seven distinct etiologies classed as High Functioning Autism or Asperger's.
We see the ASD diagnosis as a set of family resemblances: nobody has all the traits, but most of the diagnosed people have several of them.
He also felt that most kids that received those diagnoses generally fit no known etiology, and were rather just quirky or developmentally delayed.
If the "quirk" or delay impairs the child's functioning across various environments (not just school), though, it is to be taken seriously IMO. We have seen instances of under-diagnosis as well as over-diagnosis. It can be quite difficult to find a doc willing to diagnose a highly verbal, bright child with an ASD, even if functioning is obviously severely impaired and many of the classic symptoms are there. And without the dx, no help is available. (Even with the dx, sometimes no help is available.)
As a researcher he felt that there should be a narrowing of the diagnosis of autism to a core community, that could then be more effectively targeted with research and treatment.
I would argue for more differentiation, but not to narrow the pool or throw out diagnosable people; rather to make it clearer who needs what help to succeed and grow.
I agree that it's the Wild West out there in many respects.
DeeDee
