Differences between Aspergers and High Functioning Autism?

[Jacob Morrison]

Can somebody smart on here please explain to me the main differences between Aspergers and High Functioning Autism? I've tried reading things online and they were hard to understand. I have pretty superficial knowledge of other Autism Spectrum disorders other than Aspergers.

So will somebody explain the differences to me? Thanks.

 

[Maude]

Well, I wouldn't say I'm all that smart, but I'll try to help you out. From what I've read, the big difference is that in Aspergers, there is no delay in speech development when younger, whereas with HFA there is a delay. However, it's all very confusing now because Aspergers is no longer a diagnosis. It has melded into Austism Spectrum Disorder and is considered high functioning autism. I'm still trying to get my head around that.

 

[clg114]

With AS there is no linguistic or cognitive delays during childhood. Quite often AS children are advanced in these areas. I do not like the new DSM-5 ether.

 

[Nitro]

Some still feel that there should be two categories,but the voting won out to combine the two in DSM 5. A few professionals still ignore DSM 5 and there is yet another tragedy for the aspie who requires support.
From what I do understand about the combination,it was an attempt to provide support for aspies that did not fall into the autie slot per how it was formerly written instead of rewriting the financial burden end of it.
I fell into the old high functioning category when Asperger's was still considered a different disorder due to a lack of developmental delays at an early age. I always cry about the lack of being included in aspie conversations...I'm not an aspie by the old definition and cling to my autie status. I seek no support,so I am not affected by it in any way.

This is why I tend to disagree with using the DSM 5 as a true diagnostic manual and that it is only a financial guide with a flawed labeling system

 

[Aspieistj]

I am definitely high functioning for someone on the spectrum. I do wish there were another term to describe me and I was satisfied with Aspie. I think calling some people on the spectrum "high functioning" is cruel to those who are not. I recall when mentally retarded people were grouped into custodial, idiot, imbecil, moron and trainable. Why is DSM 5 moving backwards when grouping those of us on the spectrum?

 

[Progster]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder under the old DSM-IV. But I'm bit confused as to my diagnostic status now, since I heard that all previous diagnoses of Asperger's Disorder automatically get updated to ASD level 1. Does that mean that I'm now diagnosed officially with ASD, not Asperger's? If anyone ever asks me, I tell them that I'm diagnosed with Asperger's, because that's the official diagnosis given on my diagnostic report. It's very confusing!

 

[Jacob Morrison]

Wait, what exactly is DSM 5? Sorry y'all.

 

[Judge]

Wait, what exactly is DSM 5? Sorry y'all.

DSM-5 Overview: The Future Manual
| APA DSM-5

 

[Kari Suttle]

The DSM is what you will be evaluated and diagnosed according to for any sort of developmental delay (like autism) or mental illness (like depression). The DMS-5 is the latest version, and its important because it does not include Aspergers Syndrome (AS) as a diagnosis. Now, if you go in for a diagnosis there is only a sliding scale of autism - from low functioning to high functioning. With the old DSM-4 they were two separate categories - autism and then aspergers syndrome. With AS there were no language or cognitive delays, which are present with autism. But because AS and HFA are so similar they just combined the two into a new sliding scale screening for autism.

 

[epath13]

Speech delay. At least 3 or 4 specialists told me that that's the only difference they'd consider important. With new DSM there might be no difference, your symptoms need to match a certain number of symptoms mentioned in DSM but not necessarily all. (I don't remember the number)