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Jorge Da Silva

Member
Hello my name is Jorge Da Silva. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome on the 17 June 2019, I am 18 years old (birthdays is in March). It was first mentioned that I may be autistic in January 2018 when I was at therapy for Social anxiety and depression, although I had questioned whether I was autistic or not before. I do not have many friends and struggle to socialise. I like politics and railways or listening/reading/watching stupid people doing silly things.
 
Jorge Da Silva said:
Thanks. Can I ask a quick question? I notice you have High Function Autism, what is the difference between that and Aspergers?
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I'm not 100% sure. I think* that high functioning autism correlates closely with Aspergers.

*I reserve the right to be wrong.

Many countries follow the DSM-V manual, in which there is no Aspergers anymore - it's all just different levels of autism. I was diagnosed by the DSM-V, so I got "High Functioning" or "Level 1". If they used an older version of the DSM, maybe they would have said "Aspergers" ... maybe not.
 
Nervous Rex said:
I'm not 100% sure. I think* that high functioning autism correlates closely with Aspergers.

*I reserve the right to be wrong.

Many countries follow the DSM-V manual, in which there is no Aspergers anymore - it's all just different levels of autism. I was diagnosed by the DSM-V, so I got "High Functioning" or "Level 1". If they used an older version of the DSM, maybe they would have said "Aspergers" ... maybe not.
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When I was diagnosed in June it is referred to as Autism but they told me you have ‘Aspergers/High Function Autism’ but I got confused with the different labels as in my opinion they are the same thing.
 
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Jorge Da Silva said:
When I was diagnosed in June it is referred to as Autism but they told me you have ‘Aspergers/High Function Autism’ but I got confused with the different labels as in my opinion they are the same thing.
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Sounds like they're using both labels in case someone is familiar with one and not the other. I'm pretty sure they're the same thing.

In the end, they're just labels. The important thing is finding what works for you and what help you need.
 
Welcome, Jorge!

The HFA, Aspergers, AS-Level 1 label all reflect the fact that science's understanding of these conditions is in flux. I am virtually certain that the DSM VI, when it comes out sometime in the future, will change what it says about autism, though I don't know how it will change. Just that it definitely will change, reflecting how this diagnosis is in flux.

Therefore, I would not put overly much emphasis on the label right now. Wait a few years, you'll have a different one!
 
Jorge Da Silva said:
When I was diagnosed in June it is referred to as Autism but they told me you have ‘Aspergers/High Function Autism’ but I got confused with the different labels as in my opinion they are the same thing.
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The latest interpretation in the DSM 5 is that they have eliminated Asperger's Syndrome on favor of three levels of impairment.
Asperger's in itself did not cover enough of the challenges some "aspies" face, most important as to singling out specific deficits for help they need as individuals.

I have heard some psych people say at this stage of the game, Asperger's is only a part of the history of the ever evolving understanding of what being on the autism spectrum really is.

Are they getting it right?
Maybe not, but it sure looks like they are headed in a better direction than they were in the past.

A lot of y'all want the psych pros to learn more about you to better serve you what you need.
With this move, I feel some have ;)
 
HFA is not an official diagnosis. It is just a unofficial description some use for any autism that isn't very severe or impairing. In the USA Level 1 autism (which requires the least assistance) could be called HFA. Elsewhere where they still use Aspergers as a diagnosis it could be called HFA.
 
Jorge Da Silva said:
Hello my name is Jorge Da Silva. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome on the 17 June 2019, I am 18 years old (birthdays is in March). It was first mentioned that I may be autistic in January 2018 when I was at therapy for Social anxiety and depression, although I had questioned whether I was autistic or not before. I do not have many friends and struggle to socialise. I like politics and railways or listening/reading/watching stupid people doing silly things.
Click to expand...
Autism is a spectrum,dsm 5 is used in the uk as Aspergers Syndrome confused some parts of the medical community most of the non medical community ,ICD 10 was previously used in the UK and the then diagnosis was Aspergers Syndrome ,the confusion came from the presumption people were all I personally think ,savants and extremely adaptive, very intellectual so their life would be viewed as very easy ,perfect.
If they heard high functioning (most importantly !)Autism instead ,a lot of the non psychological /psychiatric community members would understand! (get a picture of)severe almost paralysed ,almost baby like in intelligence,a lot of problems .
Another thing to understand is Autism is not !a mental illness but we are lumped into (categorised as) psychiatry ,it is a developmental disorder like but not !Downs Syndrome .
I dont like politics, like the motion of steam trains when im sitting inside one or the slower old 1960s (rolling stock)diesel trains ,like watching animals that dont resemble humans (so not apes ,monkeys)doing silly things of their own choice not forced .
 
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