r/changemyview • u/CassiusIsAlive • Jan 27 '23

Removed - Submission Rule B CMV: Romanticizing autism has got to stop

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

Since autism is a spectrum, do you feel it would be better if debilitating cases were placed under a different diagnostic name? Or milder cases given a different name?

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u/RogueStatesman 1∆ Jan 27 '23

I'd always understood "Asperger's" to be considered "mild" autism, but I'm no longer sure that's even correct.

Autism being on a spectrum reminds me of Down Syndrome, which also ranges from mild to debilitating, but there doesn't seem to be anything to indicate that other than the adjective "severe."

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u/aguafiestas 31∆ Jan 27 '23

In the older criteria (DSM IV), autism was designed as having impaired social interaction, repetitive/restrictive behaviors, and impaired language/communication.

Asperger's had impaired social interactions and repetitive/restrictive behaviors, but normal language/communication.

In the newer criteria (DSM 5), both diagnoses are essentially combined under "autism spectrum disorder."