a cure, that's just learning enough skills to "pass." And I don't even know if we will get that.

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

That is my point exactly. But, when some doctors are not really fully trained, understand the differential diagnosis, it very much discredits those who are autistic. But, using the term even high functioning is so broad that it is not genuine for kids who truly have ASD. Its very subjective in the testing and those with kids who its clear, don't seem to get those of our kids who aren't so cut and dry. They are useful tools for kids who are ASD, but they are not useful tools for borderline kids or kids where doctors just don't know at an early age so they are given the ASD diagnosis as that is the diagnosis that pays for services. The spectrum is way to broad and general and there is such an ability to misuse it - from the schools to get extra teachers to doctors who are trying to help families, like us, easily get services paid for. Even getting rid of Aspergers, which clearly defines many kids, was a huge mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

NP. I don't think PP with the child whose child was "cured" is upset. She's providing a real-life example of how the diagnosis may be being overused. I have a good friend with a child who
"lost" the ASD label and I don't know how he got it in the first place or how he could have had the same diagnosis as another child I know from church who is HFA. The first child is social but quirky and loud, does well in a variety of different type of activities including team sports and in school. There is no question he will go to college, have a job and if he chooses marry and have kids. The second child is verbal and on grade level but extremely rigid. He can participate in structured, quiet activities like scouts with support and does not have friends although he is friendly. His parents have told me they hope he will be able to live independently but they not sure he will be able to drive due to being very literal about things. Those children are as different as night and day to me and I don't understand how you could argue they have the same condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

NP. I don't think PP with the child whose child was "cured" is upset. She's providing a real-life example of how the diagnosis may be being overused. I have a good friend with a child who
"lost" the ASD label and I don't know how he got it in the first place or how he could have had the same diagnosis as another child I know from church who is HFA. The first child is social but quirky and loud, does well in a variety of different type of activities including team sports and in school. There is no question he will go to college, have a job and if he chooses marry and have kids. The second child is verbal and on grade level but extremely rigid. He can participate in structured, quiet activities like scouts with support and does not have friends although he is friendly. His parents have told me they hope he will be able to live independently but they not sure he will be able to drive due to being very literal about things. Those children are as different as night and day to me and I don't understand how you could argue they have the same condition.

Well since one was misdiagnosed, they obviously don't have the same condition. But that may not have been so obvious when they were younger. Or maybe the doctor for the first kid wasn't trained well enough or didn't take enough time with the kid to make an accurate diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

That is my point exactly. But, when some doctors are not really fully trained, understand the differential diagnosis, it very much discredits those who are autistic. But, using the term even high functioning is so broad that it is not genuine for kids who truly have ASD. Its very subjective in the testing and those with kids who its clear, don't seem to get those of our kids who aren't so cut and dry. They are useful tools for kids who are ASD, but they are not useful tools for borderline kids or kids where doctors just don't know at an early age so they are given the ASD diagnosis as that is the diagnosis that pays for services. The spectrum is way to broad and general and there is such an ability to misuse it - from the schools to get extra teachers to doctors who are trying to help families, like us, easily get services paid for. Even getting rid of Aspergers, which clearly defines many kids, was a huge mistake.

You are complaining that ASD is too broad, but you critcism is too broad. You are blaming the diagnosis for what "people say" doctors who "just fon't know'" getting trying to get extra teachers, get services paid for and problems with borderline cases. These are problems with any diagnosis. It's a problem for prostate cancer (you can be dagnosed but be so borderline that you require no treatment, but sometimes they treat it anyway).

Oddly enough, you complain about getting rid of Aspergers, but they got rid of it because that was too subjective. Even worse was PDD-NOS which caught up a lot of kids who didn't have ASD but had nowhere else to go.

"High functioning" is not a medical term. the correct term is "Level 1, requiring support." So maybe you should think of it that way. Does your kid require the type of supports generally given to ASD kids? If not, then he probably doesn't have ASD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With Blood Pressure, there is a clear method of checking and diagnosing. ASD is a subjective checklist done by others and its easily skewed if one wants it to be. It also discredits the kids who are moderately to severely impacted with kids mixed in with very minor things or just a bit quirky. When you say ASD, many just assume very high functioning and quirky when the true ASD (or at least for me) are those far more impacted.

Yes, it’s a spectrum and yes, understanding of what ASD is continues to evolve. I don’t see how that “discredits” anyone. My child is level 2 and clearly not just “quirky”. If anything, these sort of debates sound to me like parents of less impacted kids who want to emphasize how much better off their child is than mine. And maybe they are right, but I still find it hurtful.

Or, your kid has ASD, theirs is misdiagnosed or so mild the diagnosis really isn't appropriate. There are clear cases of ASD, but I question so many of the new high functioning where the concerns as the kids get are so mild. ASD cannot be cured. Kids can get more functioning with services and parental help but if a child is cured they are misdiagnosed, especially if it was an early diagnosis.

Or maybe kids you've never met have a condition you have no training or experience with.

Some of us do have professional training and experience in it. Some of us have it personally too. You may not, but do not assume it about everyone. That is how I knew what was going on with my child, which is why I got help early on and mine is thriving.

Okay, so you knew enough to diagnose your own child. That still doesn't qualify someone to make judgments about other children you've never met, claiming that their concerns are "mild." Even if you've met them, you may not know what that kid is dealing with in daily life. My kid is considered high functioning, so the concerns are "mild" only compared to lower functioning kids, but she is nowhere near NT. My kid has improved with help, but nobody speaks of a "cure." The most they talk about is that as an adult she may be able to function well enough to be independent. That's not a cure, that's just learning enough skills to "pass." And I don't even know if we will get that.

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

It's entirely possible that your kid's case was so mild that the work around were successful enough to allow your kid to "pass" for normal. This doesn't mean a "cure," he's just learned the workarounds successfully. This does happen sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

That is my point exactly. But, when some doctors are not really fully trained, understand the differential diagnosis, it very much discredits those who are autistic. But, using the term even high functioning is so broad that it is not genuine for kids who truly have ASD. Its very subjective in the testing and those with kids who its clear, don't seem to get those of our kids who aren't so cut and dry. They are useful tools for kids who are ASD, but they are not useful tools for borderline kids or kids where doctors just don't know at an early age so they are given the ASD diagnosis as that is the diagnosis that pays for services. The spectrum is way to broad and general and there is such an ability to misuse it - from the schools to get extra teachers to doctors who are trying to help families, like us, easily get services paid for. Even getting rid of Aspergers, which clearly defines many kids, was a huge mistake.

You are complaining that ASD is too broad, but you critcism is too broad. You are blaming the diagnosis for what "people say" doctors who "just fon't know'" getting trying to get extra teachers, get services paid for and problems with borderline cases. These are problems with any diagnosis. It's a problem for prostate cancer (you can be dagnosed but be so borderline that you require no treatment, but sometimes they treat it anyway).

Oddly enough, you complain about getting rid of Aspergers, but they got rid of it because that was too subjective. Even worse was PDD-NOS which caught up a lot of kids who didn't have ASD but had nowhere else to go.

"High functioning" is not a medical term. the correct term is "Level 1, requiring support." So maybe you should think of it that way. Does your kid require the type of supports generally given to ASD kids? If not, then he probably doesn't have ASD.

Prostate cancer has an actual medical test and they check PSA levels. There is no medical test for developmental issues.

Agree with the PDD-NOS - that is what we had but now those kids were merged into ASD.


Agree all those are all problems with diagnosis and services/money related but money should not drive a diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With Blood Pressure, there is a clear method of checking and diagnosing. ASD is a subjective checklist done by others and its easily skewed if one wants it to be. It also discredits the kids who are moderately to severely impacted with kids mixed in with very minor things or just a bit quirky. When you say ASD, many just assume very high functioning and quirky when the true ASD (or at least for me) are those far more impacted.

Yes, it’s a spectrum and yes, understanding of what ASD is continues to evolve. I don’t see how that “discredits” anyone. My child is level 2 and clearly not just “quirky”. If anything, these sort of debates sound to me like parents of less impacted kids who want to emphasize how much better off their child is than mine. And maybe they are right, but I still find it hurtful.

Or, your kid has ASD, theirs is misdiagnosed or so mild the diagnosis really isn't appropriate. There are clear cases of ASD, but I question so many of the new high functioning where the concerns as the kids get are so mild. ASD cannot be cured. Kids can get more functioning with services and parental help but if a child is cured they are misdiagnosed, especially if it was an early diagnosis.

Or maybe kids you've never met have a condition you have no training or experience with.

Some of us do have professional training and experience in it. Some of us have it personally too. You may not, but do not assume it about everyone. That is how I knew what was going on with my child, which is why I got help early on and mine is thriving.

Okay, so you knew enough to diagnose your own child. That still doesn't qualify someone to make judgments about other children you've never met, claiming that their concerns are "mild." Even if you've met them, you may not know what that kid is dealing with in daily life. My kid is considered high functioning, so the concerns are "mild" only compared to lower functioning kids, but she is nowhere near NT. My kid has improved with help, but nobody speaks of a "cure." The most they talk about is that as an adult she may be able to function well enough to be independent. That's not a cure, that's just learning enough skills to "pass." And I don't even know if we will get that.

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

It's entirely possible that your kid's case was so mild that the work around were successful enough to allow your kid to "pass" for normal. This doesn't mean a "cure," he's just learned the workarounds successfully. This does happen sometimes.

My kid is normal and not passing for anything (but I think all kids are normal). We very clearly had a misdiagnosis but I think it was more for the services/money than anything. ASD is way to broad, as are other disorders, including language. (there are also huge issues with language disorder diagnosis, especially at the school levels).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With Blood Pressure, there is a clear method of checking and diagnosing. ASD is a subjective checklist done by others and its easily skewed if one wants it to be. It also discredits the kids who are moderately to severely impacted with kids mixed in with very minor things or just a bit quirky. When you say ASD, many just assume very high functioning and quirky when the true ASD (or at least for me) are those far more impacted.

Yes, it’s a spectrum and yes, understanding of what ASD is continues to evolve. I don’t see how that “discredits” anyone. My child is level 2 and clearly not just “quirky”. If anything, these sort of debates sound to me like parents of less impacted kids who want to emphasize how much better off their child is than mine. And maybe they are right, but I still find it hurtful.

Or, your kid has ASD, theirs is misdiagnosed or so mild the diagnosis really isn't appropriate. There are clear cases of ASD, but I question so many of the new high functioning where the concerns as the kids get are so mild. ASD cannot be cured. Kids can get more functioning with services and parental help but if a child is cured they are misdiagnosed, especially if it was an early diagnosis.

Or maybe kids you've never met have a condition you have no training or experience with.

Some of us do have professional training and experience in it. Some of us have it personally too. You may not, but do not assume it about everyone. That is how I knew what was going on with my child, which is why I got help early on and mine is thriving.

Okay, so you knew enough to diagnose your own child. That still doesn't qualify someone to make judgments about other children you've never met, claiming that their concerns are "mild." Even if you've met them, you may not know what that kid is dealing with in daily life. My kid is considered high functioning, so the concerns are "mild" only compared to lower functioning kids, but she is nowhere near NT. My kid has improved with help, but nobody speaks of a "cure." The most they talk about is that as an adult she may be able to function well enough to be independent. That's not a cure, that's just learning enough skills to "pass." And I don't even know if we will get that.

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

It's entirely possible that your kid's case was so mild that the work around were successful enough to allow your kid to "pass" for normal. This doesn't mean a "cure," he's just learned the workarounds successfully. This does happen sometimes.

My kid is normal and not passing for anything (but I think all kids are normal). We very clearly had a misdiagnosis but I think it was more for the services/money than anything. ASD is way to broad, as are other disorders, including language. (there are also huge issues with language disorder diagnosis, especially at the school levels).

Did your kid need services or did he not? Do other kids who need services have disorders or do they not? Or do they not have disorders but they just need services?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your child is very different than some of ours so you are not fully understanding the issue. Its not kids like yours that are the questionable high functioning, its ones like mine who get the diagnosis very young who later show no more signs or the child just has a few mild things and really would be more quirky than ASD. Its basically ASD or nothing now. There are people who are saying kids can be cured. Not here, bu tother places. High functioning is a range and it is also very subjective. So, a child like yours gets lumped in with a child like mine, which makes many not really understand ASD as mine is completely functioning now with just very very mild things that we were told by a specialist can be learned to work around, which is happening. Only one person or two here are diagnosing off the internet but you are forgetting even within high functioning its very subjective for some of us because its very cut and dry with your child. My child would be one people would claim has been "cured" but in reality it wasn't ASD and something else.

I’m not the PP you are responding to, but ...

It sounds like your child was misdiagnosed and I understand that is frustrating and disheartening, to say the least. I understand why you reject applying the ASD label to your child. However, that doesn’t mean that the spectrum concept and umbrella label are not useful tools for people who are actually autistic. If you want to rail against the folks who labeled/diagnosed your child, go for it. But don’t presume to question the value of an ASD label or diagnosis for people who feel that it does explain their condition (be they “high functioning” or not).

That is my point exactly. But, when some doctors are not really fully trained, understand the differential diagnosis, it very much discredits those who are autistic. But, using the term even high functioning is so broad that it is not genuine for kids who truly have ASD. Its very subjective in the testing and those with kids who its clear, don't seem to get those of our kids who aren't so cut and dry. They are useful tools for kids who are ASD, but they are not useful tools for borderline kids or kids where doctors just don't know at an early age so they are given the ASD diagnosis as that is the diagnosis that pays for services. The spectrum is way to broad and general and there is such an ability to misuse it - from the schools to get extra teachers to doctors who are trying to help families, like us, easily get services paid for. Even getting rid of Aspergers, which clearly defines many kids, was a huge mistake.

You are complaining that ASD is too broad, but you critcism is too broad. You are blaming the diagnosis for what "people say" doctors who "just fon't know'" getting trying to get extra teachers, get services paid for and problems with borderline cases. These are problems with any diagnosis. It's a problem for prostate cancer (you can be dagnosed but be so borderline that you require no treatment, but sometimes they treat it anyway).

Oddly enough, you complain about getting rid of Aspergers, but they got rid of it because that was too subjective. Even worse was PDD-NOS which caught up a lot of kids who didn't have ASD but had nowhere else to go.

"High functioning" is not a medical term. the correct term is "Level 1, requiring support." So maybe you should think of it that way. Does your kid require the type of supports generally given to ASD kids? If not, then he probably doesn't have ASD.

Prostate cancer has an actual medical test and they check PSA levels. There is no medical test for developmental issues.

Agree with the PDD-NOS - that is what we had but now those kids were merged into ASD.


Agree all those are all problems with diagnosis and services/money related but money should not drive a diagnosis.

They check PSA levels but don't agree on what they mean, so it's a useless test and they don't use it as much anymore.

If your kid had PDD-NOS, there is a good chance he would not meet current criteria for ASD so your criticism is out of date. PDD-NOS was literal a diagnosis for kids who didn't fit anywhere else.

Money should not drive a diagnosis, but if your kid needs services, do expect it to be free? Or do you just want to give services to kids who have nothing wrong with them?

[Anonymous]

All the bickering in this post confirms the OP. It’s a big IDK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the bickering in this post confirms the OP. It’s a big IDK

Anonymous bickering on DCUM proves nothing. OP needs guidance from qualified experts. If she is not getting clarity from the people she is seeing now, I suggest she find someone else. I recommend Sarah Wayland at https://www.guidingexceptionalparents.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of a child diagnosed with autism who turned out to be NT. I have heard the opposite many times.

This is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's entirely possible that your kid's case was so mild that the work around were successful enough to allow your kid to "pass" for normal. This doesn't mean a "cure," he's just learned the workarounds successfully. This does happen sometimes.

My kid is normal and not passing for anything (but I think all kids are normal). We very clearly had a misdiagnosis but I think it was more for the services/money than anything. ASD is way to broad, as are other disorders, including language. (there are also huge issues with language disorder diagnosis, especially at the school levels).

I find this argument of "he's just learned the workarounds successfully" really strange. If he can adapt and all kids adapt in different ways how does he have a condition? What defines the condition then? There's no blood test or obvious brain difference. It's a set of symptoms and if he has no symptoms how is her child any different from the NT classmate who has no symptoms?