The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a data analysis on December 3, 2021, suggesting 1 in 44 children are categorized as autistic by age eight in the United States. Is the 2.3 percent rate accurate nationally, using current diagnostic instruments? These data present a curious question: Why…
Tag: DSM5
“I celebrate every autism diagnosis!” declares a post circulating among autistic self-advocates. I read this in several ways. First, the positives. Diagnoses help individuals receive services and supports. For many people, a diagnosis also helps understand struggles. Diagnoses also ensure, with disclosure, some legal protections. The negatives exist, too. Believe…
Podcast Episode 0064; Season 04, Episode 28; May 18, 2021 Our daughters and I have had a fair number of neuropsych assessments. The girls both have a list of official diagnostic labels. The three of us have ADHD in common. On her ninth birthday, we began yet another neuro-psychological assessment for Leigh, our eldest…
As April approaches (today is March 30, 2021), autistic self-advocates begin our annual critiques of Autism Awareness, Autism Speaks, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), special education, healthcare, mental health’s DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), accommodations, tolerance, a long list of social injustices… and our families. At least as I skim blogs…
What does it mean to be autistic? Like many diagnosed later in life, I turned to books for some answers. The autistic label was applied to me during my first year in a doctoral program. That was also the academic year I started this blog. Among the books I read…
If a test emerges that can screen for some forms of autism with 80 percent or better accuracy, parents will seek out the test. I expect such screening to be possible within the next decade. We should consider the implications of accurate tests for forms autism, especially if medical researchers…
When did I ‘become’ the autistic me? That’s a complex question and one that raises questions about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders from the American Psychiatric Association. This post, however, does not engage in a debate over the DSM-IV and DSM5 criteria for autism. Instead, I wanted to…