Right, Colinsmum.
The **proposed** but not formally adopted new criteria are here.
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94 . They actually have a tab where you can compare them to the older language, so I should have just given you that link first.
Under the new criteria my DS9 will have "autism," not "Asperger's." (I have made sure he is comfortable with these category names so the switch won't mean much to him.) He will still be totally brilliant in my and some others' opinions, but eccentric in his interests compared to peers and still inclined to make grievous social errors. Hopefully less of the latter over time... we'll see how it goes.
The "high functioning" label never had any diagnostic validity; it was often used to indicate "undiminished IQ," but also as a way to tell parents "it's all okay, yours is doing better than most of the others we see" and get them out of the doctor's office. It's perfectly possible for a person to "function" at multiple "levels" at once (I've forgotten most of my calculus and can't run a mile without wheezing, I stub my toes often, but I can read in lots of languages: what's my functioning level as an adult? Likewise a kid who can do calculus but forgets to tie his shoes: what's his functioning level?) I'm not a big fan of that label, whatever the child's IQ.
DeeDee
