What is the difference between Asperger Syndrome and ASD Level 1?

No. It was once the dividing line between 'high functioning autism', with speech delay, and Asperger's, without speech delay. If they are using DSM-5 ASD, they really need to read the diagnostic criteria contained in it and not just invent stuff. No-one now gives diagnoses of Asperger's, it is all ASD (or ASC). The criteria they are quoting do not exist for diagnosis of ASD Level 1. Diagnostic criteria are summarised as: “persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction” and “restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests” (this includes sensory behaviour), present since early childhood, to the extent that these “limit and impair everyday functioning”.  Nowhere does this include delay in speech and language acquisition or low academic achievement. At best the school are putting their own limits on to whom they give support and passing this off as being clinically sanctioned. At worst they are entirely uninformed about ASD diagnostic criteria. Presumably, there is  no-one at the school who is qualified to give a clinical opinion? In which case their criteria are invalid anyway.

A clinical assessment would be the best thing for the child. In the meantime there are a number of AQ tests for autistic traits available online, getting scores within the autistic range might give some leverage over the school.

Martin said:

No-one now gives diagnoses of Asperger's, it is all ASD (or ASC).

Wrong. Diagnoses of AS still take place as ICD-10 is still a current publication.

 “persistent difficulties with social communication" - could be interpreted as speech and language delays.

“limit and impair everyday functioning” - could be interpreted as behind academically in the main subjects.

The International Classification of Diseases 11 was published this year and it adopted the same approach to autism spectrum disorder as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. the International Classification of Diseases 11 has put Classical Autism, Aspergers & Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified into a single Diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder. which on a previous thread i tried explaining was happening.  

No one is being diagnosed with Aspergers since 2018 however those who where previously given the diagnosis still use the diagnosis as it is what they where statemented with. 

Know the information your using to distinguish the difference between autism and aspergers is out of date by about a decade. the inconsistency in early development was recognised as no longer be a sure indication of the criteria for the diagnosis as Brain and MRI imaging has showed in the last few years.   

I'm guessing they are waiting for ICD-11 to gain greater usage in the NHS first. Whether you like the NHSs term usage or not uk charities and public bodies are generally going to adopt their terms for the sake of clarity and consistency.

In ICD-11:

6A02.0 Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language

Description: All definitional requirements for autism spectrum disorder are met, intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour are found to be at least within the average range (approximately greater than the 2.3rd percentile), and there is only mild or no impairment in the individual's capacity to use functional language (spoken or signed) for instrumental purposes, such as to express personal needs and desires.

At a meeting at my local AS support group it was unanimously agreed that 6A02.0 Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language in ICD-11 is Asperger Syndrome in all but name. Included at the meeting was a clinical psychologist who is familiar with both ICD and DSM.

There doesn't appear to be much evidence at the moment that the NAS intends to make much use of 6A02.0 in any of its publications or has geared up for ICD-11. Neither has the NAS (knowingly) consulted anybody on the choice of a popular or everyday name for 6A02.0 as Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language is a bit of a mouthful.

Is Tony Attwood's book now obsolescent?

community.autism.org.uk/.../the-complete-guide-to-asperger-s-syndrome-by-tony-attwood

The majority of the NHS & its trusts now use Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 and have completely abandoned International Classification of Diseases 10 because the information was decades out of date. 

The reason the International Classification of Diseases 11 mentions Classical Autism, Aspergers & Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified is to be inclusive those already diagnosed with the outdated diagnosis.  

Your local support group isn't operated by medical professionals or if it is they are lacking up to date training. No medical professional in the UK should be giving out diagnosis of Asperger's as neither the  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 & International Classification of Diseases 11 View them as official diagnosis. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Center for Health Statistics who created the International Classification of Diseases 10 in 2018 released information regarding the information on Classical Autism, Aspergers & Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified was outdated and they no longer support Classical Autism, Aspergers & Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified as official diagnosis.

However they can give a individual a diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder with the formal diagnosis containing information comparing traits to aspergers.          

Blue said:

The International Classification of Diseases 11 was published this year and it adopted the same approach to autism spectrum disorder as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. the International Classification of Diseases 11 has put Classical Autism, Aspergers & Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified into a single Diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder. which on a previous thread i tried explaining was happening.  

There is a big question whether Britain will adopt ICD-11 for ASD or whether DSM-5 will dominate the show until DSM-6 is published. Remember that Americans don't generally use ICD for psychiatric and mental health conditions.

The US previously used DSM-IV for ASD, so the changeover to DSM-5 was the changeover to a newer edition of the same manual. Britain previously used ICD-10 for ASD, so the changeover to DSM-5 was the changeover to a completely different manual.

There are significant differences between ICD-11 and DSM-5 for ASD. In ICD 11, the types of ASD are categorised whereas in DSM-5 they are a one-dimensional spectrum. AS still technically exists in ICD-11. 

Blue said:

No one is being diagnosed with Aspergers since 2018

Untrue. My local AS support group is aware that people have been diagnosed with AS under ICD-10 in 2021.

Where does this 2018 come from?

Your comments above (and below) totally reflect my understanding of where DSM5/ICD11 is trying position the whole thing. (I did really find the concept of it 'being diagnosable based on a threshold of whether support was required or not' actually quite helpful - if a bit strange).

I haven't found many cohesive opinions about brain imaging PET/MRI etc scans... do you have any objective info sources / links on the physiological side of things that you think are worth looking into?

 

Your comments above (and below) totally reflect my understanding of where DSM5/ICD11 is trying position the whole thing. (I did really find the concept of it 'being diagnosable based on a threshold of whether support was required or not' actually quite helpful - if a bit strange).

I haven't found many cohesive opinions about brain imaging PET/MRI etc scans... do you have any objective info sources / links on the physiological side of things that you think are worth looking into?