Parents worry about new autism criteria

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A new definition of autism could dramatically reduce the number of people diagnosed with the disorder.

Parents and doctors are afraid that necessary services could be cut. Nearly two million people are considered autistic across the nation.

But that may change under new criteria that limits the spectrum. Patricia Stacey's son is under the spectrum of autism now but under the new criteria she's afraid he won't qualify for help.

"When he gets better a lot of times the school system or whoever will remove services and then he'll get worse. Then we'll get services and he'll get better then he''ll get worse," said Patricia Stacey who has a son that falls in the autism spectrum.

Nearly 5,000 people in western Massachusetts have autism. With new stricter guidelines it could make it harder for people that don't meet the criteria to get services that they need.

"They're world becomes much smaller because they don't have the tools to help the children do well in all social situations," said Jan Doody of the Community Resources for People with Autism.

Experts estimate half of autism patients who are high-functioning, meaning they have normal I-Q's, would no longer be considered autistic under the new definition.

Director Dr. Lawrence Kaplan of Baystate Children's Hospital says the most important thing is to get a comprehensive assessment of the child. "It's a clinical diagnosis testing tools that we have to support or refute the diagnosis clinically," Kaplan.

"We believe that addressing these issues early on will have better result down the road for these children," said Doody.

The changes are still under review and won't be finalized until later this year.