A Dilemma: Where Does Asperger’s Syndrome Belong?
Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized31 Jul 2013
Asperger’s Syndrome used to be classified as a distinct disorder different from the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The new (DSM-5) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder has simply included the Asperger’s Syndrome within the ASD. By doing this the disorder loses its diagnosis and becomes part of the autism spectrum. A compromise would be considering the Asperger’s Syndrome a distinct condition in its own right on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.
The Boston Children’s Hospital ran a study and found that both disorders are related. However, there is a clear neurophysiological differences between the two groups. The electrical activities in both brains are different. The study was based on EEG-derived measures of brain connectivity, which showed the difference.
Losing the diagnosis may entail losing the services that come with. Parents are concerned.
Tip
Although individuals with Asperger’s syndrome are very high-functioning, they share some traits with typical autistic people like:
- Poor social interaction and communication skills.
- Some repetitive behaviors
- Sensory Integration Issues
Read the full story here.
nadia shanab
Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, DSM-5, health, parenting, research, sensory, social interaction, symptoms of autism
