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I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly.

Shek

Interesting article in the New York Times 'I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly.' raising important issues about diagnosis:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/i-had-asperger-syndrome-briefly.html?_r=1

Also comments on the next edition of the diagnostic manual, the DSM5, possibly giving a narrower definition of the autism spectrum.

Parents

  • I agree with DaisyGirl. Most people with aspergers who appear in the media are from comfortable middle-class backgrounds, with family support, reassurance, and financial security. A person with aspergers from a working class background, particularly if their parents or they themselves are poor, are less likely to appear in the media and are more likely to have developed  challenging behaviour, so although AS is a biological condition that CANNOT BE CURED, some people are more favourably advantaged because they live in a more secure environment. This is not always the case, but it stands to reason that this will be a factor as to how well a person can adapt. So there is a class component to Asperger awareness and the impression of the condition that is projected to the general public. This cannot be ignored.

    I also wonder whether the USA over-diagnoses AS more than in the UK? Just a thought, particularly since the USA has no publicly funded health-service with its stringent NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

     

Reply

  • I agree with DaisyGirl. Most people with aspergers who appear in the media are from comfortable middle-class backgrounds, with family support, reassurance, and financial security. A person with aspergers from a working class background, particularly if their parents or they themselves are poor, are less likely to appear in the media and are more likely to have developed  challenging behaviour, so although AS is a biological condition that CANNOT BE CURED, some people are more favourably advantaged because they live in a more secure environment. This is not always the case, but it stands to reason that this will be a factor as to how well a person can adapt. So there is a class component to Asperger awareness and the impression of the condition that is projected to the general public. This cannot be ignored.

    I also wonder whether the USA over-diagnoses AS more than in the UK? Just a thought, particularly since the USA has no publicly funded health-service with its stringent NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

     

Children
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