Labels can be tricky.
They don't always stick.
As more and more of us have become familiarized with terms like "autism" and "Asperger Syndrome", many have begun to wonder if the increase in its occurrence is less a matter of an epidemic and more a matter of what is in vogue - after all, the label "Asperger's" is applied to people who display dramatically different symptoms, and there is little agreement about causes, and even treatment.
"Do you specialize in working with adults with Asperger's?" - this is a question I field many times a week individuals and couples calling seeking psychotherapy services.
Though my answer is always "yes", there are many in the field who might argue that the answer should be "no".
Some might assert that I, in fact, work only with adults who have "Asperger's like coping mechanisms".
Am I applying the Asperger's label too liberally? A debate has flared amongst clinicians, researchers and clients themselves regarding the official diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome.
In one camp are those who adhere rigidly to diagnostic criteria listed in the DMS-IV (the profession's manual for diagnosing disorders).
These professionals view the individual with "true Asperger's" as not only displaying difficulty in connecting with others, but lack of interest.
"Almost by definition, an Asperger's person would not form an intimate relationship, get married and have children," says research scientist Katherine Tsatsanis of the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
"They don't form connections.
The desire, the drive and the social knowledge is lacking.
" In the second camp are professionals who work with individuals who have lived lives largely feeling isolated, cerebral and confused by the nuances of interpersonal relationships.
Some are married, some are not.
Some love computers, some English.
They are professors, pilots, graphic artists, forest rangers, electricians, bakers, computer scientists, physicians.
Perhaps what they often have in common are characteristics not normally listed in the DSM-IV or surveyed with research scales: a love of and identification with cats, an intense sensitivity sometimes hidden by a shut-down or disengaged persona, an eschewing of group sports, a simultaneous craving for solitude and longing for companionship.
Which camp's perspective you subscribe to may depend on whether labeling works for you.
The very nature of spectrum disorders can make diagnosing complex and difficult.
If you have a questions about whether the label is right for you or someone you love, keep in mind that the more important question may be this: do you need a label? For some, having a name for a set of experiences and characteristics which has caused pain and confusion throughout life can be a great relief.
Having a name for "what's wrong" can feel organizing, provide a context for approaching treatment, de-mystify previously confusing parts of life, and depersonalize the pain that has come with being different.
Naming can be a triumph in itself.
For others, labeling can cause distress, even worsen feelings of being different or flawed.
For these folks, organizing and context are less valuable.
If the diagnosis causes further pain, it may not be useful.
Why? Because of the spectrum nature of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Asperger's Syndrome is known by many names - High Functioning Autism (HFA), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and others.
The term "spectrum" is crucial to the understanding of how these disorders present in terms of symptoms and severity.
To assume that all adults with the diagnosis display the same characteristics would be to miss the true nature of the disorder, which often forces individuals to develop widely varying and novel ways of coping with sensory input, social expectations and neurological wiring.
If you or a loved one suspect the Asperger's label may be applicable, you may want to consult with a professional for confirmation.
Or not.
Depending on how much you need to name what's different about you, you may want to skip this step and just address symptoms.
And if you do walk out of a professional's office with the label "Asperger Syndrome", just remember that the label may not stick.
They don't always stick.
As more and more of us have become familiarized with terms like "autism" and "Asperger Syndrome", many have begun to wonder if the increase in its occurrence is less a matter of an epidemic and more a matter of what is in vogue - after all, the label "Asperger's" is applied to people who display dramatically different symptoms, and there is little agreement about causes, and even treatment.
"Do you specialize in working with adults with Asperger's?" - this is a question I field many times a week individuals and couples calling seeking psychotherapy services.
Though my answer is always "yes", there are many in the field who might argue that the answer should be "no".
Some might assert that I, in fact, work only with adults who have "Asperger's like coping mechanisms".
Am I applying the Asperger's label too liberally? A debate has flared amongst clinicians, researchers and clients themselves regarding the official diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome.
In one camp are those who adhere rigidly to diagnostic criteria listed in the DMS-IV (the profession's manual for diagnosing disorders).
These professionals view the individual with "true Asperger's" as not only displaying difficulty in connecting with others, but lack of interest.
"Almost by definition, an Asperger's person would not form an intimate relationship, get married and have children," says research scientist Katherine Tsatsanis of the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
"They don't form connections.
The desire, the drive and the social knowledge is lacking.
" In the second camp are professionals who work with individuals who have lived lives largely feeling isolated, cerebral and confused by the nuances of interpersonal relationships.
Some are married, some are not.
Some love computers, some English.
They are professors, pilots, graphic artists, forest rangers, electricians, bakers, computer scientists, physicians.
Perhaps what they often have in common are characteristics not normally listed in the DSM-IV or surveyed with research scales: a love of and identification with cats, an intense sensitivity sometimes hidden by a shut-down or disengaged persona, an eschewing of group sports, a simultaneous craving for solitude and longing for companionship.
Which camp's perspective you subscribe to may depend on whether labeling works for you.
The very nature of spectrum disorders can make diagnosing complex and difficult.
If you have a questions about whether the label is right for you or someone you love, keep in mind that the more important question may be this: do you need a label? For some, having a name for a set of experiences and characteristics which has caused pain and confusion throughout life can be a great relief.
Having a name for "what's wrong" can feel organizing, provide a context for approaching treatment, de-mystify previously confusing parts of life, and depersonalize the pain that has come with being different.
Naming can be a triumph in itself.
For others, labeling can cause distress, even worsen feelings of being different or flawed.
For these folks, organizing and context are less valuable.
If the diagnosis causes further pain, it may not be useful.
Why? Because of the spectrum nature of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Asperger's Syndrome is known by many names - High Functioning Autism (HFA), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and others.
The term "spectrum" is crucial to the understanding of how these disorders present in terms of symptoms and severity.
To assume that all adults with the diagnosis display the same characteristics would be to miss the true nature of the disorder, which often forces individuals to develop widely varying and novel ways of coping with sensory input, social expectations and neurological wiring.
If you or a loved one suspect the Asperger's label may be applicable, you may want to consult with a professional for confirmation.
Or not.
Depending on how much you need to name what's different about you, you may want to skip this step and just address symptoms.
And if you do walk out of a professional's office with the label "Asperger Syndrome", just remember that the label may not stick.
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