Is Autism And Asperger’s The Same

How Aspergers And Autism Are Similar

While there are some differences between Aspergers and autism, the disorders share a lot of the same symptoms. Children with both conditions may have:

• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Problems expressing feelings or emotions
• Trouble maintaining eye contact
• Sensitivities to certain foods or sounds
• Issues with motor skills
• A desire to follow strict schedules
• An obsession with specific subjects

Both kids with autism and those with Aspergers may be perceived by others as awkward in social situations. Additionally, engaging in hand-flapping is common in those with both disorders.

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When you meet someone who has Asperger’s syndrome, you might notice two things right off. They’re just as smart as other folks, but they have more trouble with social skills. They also tend to have an obsessive focus on one topic or perform the same behaviors again and again.

Doctors used to think of Asperger’s as a separate condition. But in 2013, the newest edition of the standard book that mental health experts use, called The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , changed how it’s classified.

Today, Asperger’s syndrome is technically no longer a diagnosis on its own. It is now part of a broader category called autism spectrum disorder . This group of related disorders shares some symptoms. Even so, lots of people still use the term Asperger’s.

The condition is what doctors call a “high-functioning” type of ASD. This means the symptoms are less severe than other kinds of autism spectrum disorders.

The DSM-5 also includes a new diagnosis, called social pragmatic communication disorder, which has some symptoms that overlap with Asperger’s. Doctors use it to describe people who have trouble talking and writing, but have normal intelligence.

Asperger Syndrome Generally Involves:

• Hypersensitivities
• Difficulty with the give and take of conversation
• Difficulty with nonverbal conversation skills
• Uncoordinated movements, or clumsiness
• Anxiety and depression

The tendencies described above vary widely among people. Many learn to overcome their challenges by building on strengths.

Though the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is no longer used, many previously diagnosed people still identify strongly and positively with being an Aspie.

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Aspergers Vs Autism Symptoms

ASD encompasses many people who display a variety of symptoms, but they can all be grouped into categories.

Autism symptoms include:

• Communication difficulties. Some people with autism don’t talk at all. People with Asperger’s tend to have good language skills, but they may not understand nonverbal language.

• Social dysfunction. Some children with autism seem disinterested in other people. People with Asperger’s often want to connect with others, but they can’t seem to make a connection.

• Limited interests. Some people with autism like only one thing or a series of things, and they may like to talk about only those things. This is more pronounced in people with Asperger’s.

• Cognitive problems. Some people with ASD score low on intelligence tests. Some people with Asperger’s score very high.

People at the very impaired end of the autism spectrum often need around-the-clock care. They may not be able to tackle daily tasks, including using the bathroom or cooking, and their employment opportunities are minimal.

People with Asperger’s are often able to succeed in mainstream jobs, experts say. Some enjoy thoughtful, intellectually challenging careers like laboratory work or computer programming. Others thrive in research settings, and they set up home offices to do their job.

Meeting one person with autism doesn’t mean you understand everyone with the diagnosis. An open mind is critical.

Is Autism And Aspergers The Same

The answer, quite simply, is no. Absolutely not. There are distinctive diagnostic differences between autism and Aspergers that make them clearly two different disorders. It needs to be addressed that autism refers to a broad spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders as well as its own disorder. Encompassed within the autism spectrum are autism, Aspergers, PDD-NOS, and two others which have recently been reclassified as autism spectrum disorders.

Admittedly this can be quite confusing for parents who are just beginning their journey with their child through the world of Aspergers, since their child was seemingly quite normal until a professional from either school or a clinic noticed the child was a little different. The most striking difference is the inability to understand certain expressions in speech. Idioms, homilies, metaphors, and similes dont make sense to most autism spectrum children. With Aspergers children who have been able to speak since toddlerhood, this really stands out as odd.

Another problem is the social interactions between the Aspergers child and his or her peers. Social interaction is always a problem but here it turns violent and even volatile. Peers can be injured by the Aspergers child who has completely misconstrued what the other child has said or done. Social coaches are assigned to these students in school to help them navigate social situations better and without aggression.

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Judson Center: We Help Individuals And Their Families

No matter what level of autism your child is diagnosed with, we know the news can be devastating for your entire family. Thats why Judson Center is dedicated to providing care for all family members who are impacted by an autism diagnosis, including individual patients and their siblings and parents.

While we offer special programs and counseling for family members, we provide at-center and in-home ABA treatment for patients. We also offer kids with autism the chance to attend innovative Summer Programs that help patients advance their skills even further in a variety of areas.

Get in touch with Judson Center to learn more about the treatment and support we provide for children with all levels of autism and their families now!

Was Aspergers Linked With Nazism

Some prominent historians have argued that Hans Asperger was complicit in Hitlers regime of euthanasia in his bid to create a genetically fit German population.2 Psychiatrists and other physicians were involved in a Nazi programme that murdered children who were seen as either physically or mentally “inferior” or “undesirable.” Asperger, along with some of his colleagues, attempted to mould certain autistic children into “productive” citizens. He was also responsible for sending others to the Spiegelgrund clinic, where they were starved or given lethal injections. Asperger’s complicity in the death of neurodiverse children has fueled some calls to further abandon the Asperger’s label, even in a colloquial sense.

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‘asperger Syndrome’ Was Introduced To The World By British Psychiatrist Lorna Wing In The 1980s

The term derives from a 1944 study by Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger .

Many people who fit the profile for Asperger syndrome are now being diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder instead. Each person is different, and it is up to each individual how they choose to identify. Some people with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome may choose to keeping using the term, while others may prefer to refer to themselves as autistic or on the autistic spectrum.

Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some people with Asperger syndrome also have mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels and types of support. People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you have Asperger syndrome, you have it for life it is not an illness or disease and cannot be cured. Often people feel that Asperger syndrome is a fundamental aspect of their identity.

People with Asperger syndrome don’t have the learning disabilities that many autistic people have, but they may have specific learning difficulties. They may have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

With the right sort of support, all autistic people can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing.

Difference No : Their Brains Are Wired And Shaped Differently

Some research has suggested that children with Aspergers syndrome have different brain patterns than those with autism.

In one study, scientists used electroencephalography to measure the amount of signaling that occurs between brain areas of children with Aspergers and those with autism.

Kids with Aspergers syndrome displayed different patterns of brain activity, which suggests differences in the way their brains are connected. Specifically, children with Aspergers may have stronger connections in the left hemisphere of the brain compared with autistic children.

Other researchers have found that a region of the brain that controls language has more folds in children with autism than in kids with Aspergers.

While this research offers intriguing clues about how the brains of people with autism and Aspergers may be different, more studies need to be done. Investigators continue to explore the brains of children to reveal more information.

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What Causes Asd And Aspergers

There are many theories, but no conclusions, about the exact cause of Aspergers syndrome and autism. A new brain-tissue study indicates that people with ASD have more connections between their brain cells than neurotypical people do.

According to Autism Speaks, ASD has no one cause, but is brought about by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These may include:

• Family history of autism
• Familial or parental diagnoses of conditions such as bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder
• Advanced paternal or maternal age
• Being part of a twin or triplet set
• Prematurity of less than 26 weeks
• Low birth weight
• Prenatal exposure to heavy metals and toxins

Many people who have one or more of these potential risk factors do not have autism or Aspergers. Conversely, others with no apparent risk factors will ultimately get this diagnosis. Here are 8 autism symptoms that every parent should know.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

People with ADHD typically have difficulty paying attention to whats going on around them, they are easily distracted, they tend to do things without thinking about the results, they are often forgetful, have trouble finishing what they intended to do, are disorganized, jump from one activity to another, are restless and have poor social skills.

Many of these symptoms overlap with those of Aspergers. Research has shown growing evidence for a connection between Aspergers and ADHD. Genetic studies suggest the two disorders share genetic risk factors, and studies of the incidence and distribution of both conditions confirm that many people with Aspergers have symptoms of ADHD and vice versa. Brain imaging and studies of the brain structure show similarities between the two disorders.

Having said that, there are important differences between the two. People with ADHD often try to do multiple activities at the same time. They get distracted easily and jump from one interest or activity to another. Focusing on one thing for a long time is hard for them. On the other hand, people with Aspergers tend to focus on only one activity at a time, and they focus on that activity intensely with little regard for anything else going on around them. They are hyper-focused rather than unfocused.

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Difference Between Hfa And Asperger’s Syndrome

In kids with high functioning autism, there is language related delay which occrs early like in other Autistic kids. Whereas in Asperger’s Syndrome, this classic language delay is not present untill they start spoken language. Hence the language difficulties are not noted in these children.

Apart from this, there is little or no other difference so to say between these disorders. Often each of them are diagnosed in children at the same symptom outset. There is lot of discussion going on this topic to keep two separate diagnosis for them or have same diagnosis. It may be possible that the experts at DSM combine these two together in same disorder.

The complexity in understanding the line of difference has led to concerns among practioners as well as parents since the two terms make them confused.

Due to the late onset of just the social interaction and language capabilities, parents often do not go to the doctors before in the case of HFA and Asperger’s since the kids have normal intelligence and milestones are also present.

What Is Aspergers Syndrome Level 1 Autism Or High

Autism is a developmental disorder, which means that people are born with it and tend to display symptoms early in life, often before the age of two. People with autism tend to display difficulties in the following areas:

• Social communication and interaction
• Sensory processing issues

People with level 1 autism face those same difficulties, but are of average or above-average intelligence and can lead either independent lives or only require some support. This is in contrast to people with level 2 autism, who require “substantial” levels of support, and level 3 autism, which is characterised by severe deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication and where a “very substantial” level of support is also required. In simpler terms, level 1 is a milder form of autism and level 3 is the most severe form of autism.

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How Does Aspergers Differ From Autism

Autism is also referred to as ASD, or autism spectrum disorder and, according to Autism Speaks, ASD is comprised of many subtypes. This can help explain why Aspergers syndrome became a category of its own. Unlike many children on the lower end of the spectrum, kids with Aspergers have average-to-high, or very high intelligence. Many also exhibit talents in a wide range of fields, including tech and the arts. As was the case with Cohen in the 1990s, this diagnosis was comforting. It also may have been ultimately misleading, since many children at all levels of the spectrum go on to live happy lives and achieve great things. Autism is now understood to occur on a spectrum of severity. When they were considered to be separate diagnoses, Aspergers was differentiated from autism in two main areas:

• Severity. Those diagnosed with Aspergers were higher functioning and typically had average to superior IQs, requiring less support than those diagnosed with autism.
• Language. Those diagnosed with Aspergers had no speech or language impairment, explains Tia Kern-Butler, PhD.

Aspergers Vs Autism: What Are The Differences

Aspergers and autism are no longer considered separate diagnoses. People who may have previously received an Aspergers diagnosis instead now receive an autism diagnosis.

But many people who were diagnosed with Aspergers before the diagnostic criteria changed in 2013 are still perceived as having Aspergers.

And many people also consider Aspergers as part of their identity. This is especially considering the stigma that still surrounds autism diagnoses in many communities around the world.

Yet the only real difference between the two diagnoses is that people with Aspergers may be considered as having an easier time passing as neurotypical with only mild signs and symptoms that may resemble those of autism.

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Difference No : Time Of Diagnosis

The average age of diagnosis for a child with autism is around age 4.

Because kids with Aspergers typically dont exhibit language delays or have lower IQs, theyre often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed until much later, sometimes in the teen or adult years.

Many parents may not realize that their son or daughter has Aspergers until he or she starts interacting with peers or participating in social activities.

Aspergers is often misdiagnosed as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder . Although these conditions are sometimes both present, Aspergers is different from ADHD in that its a problem with socializing, rather than a problem with focusing attention.

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Those who identify as Aspies tend to consider themselves “quirky,” “weird,” or socially awkward, as well as highly intelligent and perhaps an expert in their field. It may be harder for them to find a positive identity in such a broad diagnostic category as “autism spectrum disorder.” Some people who continue to use the term Aspergers syndrome were likely also diagnosed with the condition prior to 2013, and may find it difficult to update their language or long-held self-image.

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Aspergers Syndrome Is A Subtype Of The Autism Spectrum

Think of the autism spectrum as being a series of sub-categories that range from mild to severe. Aspergers is the mildest category in the autism spectrum. Youll see many of the same characteristics youd see in children with classical autism, but it doesnt affect their functioning as much. So, a child with Aspergers might be highly intelligent and do well in class, but still struggle to play with her friends. What complicates things, however, is that even though Aspergers is mild objectively, subjectively it can be very traumatic. For example, children with Aspergers often have far more anxiety about their condition than those with classical autism.

Repetitive Behaviours And Routines

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The Advantage Of Spotting Aspergers Is That You Can Now Help Manage It

Heres how some of the more common issues can be addressed: