School IEP Meeting Says Im On The Spectrum But Not Autistic

[Jenisautistic]

Basically that said I am on the autism spectrum but I'm not autistic. I'm not sure exactly why they said this but they said because real autistic people have cognitive impairments and cannot speak or cannot speak well and won't look people in the eye.

 

[Ylva]

So are you on some other spectrum?

You've been conditioned to look at eyes, as have we all. The other stuff is just ******** stereotypes from back when it was thought that since institutionalised autistics didn't speak too well, hence the institutionalising, it meant that this was an integral part of autism.

Possibly amusing, somewhat relevant: Mind Screw - TV Tropes

 

[zurb]

I think that means they think you don't have 'classic autism' which is the more severe form, but you still have autistic traits - HFA or Aspergers maybe. Or if you're in a country like mine, they may just be avoiding putting a label in your files. Or in the last 16 years you've learnt a thing or two about managing your condition.

 

[Nitro]

Here we go again on the labeling merry-go-round.

The "professionals" have placed so many variables in a diagnosis that many of them lose sight of what is actually going on. There is not a set of strict rules as to who gets what in their bag of tricks. Some get turmoil and a lot of nasty events with their autism. Many are impaired by poor teaching styles,so their academics are a failure to them. Does this seem to ring a bell here? No two autistic people are the same,quite the same as no two neurotypical people are carbon copies of each other. Everybody has their own learning style,not just the spectrumites. We lack in social skills and are made to conform to the norm in order to not cause waves. I can look people straight in the eye and have learned the rules of social engagement,but still wear an autistic badge. Being extroverted goes against the stereotypes,but I am one of them that doesn't fit neatly into their suspected pattern,so once again,we have a breakdown.
Many of us wear a mask so to speak that can actually hide that we are autie to the unsuspecting. I have heard that females are harder to spot than males because they are better actors. If the right set of questions aren't asked,they will never come up with the correct answer.
As far as your own education process,you should be the one who knows best if a teaching style isn't working if you are falling behind and then you own set of questions should be presented to your educators to enable them to make corrections that suit your particular learning style.

I hope I have not added to your confusion and please ask as many questions as you feel necessary of anyone. The only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked

 

[Datura]

To say that you are on the [autism?] spectrum, but not autistic, is a bit confusing to me as well. It sounds to me as though they are using outdated diagnostic criteria, saying you don't meet the very rigid criteria set out by Leo Kanner in the 1940s. So, if we are going to stick with that era of thinking then "being on the autism spectrum, but with unimpaired cognitive and language skills" would essentially describe Asperger's syndrome.

Of course, Asperger's is now on it's way out as an official diagnosis, and has been assimilated into Autism Spectrum Disorder. Weather or not you are technically autistic under this new criteria is dependent on weather or not your symptoms cause you impairment. In the DSM5 there is a scale rating the seveirty of the autism. If you fall off of this scale then I suppose you would technically not be considered autistic, even if you do have autistic traits.

Severity level

Social communication

Restricted, repetitive behaviors

Level 3
"Requiring very substantial support”
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches
Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 2
"Requiring substantial support”
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 1
"Requiring support”
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to- and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.

I really wish they could be more specific with what they mean by "substantial" and "very substantial."

 

[StephF]

I think this is why the DSM-V changed the diagnoses to Autism Spectrum Disorder. We are all on the spectrum but some of us are affected more severely than others.

 

[Harrison]

Basically that said I am on the autism spectrum but I'm not autistic. I'm not sure exactly why they said this but they said because real autistic people have cognitive impairments and cannot speak or cannot speak well and won't look people in the eye.

Maybe they should come visit here and learn something useful instead the rubbish they seem to have accumulated.

I'm sure every single person here would be only too happy to enlighten them.

 

[Progster]

"I am on the autism spectrum but I'm not autistic" - that is a contradiction of terms. The whole point of describing autism as a spectrum is that the symptoms can vary from severe to mild. As others have said, it sounds like what knowledge they have on the subject is very outdated.

 

[Nitro]

I think that some don't understand what a spectrum actually is

 

[WildCat]

"cognitive impairments"?

Tell them to come to this website. I (and I'm sure others here as well) would be more than glad to set them straight.

 

[piney13]

Basically that said I am on the autism spectrum but I'm not autistic. I'm not sure exactly why they said this but they said because real autistic people have cognitive impairments and cannot speak or cannot speak well and won't look people in the eye.

The ignorance......They can't get away with this if you have a DX

 

[Karin]

I really can't make sense of that official rubbish. I don't doubt any longer I'm on the spectrum but I do not belong even at level 1. Maybe that's me as well - I'm on the spectrum but I don't 'qualify' as being autistic according to the definitions.

 

[clg114]

Let me get this straight. According to the DSM-5, it is possible to have symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder, but if your high enough on the spectrum you wont be diagnosed with ASD. Is that correct?

 

[watersprite]

Let me get this straight. According to the DSM-5, it is possible to have symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder, but if your high enough on the spectrum you wont be diagnosed with ASD. Is that correct?

I confronted the neuropsych who diagnosed me with that question clg114. He said this: my diagnosis would have been Asperger's but now it (what testing me showed) is called HFA. So, I am diagnosed with a mild form of autism as well as anxiety and NVLD, and probably synesthesia. (His words)

 

[clg114]

I was diagnosed with the DSM-4. The diagnosis was Asperger's Syndrome. I am tempted to get re-diagnosed with the DMS-5 just to see what the diagnosis would be, if anything. I guess it really doesn't make any difference, I'll still be me.

 

[Datura]

I think this is the problem with pathologist human bio-diversity. There are so many natural variations that are worth identifying and studying for various reasons. Unfortunately we have a system where variation is only acknowledged if something is "wrong" with you. This only acts to marginalize the diagnosed and to ignore the positive side of variation. We spend so much time studying illness that we neglect to study health.

Perhaps they should add a Level 0 for those who are clearly on the spectrum but don't suffer serious impairment. This could have great implications for research (ie. determining why some people with these traits fair quite well while others don't) and could be useful information in family planning as autism is strongly linked to heredity.

 

[Beverly]

Datura, I agree. If I am honest with myself and, do not account for my learned acting ability, I am definitely in the moderate to sever Asperger's range. But I choose to live my life as somewhat of a loner. I choose to be a very efficient shopper, to live semi off grid, to be very self reliant. I can fake my way through any social situation.

I can be the debutant, the rocker, even the star of the show but, none of that is really me. I'm a lousy conversationalist, I have trouble finding the right word, I prefer to be alone, I dislike people in general. I get lost in one interest and burn the stew, etc...

But outside of my home, no one knows that, in fact even my husband doesn't know how bad I am if I don't use things to remind myself, and plan out my conversation for the evening before he gets home. If we have guests and, i loose my words, I go tend whatever is cooking, or refill beverages, suddenly decide to make a cocktail or gellato for later, etc....

As adults, many of us have learned to cover very well, so well as to fool most experts unless we drop our methods and "let it all hang out" as it were.

 

[Nitro]

A true diagnosis should encompass an entire lifetime,not just how you appear in the present. Learning the ropes does not omit autism,it only blurs the lines to those who have not done their research. It is in fact a huge stage act where you can become the star if you can play the part to perfection.

I too believe that studies should be done on those who are able to overcome their challenges,but many like me who didn't struggle horribly just move along if they didn't require assistance.
If you add another classification to the DSM,it still involves an opinion to determine if you fit the new description

 

[piney13]

If I am honest with myself and, do not account for my learned acting ability, I am definitely in the moderate to sever Asperger's range. But I choose to live my life as somewhat of a loner. I choose to be a very efficient shopper, to live semi off grid, to be very self reliant. I can fake my way through any social situation.

DITTO...

 

[Datura]

If we have guests and, i loose my words, I go tend whatever is cooking, or refill beverages, suddenly decide to make a cocktail or gellato for later, etc....

I don't believe I've had the pleasure, Beverly. Welcome.
You sound like a fabulous host.

If you add another classification to the DSM,it still involves an opinion to determine if you fit the new description

So true. As I've said before, I can't wait for brain imaging technology to become better and more ubiquitous (though hopefully completely voluntary) so that psychiatry doesn't have to rely so strongly on the subjectivity of professionals.