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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Actually, the DSM IV does say it needs to be severe, but many people miss this:

From the DSM IV

PDD NOS
[b]This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment [/b]in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present but the criteria are not met for a specific pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder, or avoidant personality disorder. For example, this category includes "atypical autism" ? presentations that do not meet the criteria for autistic disorder because of late age at onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.[/quote]

My son is diagnosed with high functioning autism, not PDD-NOS. He has all of the impairments, but they are mild. The relatives that I described were all the spitting image of my child when they were child. My grandmother was very puzzled by her quirky kid. Under the new DSM-V standards, my son will have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1.

I agree that  PDD-NOS requires some severity. When all of the deficits are showing up, the kid should only get a DX when there is a clear problem shown by a severe impairment.

For Asperger's, the DSM-IV standard is the child must show "clinically significant impairment."

For autism, the DSM-IV standard doesn't require either one. The assumption is that if a kid has all of the symptoms of autism, there is clinically significant impairment.

DSM-V has different levels (1-3)  to diagnose severity.

Field testing on the DSM-V shows that many kids currently diagnosed with PDD-NOS do not get a diagnosis of ASD under the DSM-V.

[/quote]

Actually, the wording above is directly from the DSM-IV, saying that ALL the Pervasive Developmental Orders are severe. The problem is, too many doctors and laypeople go straight to the Autistic Disorder description, without reading the requirements that start the chapter:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

DSM-IV-TR, 2000

[b]Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development:[/b] reciprocal social interaction skills, communication skills, or the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. The qualitative impairments that define these conditions are distinctly deviant relative to the individual’s developmental level or mental age. [b]Information is contained here on Autistic Disorder,[/b] Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, [b]Asperger’s Disorder,[/b] and [b]Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.[/b] These disorders are usually evident in the first years of life and are often associated with some degree of Mental Retardation, which, if present, should be coded on Axis II. The Pervasive Developmental Disorders are sometimes observed with a diverse group of other general medical conditions (e.g., chromosomal abnormalities, congenital infections, structural abnormalities of the central nervous system). If such conditions are present, they should be noted on Axis III. Although terms like “psychosis” and “childhood schizophrenia” were once used to refer to individuals with these conditions, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are distinct from Schizophrenia (however, an individual with Pervasive Developmental Disorder may occasionally later develop Schizophrenia).

But very few people seem familiar with the overall chapter.  Perhaps the DSM V, with its severity levels, can correct this. 
 [/quote]

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