Question

Discuss current changes to the criteria previously used to diagnose and treat autism. How was autism diagnosed and treated previously? How will it be diagnosed and treated now? What factors influence ASD? Explain.

note citations and refrences please

Answer 1

Discuss current changes to the criteria previously used to diagnose and treat autism

There have been changes made in the autism spectrum disorder in the DSM 5. This was published in the year 2013. Previously, there were four different diseases included in the autism spectrum disorder, which include Asperger’s syndrome, autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and child hood disintegrated disorder. The new criteria include:

• The four separate disorders have been made into a single category and there is no separate categories are placed. These have been placed under the - not otherwise specified ( PDD NOS) and these would be given a new disorder diagnosis under the ASD.
• There are two domains of impairment which is one less as compared to the three domains used in the previous criteria. The new domains include social interaction and social communication and restricted interest as well as repetitive behaviours.
• It has been decided that in order to receive a diagnosis, the person has to show 5 out of 7 impairments which was 6 out of 12 in the previous criteria, with 3 criteria of social interaction having to be satisfied and 2 of the restricted interests to be satisfied.
• Sensory differences haas also been added to the restricted and repetitive behaviour
• Severity ratings have also been included with level three being the one that requires very substantial support, level 2 being the one requiring very substantial support and level 1 requiring only support.