Does Asperger "have" to be ASD1?

[Polchinski]

When DSM 5 was established, one of the objections was that the majority of people with Asperger didn't seem to fulfill the criteria for ASD 1. Somehow this concern was dissolved, although I am not sure how. But one thing that occurred to me, that didn't occur to anyone else, is that DSM 5 has a new diagnostic label, "Social Communication Disorder" (SCD). One of the condition for that diagnosis is that a person doesn't meet a criteria for ASD. So wouldn't this logically mean that the majority of people with Asperger, who can't get ASD 1 diagnosis, would get SCD diagnosis?

I actually had personal experience with this, 8 years ago. So, the therapist at the university counselling center, told me he diagnosed me with ASD 1 since Asperger isn't available. Then I questioned that diagnosis, because I don't have enough stereotypical movements and things like that, and suggested SCD instead. He told me he haven't heard of SCD, but he looked it up and said yeah its a good idea to change it there. And I was surprised he was willing to change things so easily. Then he told me that he doesn't think its that important what to diagnose me with since I don't require medications anyway. He then suggested to just put Asperger with DSM 4 in brackets. I agreed with this one.

But what are your experiences? Have anyone else got diagnosis of SCD?

By the way, there are other non-autism diagnoses that are also along aspie lines. For example, Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) comes to mind. Now this one won't fit me since I do want friends. But back when I was a teenager and I thought I didn't want friends, I self-diagnosed myself with this one.

What about other former-aspies on this forum? Do all of you have ASD diagnoses, or did some of you get non-autism ones to replace Asperger with?

On a flip side, none of the ASDs require language delays. So are there any aspies that are diagnosed with ASD2 rather than ASD1?

 

[Human Avatar]

I am diagnosed ASD2 .

 

[Polchinski]

I am diagnosed ASD2 .

And, back in the DSM 4 age, were you diagnosed with classic autism or with Asperger?

 

[Human Avatar]

I was diagnosed with DSM5 , but the Psychologist said had I been diagnosed Under DSM4 I would have been diagnosed Aspergers.

Which I didn’t even know what that was at the time. But with him mentioning that I was able to read lots of literature.

 

[Polchinski]

I was diagnosed with DSM5 , but the Psychologist said had I been diagnosed Under DSM4 I would have been diagnosed Aspergers.

Would he agree, though, that since you are ASD 2, you are "Classic autistic"? Or would he say that, while most ASD 2 folk are classic, you aren't?

 

[mysterionz]

But one thing that occurred to me, that didn't occur to anyone else, is that DSM 5 has a new diagnostic label, "Social Communication Disorder" (SCD). One of the condition for that diagnosis is that a person doesn't meet a criteria for ASD. So wouldn't this logically mean that the majority of people with Asperger, who can't get ASD 1 diagnosis, would get SCD diagnosis?

I have a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome/HFA/ASD1/low support autism, whatever you want to call it. My special interests can get too strong sometimes that would probably prevent me from getting a dx of SCD. I am not neurotypical though.

I possibly could have been ASD2 when I was first diagnosed (kindergarten, didn’t find out till I was eight). What NT kid is gonna take several accelerated reading tests on books they haven’t read yet because they think they know everything?

 

[Human Avatar]

Would he agree, though, that since you are ASD 2, you are "Classic autistic"? Or would he say that, while most ASD 2 folk are classic, you aren't?

It would be hard to distinguish me as one or the other I think. Some days I could be considered Aspergers, and on my bad days it could look like Classic Autism .

Unfortunately the labels can’t distinguish all the in between .

It is a spectrum after all so they say…..

 

[Polchinski]

My special interests can get too strong sometimes that would probably prevent me from getting a dx of SCD. I am not neurotypical though.

But the way "special interests" would disqualify you from SCD is that they would qualify you for ASD, and one diagnosis excludes the other. But here is the question. What if your special interests aren't sufficient to qualify you for ASD (not even ASD 1) due to the fact that sheer number of symptoms isn't enough. In this case, you would still be qualified for SCD due to social deficits, and you would need some other diagnosis, such as OCD, to account for special interests. So would there be a situation where a former aspie gets diagnosed with a combination of SCD and OCD, while avoids diagnosis of ASD?

I possibly could have been ASD2 when I was first diagnosed (kindergarten, didn’t find out till I was eight).

What was your actual diagnosis in the kindergarden?

What NT kid is gonna take several accelerated reading tests on books they haven’t read yet because they think they know everything?

What book are you referring to? And why would reading more advanced book get you diagnosed?

 

[mysterionz]

What was your actual diagnosis in the kindergarden?

Asperger’s syndrome IIRC. I didn’t find out until later however.

What book are you referring to? And why would reading more advanced book get you diagnosed?

I had “weird“ habits in school/rituals I would do where I would read several chapter books a day (third grade, I was reading at a third to fifth grade level at this point IIRC, my vocabulary level according to accelerated reader was sixth grade level, sometimes I would take AR tests on books I haven’t read because I thought it would be a breeze). Idk if this is something a NT kid would do. I was 8-9 during this period.

 

[mysterionz]

But the way "special interests" would disqualify you from SCD is that they would qualify you for ASD, and one diagnosis excludes the other. But here is the question. What if your special interests aren't sufficient to qualify you for ASD (not even ASD 1) due to the fact that sheer number of symptoms isn't enough. In this case, you would still be qualified for SCD due to social deficits, and you would need some other diagnosis, such as OCD, to account for special interests. So would there be a situation where a former aspie gets diagnosed with a combination of SCD and OCD, while avoids diagnosis of ASD?

Also I’m on medication that’s meant to treat OCD/anxiety symptom. I suspected I could have OCD a while back but I’ve never been diagnosed.

 

[Rodafina]

And, back in the DSM 4 age, were you diagnosed with classic autism or with Asperger?

Oh, I don’t know about classic, but @Moogwizard is definitely classy! All day everyday.

 

[Outdated]

I find the whole terminology thing a little confusing.

I didn't really start to learn anything about autism until very recently. When I was around 30 years old I decided that what I had was Asperger's. When I finally got a diagnosis by a panel of psychiatrists and psychologists at age 55 they labeled me as ASD2 which really surprised me. I said "I didn't think I was that bad." and they all just smirked at me.

As far as I can tell, Asperger's is used to describe people that are socially functional and socially active. That was definitely me in my earlier years. I don't seem to suffer the same comorbities that many other people do. That doesn't mean that I don't have them, just that I don't suffer from them. I seem to be able to bludgeon my way through life regardless.

 

[Polchinski]

As far as I can tell, Asperger's is used to describe people that are socially functional and socially active.

I haven't been socially active. So why did they diagnose me with Asperger? Or was it different in the past? I got Asperger diagnosis back in 1995 that was confirmed in 1997.

 

[Outdated]

Or was it different in the past? I got Asperger diagnosis back in 1995 that was confirmed in 1997.

It was different in the past. As far as I can tell everything changed after about 2010. More studies were being done and more information became available.

 

[Polchinski]

It was different in the past. As far as I can tell everything changed after about 2010. More studies were being done and more information became available.

But then, soon after 2010, the diagnosis of Asperger wasn't available altogether. So can you tell me the time period when diagnosis of Asperger WAS available, but was applied to people that are "socially active"?

 

[Outdated]

So can you tell me the time period when diagnosis of Asperger WAS available, but was applied to people that are "socially active"?

I can't tell you, I'm sorry. Nearly all of my information has come from reading people's stories on this forum. I'm good at picking patterns and there's a lot of big differences between people that were diagnosed in the last dozen years or so and those that were diagnosed earlier. I can't pin it down more accurately than that though. Yet.

Perhaps someone else with more knowledge can pitch in and help.

 

[mysterionz]

I can't tell you, I'm sorry. Nearly all of my information has come from reading people's stories on this forum. I'm good at picking patterns and there's a lot of big differences between people that were diagnosed in the last dozen years or so and those that were diagnosed earlier. I can't pin it down more accurately than that though. Yet.

Perhaps someone else with more knowledge can pitch in and help.

Does anyone here struggle with miscommunication at all? Like they don’t know how to process thoughts into sensible words that won’t hurt someone?

 

[Rodafina]

Does anyone here struggle with miscommunication at all? Like they don’t know how to process thoughts into sensible words that won’t hurt someone?

Definitely.

 

[Polchinski]

I can't tell you, I'm sorry. Nearly all of my information has come from reading people's stories on this forum. I'm good at picking patterns and there's a lot of big differences between people that were diagnosed in the last dozen years or so and those that were diagnosed earlier. I can't pin it down more accurately than that though. Yet.

Perhaps someone else with more knowledge can pitch in and help.

So the "socially active" ones are from last decade? Does it mean that people WERE getting diagnosed with Asperger last decade, even though this diagnosis wasn't officially available?

Or are you saying ASD 1 people are socially active? If so, would the people diagnosed with Asperger in the 90-s, who are not socially active, be considered ASD 2?

 

[Polchinski]

Does anyone here struggle with miscommunication at all? Like they don’t know how to process thoughts into sensible words that won’t hurt someone?

I certainly do. But sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who does. Which relates to the other question I have as to whether the way condition affects me is different from how it affects others.