What is the Diagnostic criteria for ADHD and Autism?

Answer 1

A description of a condition labeled Asperger's syndrome first appeared in 1981. Different people had done research on the condition since then, but symptoms were not clearly described until 1989-1991 by several different researchers. DSM is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. In 1994, Asperger's Syndrome was added to the DSM. Until a condition appears in the DSM, it does not receive much recognition in the US. Before that, it was sometimes called "autistic psychopathy", "schizoid disorder of childhood", "atypical autism", "social skills learning disability", "nonverbal learning disability", or whichever trait seemed to be causing the most difficulty, such as obsessive-compulsiveness. This breaks the criteria into six categories:

* impaired social interaction * restricted repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities * impaired social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning * no delay in language development * no delay in cognitive development * does not meet criteria for other pervasive developmental disorders or schizophrenia disorders

The European equivalent of the DSM published by the World Health Organization is known as the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). It included Asperger's Syndrome in the 1992 publication. This breaks the criteria into four categories:

* no delay in language or cognitive development * abnormalities in reciprocal social interaction * intense, circumscribed interest or restricted repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities * does not meet criteria for other pervasive developmental disorders, schizophrenia disorders, or several other disorders Lars Christopher Gillberg has done significant research on autism and Asperger's Syndrome, and the criteria he developed is considered by those who actually work with children to be more accurate. It was published in 1989. He has six categories of criteria:

* social impairments * narrow interests * repetitive routines * speech and language abnormalities * non-verbal communication problems * motor clumsiness Peter Szatmari also proposed diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Syndrome in 1989. He has four categories of criteria:

* social isolation * impaired social interaction * impaired non-verbal communication * speech and language peculiarities M. S. Garnett and Tony Attwood developed a questionnaire to identify Asperger's Syndrome, which is known as The Australian Scale for Asperger's Syndrome, which was published in 1997. It has a checklist divided into six categories: social and emotional abilities, communication skills, cognitive skills, specific interests, movement skills, and other characteristics.

Tony Attwood's and Carol Gray's criteria is listed as "discovery criteria", rather than diagnostic criteria, because it focuses on the strengths of a person with AS. It looks at Asperger's Syndrome from a different point of view.

Links for each set of diagnostic criteria are below.

Answer 2

The standard diagnostic criteria used in the United States is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). In Europe, The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders is used, which distinguishes between childhood autism and atypical autism. Both describe autism as characterized by abnormal or impaired social skills, abnormal or impaired communication skills, and repetitive behavior. Using these criteria, it is often difficult to diagnose autism before the age of 2. Links to these diagnostic criteria are provided below.

In summary, the diagnostic criteria are

• impaired social interaction
• impaired communication
• repetitive behaviors or activities
• delay in social interaction, social language use, or imaginative play
• not better accounted for by Rett disorder or childhood disintegrative disorder

Zero to Three has described alternative behaviors for diagnosis, which they describe under disorders of relating and communicating. They would like to have criteria to be able to diagnose autism spectrum and similar conditions at an earlier age. The link provided below goes to their commercial site, which is one of the few sites to give information on their classifications. Another link related to this is the ERIC site which offers Zero to Three's "Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood. Diagnostic Classification: 0-3" as a PDF download, in which many other conditions are discussed, as well.

Answer 3

this wil be changing in a few years but as of right now the criteria for autism are

"

[The following is from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV]

(I) A total of six (or more) items from (A), (B), and (C), with at least two from (A), and one each from (B) and (C)

(A) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction

2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level

3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people, (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)

4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the description, it gives the following as examples: not actively participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary activities, or involving others in activities only as tools or "mechanical" aids )

(B) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following: 1. delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)

2. in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others

3. stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language

4. lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

(C) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the following: 1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)

4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

(II) Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years: (A) social interaction

(B) language as used in social communication

(C) symbolic or imaginative play

(III) The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder,"

-ASDogGeek

Answer 4

In medical and psychological science, definitions described in the DSM-5 are used as indication. Within the framework of medical and psy science, to correctly diagnose, the following steps are mostly used and officially required, often called the diagnostic cycle:

- the cliënt recognising and stating their issue

- a certified psychologist or psychiatrist together with client going through the checklist as stated in DSM-5

- anamnese by certified psychologist or psychiatrist

- peer reviews of the report of that anamnese

- having the ciënt do certified tests (most are multiple choice questionnaires)

- certified person interpreting the results and writing a report

- peer reviews of the bundled report and results

Every step can have a positive or a negative result and can lead back to the first step. This logical cycle filters results of statistical research and concludes in what is statistically significant / most plausible. These rules are used by all certified universities and mental health professionals and in theory would conclude the same regardless of location.

Mind that an absolute and always correct answer is what people of influence dictate and what is socially accepted in a culture.