High functioning autism and Aspergers Syndrome

[andy]

I have been asked on numerous occasions what is the difference between these two diagnostic labels. For me the distinction is still an arbritrary one. Personally, I do not believe that Kanner and Asperger were really examining different constructs. The main issue for me is that Aspergers Syndrome has many more positive connotations as a label than autism especially to lay people.

So where does autism stop and Aspergers Syndrome start? For me there has to be judgement call which takes into account intellectual functioning (including the dreaded IQ) and severity of ASD traits.


I would really like to know what other people think about the distinction and even if it is useful?

[Dave W]

I once listen to an interesting interview in the US in which the psychologist described how he interprets the difference between HFA and AS - he felt the main aspect being that a person with HFA has no desire to socialise whereas someone with AS wishes to interact with others but does not have the necessary skills and strategies to implement this interaction.

[cookie62]

When my grandson was diagnosed with HFA we asked that question and was told that people with AS could understand the meaning of words, and people with HFA, although they learned how to hold conversations, they weren't really understanding at a normal level. My grandson desperately wants to socialise and have friends, but lacks the social skills to be popular. His attempts at humour only annoy other kids and they tend to make fun of him and bully him. He can make eye contact and loves cuddles. He is 11years old.

[sue hatton]

In many ways I don't think it matters that much when what we need to do is undrstand each individual and how their ASD/ASC/autism/AS impacts upon them.....but there is something in the fact that some folk really do want friends and to be able to sociaise but they jsut don't know how and others who avoid social contact and state they really do not like spending much time with other humans.......however I have also discovered that both need to learn......how to socialise for the first and the value of relationships for the second.........actually we all need relationships - I did not used to be convinced of that for people with ASD but now I have got to know so many with differing levels of intellectual ability and various diagnosis......and I think they would agree that learning how to be social is one skill.......and for some folks learning the value of relationships that come from a certain amount of being social is important.......even if it is just a case of knowing who to text and say " heavy snow, safe to go in to town on bus or not?" because I am one of the small group of people who will respond and this is part of the value of our relationship.....there are many other parts and some of them are of great benifit to me - the neurtypical one in the relationship....it really is two way.