Asperger’s History of Overdiagnosis
Author: Paul Steinberg Publisher: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 Publish Date: 2012-1-31 Review Date: Status:⌛️
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- A 1992 United States Department of Education directive contributed to the overdiagnosis of Asperger syndrome. It called for enhanced services for children diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and for children with “pervasive developmental disorder — not otherwise specified (P.D.D.-N.O.S.),” a diagnosis in which children with social disabilities could be lumped. The diagnosis of Asperger syndrome went through the roof. Curiously, in California, where children with P.D.D.-N.O.S. were not given enhanced services, autism-spectrum diagnoses did not increase. Too little science and too many unintended consequences.