Autism Diagnostic Criteria (DSM 5)

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Published 2022-01-28
Autism diagnostic criteria (DSM 5). I'm talking through the DSM 5 criteria for an autism diagnosis.

This will be a useful video if you're:
- Considering whether you might be autistic
- The carer or parent of a child who might be autistic
- Wanting to learn more about autism generally
- An autistic person wanting to know where the diagnostic criteria applies to them.

Some online autism quizzes (these are not diagnostic tools but useful when you're exploring the possibility of autism):

The Aspie Quiz - embrace-autism.com/aspie-quiz/
The AQ test - embrace-autism.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/
The Cat Q (good for people who mask) - embrace-autism.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

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All Comments (21)
  • @EcoHamletsUK
    I think it's Criteria D that disproves the "everyone is a bit autistic" thing. Everyone can't have a significant impairment, as if they did, it would be normal, not an impairment.
  • I can totally relate to the thing with thinking everyone is mad at me, when they are not obviouslly happy or sad (crying). I ask my partner at least once a day if everything is okay with him/ us :D
  • @MyFisher2010
    A1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
    A2. Deficits in non-verbal communication
    behaviours used for social interaction
    A3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and
    understanding relationships
    B1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor
    movements, or use of objects or speech.
    B2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible
    adherence to routines, or ritualised patterns
    of verbal or nonverbal behaviour.
    B3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that
    are abnormal in intensity or focus.
    B4. Hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory
    input or unusual interest in sensory aspects
    of the environment.
  • The other thing I really despise in these criteria is the wording of deficits in nonverbal communication. There is such a thing as autistic nonverbal behavior. It is so hippocritical that allistics consider their nonverbal behavior (that we often struggle to understand because it is not natural to us) sophisticated "social cues" but they often refer to our nonverbal behavior as unintelligent just because they don't understand our nonverbal behavior because it is not their natural way of nonverbally communicating. Like fun fact, allistics: we don't get yours either for the same reason; your nonverbal communication is not superior in intelligence!!!
  • @sevsev4078
    A friend of mine who's been diagnosed a couple years ago actually studied the language of the DSM5 over the past semester, holding an amazing presentation on this topic for her seminar on discourse analyses, and later going further to write a paper on it for the same course. I was astonished to say the least by how outdated the manual seemed (language wise) when we were discussing it for the first time. Our discussions were quite stirring, and her presentation made a couple of people from the class tear up hearing about the language and discourse, and all I can say is that I truly hope that the manual will be revised some time in the future to incorporate a better, more humanizing and dignifying language.
  • I‘ve been making notes about the DSM 5 for a week now. Would really love to see a video explaining the ICD 11 criteria! I‘m really struggling to validate my self diagnose, feeling like i‘m just making it all up
  • @LemonPartII
    Recently, I discovered that…I do believe I’m autistic; I was diagnosed, but never told, and came to the conclusion on my own mire recently before asking about it with my mother and finding out.

    I’ve found that my method of social masking is more of just flat out ignoring the areas of socializing that I don’t do naturally. I never start a conversation with small talk, I go straight into a point, or sometimes use a question to ease into a point depending on person and situation. I tend to just overshare, infodump and stuff when talking to people, and combined with my ADHD I socialize a lot more than “typical for those with autism”, and I unconsciously mask - I wasn’t born with social cues and emotional display, I learned those subconsciously - it still happens that I sometimes mess up and convey the wrong emotion.
  • One major thing that's missing from the DSM criteria is ANXIETY. Anxiety is a universal feature of autism, and for many of us, it's the defining characteric or our emotional life. It's also the single most debilitating and horrible ongoing emotional experience we deal with. I believe it's what drives everything from meltdowns and shut-downs to social withdrawl and stimming and the need for routine and familiartiy. It baffles me that anxiety is not CENTRAL to the diagnostic criteria.

    In short, the psychiatric / psychological professions have a looooong way to go before they have a uselful grip on what autism actually is, much less what it's like from our perspective. How can they hope to help us if they don't clearly understand the core features of our experience of the world? How threatening the world not only feels to us, but how unsafe it actually IS for us. Might explain why we have average lifespans 20 or more years shorter than NTs. Most forms of cancer don't shorten lives by 20 years on average. I spent years in theraphy trying manage my anxiety, and felt like a failure for not being able to do so effectively. Well, the basis of standard CBT talk treatment is DENIAL of the LEGITAMACY of our anxious feelings and thoughts. Problem is, our anxiety is LEGITAMATE given how the NT world and the demands it places on us are dangerous to us. Unsafe. Going around pretending the world is safe when it ISNT dosen't end well for anyone. Invalidating our anxiety is a form of bullying and shaming - at least that's how it feels. Worse, we are encouraged to internalize these invalidating paradgyms, in effect gaslighting ourselfs, and becoming our own bullies!

    So for now, we are on our own. Together. Thanks to autistic people like you who share their expereinces here on YouTube, I know I'm not alone.
  • @Julian7633S
    I was diagnosed with adult autism at 44 years old and I appreciate your channel
  • @thatrunningirl
    it's even harder for people to understand when you are high-functioning. i've had my own successful business for over 10 years, i'm a creative writer, a competitive athlete and i guess what you would call 'high functioning'. yet people who don't know me seem to think i'm pretending that i was diagnosed with aspergers a few years ago. yet when i'm in a road race, why am i the only one covering my ears when the cars are going past? yes, i run a business, but it still freaks me out walking down a high street seeing all the mismatched signs, colours, fonts etc, and all the people walking in different ways, and not being able to read the expressions of everyone's faces. and the 'constant on' of sensory intensity overload. it's like if you're intelligent and look reasonably 'normal' most people think you're faking it. new subscriber here :) thanks for sharing your experiences xx
  • @SergGirl
    Thank you for this. I get so into masking (and admittedly overdoing it) that I lose track of my real self and feel like I’m faking it. The AQ quiz that you said is good for masking really got to the core of how I feel vs how I act.
  • @lindalincoln1652
    I cannot express how grateful I am that there are adult women talking about this. I am in the middle of getting my diagnosis and it has been a nightmare since this past year I have been quickly falling apart. Getting help at this age, undiagnosed and masking constantly, is my biggest challenge and it's terrifying thinking I won't make it to retirement before I fall to pieces. I appreciate the others who appear to have this managed - it gives me hope. Thank you, I appreciate you.
  • @Sky-Child
    Love your talking about overcompensating facial expressions and gestures (and the assumption that everyone else is mad at you for some reason because you just don't know) Also, I have no volume control 🤣
  • @beeatpeace
    I'm attending my first appointment for a diagnosis in a few weeks and was looking for a video to help me be more prepared for what I will need to explain. This was perfect timing! Thank you for your videos, Purple Ella, because they have helped my understanding and my processing so much. <3
  • @AlfFieldArt
    I agree we should question why Autism is assessed in terms of negatives alone. I totally think that is wrong. I don't want to be neurotypical. I am me. I am Autistic, and cherish my quirks and abilities. We do also have to be true though, and acknowledge that every one of us will have Autistic facets that are a royal pain in the bum. Its a fact we cannot ignore. My major issue is social ineptitude. :) I'm useless around people. I want to be Robinson 'lets make a campfire on the beach' Crusoe.
  • Thank you for explaining the criteria! I also love your rainbow wall behind you lol.
  • @darongw
    Thanks for the video! I'm in the process of trying to get a diagnosis at 36. Had my first evaluation and I have a couple more to go through. I'm in the States so DSM5 is what is being used. I know I'm autistic and I'm just hoping this process works out... So far seems good but really draining...
  • At 5:00 you mentioned that unless someone is overly happy, you just assume a person is mad at you.... that struck a chord with me because every day of my life i live with the assumption that everyone is mad at me
  • Hello Ella you are literally such a warm and lovely teacher! Much appreciation from a Kenyan medical student!