There's a whole new line of fear-mongering being launched right now across the internet about how the new DSM will supposedly change how autism is reported. This will supposed change the new number of 1 in 88 children back towards 1 in 110 or even further off of that.
First of all, you have to ask yourself one question: Based on what proven statistic?
You see the idea of 1 in 88 is not
NEW news, by any means. It's been under study as a possible change in statistics for three years (give or take). So here we go again, freaking out over old news. Just because they've decided to place confirmation on it doesn't mean the world is going to change. All these people had autism and tomorrow they still will. This is where I get ahead of myself here.
As I posted in my last blog about the DSM (and the one before that), the changes in diagnosis that people are freaking out about, were implemented
LAST YEAR. So Asperger's was already dissolved into being called simply.... autism. So, again, nothing new. And by the way, that didn't change my diagnosis or my son's diagnosis. Want to know why?
Because it's up to your doctor! Moreso it's up to you and your doctor as a team. Doctors don't go through all their patients and change diagnosis just because the DSM says so. Can you imagine the kind of man hours that would take? Doctors don't have time to quibble over terminology just because a panel of experts say so.
There is no law that says your child has to be rediagnosed
. If your doctor has been supportive of your child's needs so far, that is highly unlikely to change. Ask your doctor, yes a profound thought, ask your doctor if you are worried. Don't read some bilge on the internet and go into hysterics, it does nothing for you.
Doctors don't like being told how to diagnose their patients. Read that over and over again until you'll never forget it. Since the last fear wave went through I mentioned it to real live doctors myself. One of which rolled his eyes and shook his head. He knows his patients in person. The people writing the DSM don't.
The comments that will fly by your pages will have little in the way of educational merit and be nothing more than blind fear. I've seen comments on "accurate reporting" and "losing diagnosis." As I've dug into them, I found that there was no supporting evidence to any of them.
So, the final advice that will clinch to all; is to talk to your doctor! The internet is a fine place for advice, but none of these people know you or your family personally who may be giving this advice.
Past that, I'm not surprised they were able to confirm the 1 in 88. I'm sure that number will increase as time goes on.
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Comments (4)
I think many people that got bogus advice from a doctor and helpful advice by looking on the internet may disagree with this. Doctors are not infallible and non-doctors know themselves and their children pretty well!
you. Call me cynical, but in my opinion,
a bigger concern is the fact that in the USA and I would suspect everywhere, our
schools and government agencies are overwhelmed by the numbers of those
affected by autism. IDEA provides for a Fair
and Appropriate Public Education
(FAPE). Ok, so what is Fair, when Appropriate is not attainable because there is not enough funding
to appropriately serve everyone? Does
everyone get the same amount funding even if that is not near enough to make a
significant difference for most students/families? Do we spend the money on the higher functioning
individuals because they have the best chance at making it out of Special Education,
being mainstreamed, and fully functional in society? Do we spend the money to serve the moderately
and most profoundly affected individuals to give them an education, life skills
and some hope for living with family for most of their lives and maybe even possibly
contribute in the work force to be less of a burden on society? Now only the families that are educated in the
world of Special Education will get the most services anywhere near what is appropriate. They must know how to “play the game” – focus
on the needs or negatives instead of the strengths or positives and know what
IDEA and their state statutes and regulations say that the schools are obligated
to provide. Is it Fair when families that “play the game” get far more Appropriate services and those
families not “in the know” get less than Fair and Appropriate because schools
will not educated families on the full extent of what schools are obligated to
provide. Many Schools would rather pay
attorneys than admit regression in behavior is due to their “experts” and provide
a remedy for it. On the government
agency side of things, our state is deciding to go to a Managed Care system for
not only medical expenses through Medicaid but also those provided to
Developmental Disabled through CDDO agencies.
This Managed Care will be managed by For Profit insurance companies that
until recently did not even recognize an autism diagnosis and refused payment
for anything related to it. The almighty
dollar and profit for these insurance companies will determine what in home
supports and residential services families will receive. I believe things will only get worse not
better.
A good point about talking with the doctor.
A diagnosis on DSM means very little when taken by itself. There are so many other factors that have to be considered. Which is why communicating concerns is imperative between the family and doctor.
And of course, one should be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist to diagnose. A GP should never diagnose someone....more and more they are taking the role of a mental health specialist.
It's still unfortunate that the DSM is given so much weight, and interviews, and assessments take a back seat...but that's slowly changing to become more valid.
nice article. keep post like this...