What happened to Asperger’s?

Day 15 of a 30-day series originally published for Facebook April 2021

Let's back up. All conditions related to mental health are outlined in what's called the DSM: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We are currently on the DSM-5. Asperger's is a condition that first appeared in the DSM-4 in 1994. People also call this condition "Little Professor Syndrome," "Mild Autism," or "High Functioning Autism." Prior to 2013, if a person did not meet all of the qualifiers for "classic autism," then they were most likely diagnosed with Asperger's or PDD-Nos (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not otherwise specified... or as I like to say, the "Something is going on but we don't know what it is and it doesn't fit into any other category" disorder.)

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association, the professional body that publishes the DSM, released the DSM-5, which completely revamped the way Autism is diagnosed. Rather than have 5 separate categories of Autism, the DSM-5 presented autism as a spectrum, now called Autism Spectrum Disorder.

So what happened to Asperger's is that it was absorbed into the spectrum. Those diagnosed prior to 2013 tend to hold on to their diagnosis. "Aspies" wear their diagnosis with pride and in general, don't feel the need to change it. Individuals diagnosed after 2013 are not given an option of an Asperger's diagnosis. They are diagnosed with ASD Level 1, 2, or 3. Each level indicates a need for increasing supports, but as I've mentioned before, both Autistics and most parents of Autistics are not in a competition over who is the most or least autistic. If you have autism, you are Autistic, and you are accepted fully, explanation of level not needed.

So why the levels? Insurance of course!! Every carrier is different but our insurance plan specifies coverage for levels 2 and 3, but not level 1. **Bonus points if you can pick out the ableist language used in the 3 levels graphic!**

Tomorrow I'm going to talk about "treatment" in terms of the medical model vs advocacy for disability rights.