CHICAGO (AP) – A child does not speak, moves rhythmically and provides clothing that rolls in the dryer. Another speaks perfectly, but is obsessed with trains and methodically repeats the names of all the stations in your state.
They are autistic and they hate change, but there is one large looming.
For the first time in nearly two decades, experts want to redefine autism. Some parents fear that their children be excluded from specialized therapy with a closer definition.
For years use different labels for autism, of which the best-known is Asperger’s syndrome. The doctors who developed the new definition want to eliminate those terms to reunite them under the category of “spectrum of Autistic disorders”.
Some object that the proposal will exclude up to 40% of children now considered autistic. Parents of children with mild disorders fear these excluded services special education and therapy and therefore, any chance for a normal life.
However, the doctors on the panel of the American Psychiatric Association that proposed changes say that none of this will happen.
Argue that the revision is needed to rule out baffling signs and clarify that autism includes a range of symptoms ranging from severe to mild. It will be easier, they say, diagnose children and ensure that the truly autistic receive the same diagnosis.
The new definition perhaps to determine if the rising figures reflect a real increase in autism or errors of diagnosis by doctors.
Not there is a test to determine accurately whether a child is autistic. The diagnosis of the existing 18 years covers children before mental relay calls, as well as others whose conduct could be considered simply capricious or rare. Some children diagnosed with autism may not correspond to this definition when mature.
“Want to take the opportunity to correct the diagnosis,” said Dr. Bryan King, panel member and director of the Center for autism in children Hospital, Seattle.
The proposed changes include:
– Create a new category of “spectrum of Autistic disorders” to describe symptoms that generally appear before age three. It would embrace children with “autistic disorder”, which is currently used for severe cases, more two variations of patients with high functionality.
Diagnosis would apply to subjects with three types of communication problems, including little or no conversation and poor social interaction; and at least two repetitive behaviors or unusual, or limited interests such as waving arms, walking on foot tips and demonstrate obsession with extravagant items.
– Would be eliminated variations of high functionality and autistic disorder – Asperger and the “pervasive maturation without other especificación_ disorder, but symptoms would be covered in the new category.
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-Another new category, “social communication disorder”, would include children who relate evil with others and do not know interpret facial expressions and body language.
The panel says that the changes are scientifically sound and based on recent research.
