KENDALLVILLE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Big changes could be on the horizon for children diagnosed with autism if a new proposal by the American Psychiatric Association gets the go ahead.
Currently, autism encompasses a number of different social, communication, and repetitive disorders. It affects about six out of every 1,000 children, according to the National Institute of Health.
Under proposed changes to the definition and diagnosis of autism, much more specific symptoms would be needed in order for a doctor to make an autism diagnosis.
That has many parents concerned that groups of autistic children could be overlooked under the new guidelines, especially high functioning people on the autism spectrum. If that happens, many parents say their kids won't be able to receive the critical mental and health services that come with an official medical diagnosis.
Maggie Smith says her son Conner was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when he was ten years old. Now twelve years old, Conner is quiet and reserved, but very intelligent.
Smith says Conner can get straight A's in school, but isn't able to verbally communicate with people outside of his immediate family. He is, however, very interested in basketball and can even tell you the birthdays of many players.
"The biggest concern is impacting the services that the school gives him," says Smith. "They make a lot of accommodations to make going to school possible for him, and I don't want that to stop."
She says a number of unintended consequences could arise from changing the definition of autism. Not only would there be less diagnoses, says Smith, but there would also be a huge financial burden associated with retesting children under the new standards.
It could also take away needed services from some while providing unnecessary services for others. "There are going to be people left with nothing available to them that would have helped them become more productive members of society. If you can't get a child through school, that child is not going to be able to get a job. They're not going to be able to add to the economy."
Smith isn't alone in her concerns. Many other autistic adults and parents of autistic children have cited similar objections to the changes. However, there are also many who believe this could be a very positive move for families and communities.
Proponents point to two recent field studies out of Massachusetts and California that indicate the number of people receiving autism diagnoses would only decrease slightly or remain fairly consistent if the changes were to be adopted.
A similar study out of Iceland, however, showed that nearly half of high functioning people with autism would see their health services decrease under the changes.
Others say it would prevent many children from being stigmatized for having a mental disorder. Some say autism is being diagnosed too frequently, and that being a little "nerdy" or "eccentric" shouldn't warrant an autism diagnosis.
Parents, however, say autism isn't the same as being eccentric. Smith says she doesn't care about the stigma Conner faces as an autistic child as much as she does the services he receives.
While the debate continues to grow over the proposed changes, it appears the American Psychiatric Association is inching closer to a decision. If adopted, the updated definition of autism would be added to the May 2013 publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
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