The American Psychiatric Association wants to discard the term 'Asperger's Syndrome'

TAMPA - The American Psychiatric Association wants to discard the term 'Asperger's Syndrome,' and replace it with a number-like scale indicating the severity of a child's Autism.

William Santeiro loves to swing alone.  A smart kid, he doesn't always love to interact with his peers.

Behavior like William's, which, if often misunderstood, has a name:  Asperger's Syndrome.  The condition is related to Autism, but different. 

According to Kelley Prince, President of Behavioral Consulting of Tampa, "A child with Autism typically has 3 areas that are concerning.”  They lack in communication skills, social skills, they have restricted or repetitive interests, she says.  "Now a child with Asperger's typically develops language on time. These children tend to have better language development than their peers but they still have the social deficits.”

Knowing the difference can determine the correct therapy or behavioral intervention for a child. 

With the change, kids with Asperger's may be lumped into the group labeled "high-functioning autism."

That decision by the American Psychiatric Association has sparked criticism from some advocacy groups and confusion from some concerned moms like Sandy Santeiro. “I don't quite get if that's going to change anything in terms of insurance and payments and services, however as a community, when you're out in the community and you find another parent and you say my child has Asperger's, there's an instant connection. They know exactly what you are going through.”

And that acceptance and understanding, Sandy says, is priceless.

What Prince wants parents to know is that this change should not affect Florida's Window of Opportunity Act. “As of right now, that Window of Opportunity Act allows coverage for children with Autism, Aspergers and children with pervasive developmental disorders. They still will receive that $36,000 a year for services.”

What does William think of the name change? "I'm still going to be me. I mean is this whole changing the name supposed to change me or anything? How can changing a name change a person?"

Kelly says the changes in diagnostic labeling - excluding Asperger's and using severe, moderate and high functioning autism - should go into effect in 2013.