Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

NY Times Opinion OverDiagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Now that the American Psychiatric Association has stated they may refine the ways autism and Asperger syndrome are diagnosed, The New York Times examines the matter on today's opinion page.

First, an op-ed by psychiatrist Paul Steinberg, "Asperger's History of Over-Diagnosis," delves into the history of the issue:

"[C]hildren and adults with significant interpersonal deficits are being lumped together with children and adults with language acquisition problems. Currently, with the loosening of the diagnosis of Asperger, children and adults who are shy and timid, who have quirky interests like train schedules and baseball statistics, and who have trouble relating to their peers -- but who have no language-acquisition problems -- are placed on the autism spectrum."

Next, "I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly," by writer Benjamin Nugent, details his experience being misdiagnosed with the condition.

"The biggest single problem with the diagnostic criteria applied to me is this: You can be highly perceptive with regard to social interaction, as a child or adolescent, and still be a spectacular social failure. This is particularly true if you're bad at sports or nervous or weird-looking."

--About.com Health staff

Proposed Changes to DSMs Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows

Few conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions.

It's likely that the new DSM will have a very different definition of autism. Instead of three autism subtypes - Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) - there will be just one, autism spectrum disorder. Some experts believe the changes are needed because current definitions of autism are too hazy, leading perhaps to an over diagnosis of the condition.

The new definition is meant to streamline and clarify what it means to have autism. But many experts are quoted in news articles about being worried that it could radically limit the number of people who are diagnosed with autism, and thus deny them access to needed health, educational and social services. One of those concerned experts, Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, expressed his concerns about the proposed changes at a recent Icelandic Medical Association meeting.

The panel downplays the numbers of people who will be affected, but no one really knows.

Read more about the proposed DSM changes at Diagnosing Autism and the APA's press release on the changes.

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource

Autism Resources Among the Finalists for Readers Choice Awards

Voting for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards is in progress on About.com's Parenting Children With Special Needs site, and many autism resources are among the contenders in seven of the eight categories. Check out the autism-related finalists below and vote for your favorites daily through March 21:

Raising Rebel Souls, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Parenting Blog

Autism Every Day, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book

Crazy Love, Following Ezra, I Am Snamuh, and Judy's World, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Memoir

ASD and Me and My Friend With Autism, finalists for Favorite New Special-Needs Children Book

Alphas and Parenthood, finalists for Favorite Special-Needs TV Show

iPrompts, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App

iTaalk Autism Foundation, a finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Regional Resource