DSM-5 Impact on Services

With the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5, many individuals and families worried about what impact the new criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would have on supportive services.

Some advocates suggest that the unification of the diagnosis allows those who were previously classified by Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) or Asperger Disorder to gain easier access to services and supports in education. For example, the access to educational supports is governed by individual states' implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and, in some states, individuals with PDD-NOS and Asperger Disorder do not qualify under the state definition of autism. If these states choose to adopt the DSM-5 standards for ASD, individuals formerly diagnosed with PDD-NOS and Aspergers should qualify under the autism category.

However, others argue that the immersion of Asperger Disorder into ASD can pose issues with the identity of many people previously diagnosed with Asperger Disorder. Aspergers is seen as an advantage by many with the diagnosis, and these individuals may have difficulty identifying with individuals across the wider autism spectrum.

It is difficult to predict how the new criteria in the DSM-5 will be interpreted by the states and what effect the changes will have on both education and healthcare services. Previous diagnoses of Asperger disorder and PDD-NOS have been grandfathered into the new ASD diagnosis in DSM-5. Individuals with a history of these diagnoses do not automatically lose their diagnosis and do not need to be reevaluated under the new criteria. It is important to be aware of your home state's rules and regulations on education and Medicaid programs in order to best support individuals diagnosed with ASD.

Additional Resources

• Will New DSM-5 Autism Criteria Affect Services?
• Asperger's Officially Placed Inside Autism Spectrum