DSM criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD

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Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition that affects an individual’s brain development and influences how they perceive their surroundings or socialize with others. People suffering from this condition have a challenge interacting with others and expressing themselves efficiently, especially in social settings (Frazier et al., 2012). There are various ways in which a person can be diagnosed to administer the correct treatment. DSM-5 states that, for a child to be diagnosed with this condition, they must have depicted persistent deficits in three major sectors in their lives through interactions and social communication.

A deficit in developing, maintaining, and understanding connections with peers. In this case, they struggle to adjust their behaviors to suit a variety of social contexts (Wiggins et al., 2019). They also lack interest in connecting and making friends with their peers. They find it challenging to share imaginative play or make friends.

Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity. This diagnosis focuses on a child’s inability to hold standard back and forth conversations with their peers, abnormal social approaches, and a reduced willingness to share emotions and interests (Frazier et al., 2012). Additionally, such children fail to initiate or respond to conversations

Repetitive behavior patterns, activities, and interests manifested in hyporeactivity or unusual interests in sensory environmental aspects (Wiggins et al., 2019). These symptoms should present themselves in the early stages of development.

Jeremiah 29:11 states that “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). This verse implies that ASD condition, however challenging it may be for the patients, is part of God’s plan. It is an encouragement to children with ASD and their families that everything is God’s plan, and His plan for humankind is always for the greater good. According to the bible, everybody is a child of God regardless of their condition and should be treated equally.

References

Frazier, T. W., Youngstrom, E. A., Speer, L., Embacher, R., Law, P., Constantino, J., … & Eng, C. (2012). Validation of proposed DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(1), 28-40.

Pitts, C. Jeremiah 29: 11 as a 21st Century Church Paradigm.

Wiggins, L. D., Rice, C. E., Barger, B., Soke, G. N., Lee, L. C., Moody, E., … & Levy, S. E. (2019). DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder maximizes diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in preschool children. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 54(6), 693-701.