The American Psychiatric Association is reassessing the diagnostic criteria for autistic and the proposed changes, as described in the NY Times article of Jan. 20,2012, may exclude many people who are now diagnosed as having Autism, Asperger Syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (P.D.D.-N.O.S). These diagnoses would be consolidated under one category - Autism Spectrum Disorder - eliminating the Asperger's and PDD-NOS categories. While the new criteria will have little impact on the diagnosis of youngsters who are "classically autistic" - those who have severe limitations in their cognitive and social functioning- there may well be an impact on those youngsters who are cognitively able but have a social disability.
Parents are understandably concerned given that mandated services (IEP) are often dependent on a diagnosis. It will be important to see how the changes will ultimately affect the delivery of services, but the attempt to clarify diagnosis is an important and needed undertaking. In the past, there has been a good deal of confusion especially regarding the identification of Asperger Syndrome - does every child who prefers to play alone have Asperger's and are deficits in social intreraction the main determinant? In fact, there are other determining factors for a classification of Asperger Syndrome and many children who fall within this group need continued support.
There was some concern when it was first divulged that there would be a consolidation in criteria with Asperger's eliminated, because Asperger Syndrome, properly diagnosed, is distinct from classical autism and descriptive. It will be important, in the tightening up of this diagnostic category, that those who need services continue to receive them. While these youngsters are cognitively able, their narrow interests, perseverative behavior, and social incapacity makes it very difficult from them to succeed without support.
