Published on 12, July, 2020
This might be one for the Moderators to look into, but I wonder if others have insight on this.
I've had several conversations recently with professionals dealing with adults on the spectrum who've just spouted the triad of impairments, or who've said its all in the triad of impairments.
With all the literature on theories about autism and various interpretations, and approaches to treatment, I could quite understand professionals looking for the easiest synthesis to hand. But what is to hand? Is it just too easy to read up on the triad and related summaries? Or is there nothing else to hand for professionals to use.
The Triad of Impairments, as far as I can see, is of no more value than for diagnosing children. It has little relevance to the everyday lives and experiences of adults, and is hardly appropriate to helping professionals understand adult needs.
It doesn't explain a lot of issues facing adults.
But just what are the main texts used by professionals? And how useful are these texts for supporting adults?
I just happened to read through the "Push for Action" booklet I was given at a NAS meeting with our MP.
Page 4 headed Background: About Autism. It explains autism under the Triad of Impairments headings: Social Interaction (red panel) Social Communication (grey panel) and Social Imagination (purple Panel).
Below this, normal print, without highlights it merely says "In addition, people with autism may experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, tastes and smells, lights or colours"
My concern, in raising this thread, was that some training packages for health professionals, relied too much on the Triad of Impairments.
Here we have NAS telling everyone the Triad of Impairments explains autism, oh and by the way sensory issues may be a feature as well.
They haven't even progressed as far as the Working Group advising the NICE guidelines which changed category 3 "Social Imagination" into Repetitive and focus issues, because "lack of imagination" is confusing to many.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF TRYING if NAS is giving out wrong messages like this? The booklet has been sent to MPs, local authorities, all kinds of decision makers. This Background statement is on the page facing a foreword by the Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP.
I just feel totally let down. What's the point of trying.......?