Theres A Lot Of Sensory Information To Process
This video shows the sheer amount of sensory inputs in our environment every day. It considers just how much information someone with ASD and sensory processing disorder has to process as they move through a normal day. Its useful to think about your childs day and what sensory inputs they are experiencing. We explore sensory overload in more depth here.
History Of Autism Diagnoses
Doctors used to think of Aspergers Syndrome as a separate condition from autism. Because Aspergers is associated with less severe symptoms and good language and cognitive skills, doctors issued this diagnosis to high-functioning children for decades.
Aspergers was identified by Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger in 1944. He noticed that some children with autism had better-developed social and motor skills and fewer speech problems than their peers. He identified these children as having a condition similar to but undoubtedly unique from autism.
This disorder came to be known as Aspergers, and it first appeared in the 1994 edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders .
Today, children experiencing developmental delays and symptoms of autism are instead more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder . ASD is a broad category of developmental disorders that share some symptoms.
Many people believe this change is beneficial. An ASD diagnosis is more inclusive and reflects the fact that autism develops with a range of symptoms.
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Effect Of Intelligence Quotient
The IQ is mainly measured using two separate components, including performance and verbal levels. Studies have shown verbal and performance IQ differences between AS and normal people, although the findings are controversial The effect of IQ has been more studied in behavioral and cognitive level, therefore, in this section some of the related studies are reviewed.
1.3.1. Performance IQ
A brief report on profiling of the intelligence in AS has been presented by . The ability was assessed by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale , which is a valid indicator of IQ . This test is recommended as the best measurement of IQ in high functioning individuals . It is reported that Asperger patients have poor performance in digit symbol coding and symbol search . Studies have also supported weakness of AS patients in performance IQ, particularly in digit symbol coding and symbol search . Although there is evidence showing deficits of AS patients in coding but they could gain higher score in arithmetic and digit span . There are also studies that have focused on reaction time and they believe AS people use significant longer reaction time and need more prompt questions to solve a task . In addition, weakness in processing speed has been reported as well . Therefore, weakness in performance IQ and speed could be good criteria to distinguish AS.
Key Differences Between Autism And Language Delay
What is the difference between Autism and Aspergers . It’s predominantly about the extent of impairment asperger is to autism more or less what euros are to money, or what symphonies are to music, or what sculptures are to art: A subset of a greater whole. Asperger’s syndrome was first described by the viennese pediatrician hans asperger in the 1940s. Asperger’s syndrome and autism are different diagnoses, but if you’ve guessed that there’s a lot of overlap, you’re also right.
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Comparison Table Between Asperger And High Functioning Autism
| Parameters of Comparison | ||
| Grunya Sukhareva, a Soviet psychiatrist, gave it that name in 1925. | In the year 1910, a Swiss Psychiatrist named Eugen Bleuler invented the term. | |
| Cure | Therapy and behavior or skills training are thought to be beneficial. | It is assumed that regular behavior exercises and instruction are beneficial. Rubella vaccination during pregnancy is also thought to be beneficial. |
Differences Between Asperger And Autism
Although it is hard to test IQ scores of children with ASD because of the nature of the disorder lately it is known that they have average or above average intelligence scores.
Those with Aspergers, on the other hand, predominantly score on par with or higher than their peers. Frequently they have superior IQ scores.
Generally, people with Asperger do not suffer from the speech impairments or inabilities that often characterize those with an autism spectrum disorder.
While there may be difficulty in understanding the subtitles of speech , people with Aspergers possess the ability to speak and annunciate clearly.
In addition, autism spectrum disorders are usually spotted in children before they reach school-age.
This is because the symptoms present much earlier than those of Aspergers.
Because Asperger affects sociality and communication, it easily goes undetected until an affected child encounters difficulties in school.
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History Of The Autism Diagnosis
The term autism was originally coined in 1911 by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, and was at first meant to denote the social withdrawal and detachment that often accompanies schizophrenia . Later, in the 1940s, when both American Leo Kanner and Austrian Hans Asperger were working on defining the childhood disorders they were treating, they came across the concept of autism in their research, and decided it was an apt description for the various symptoms they had been attempting to treat in children. Over time, Kanner realized these children were not actually experiencing schizophrenia, but rather something else, which he dubbed infantile autism. Asperger added onto this body of knowledge by ascertaining that some of the children referred to his child psychiatry clinic were suffering from a condition that had not been hitherto properly described, but which loosely fit what Bleuler had defined as autism . Kanners work was highly accurate and detailed for its time, and formed the cornerstone of future research into autism, particularly after his paper gained widespread recognition in the English-speaking world.
Following Kanners paper, the diagnosis of infantile autism came into popular use as the 1950s and 60s progressed, and Kanners work largely overshadowed Aspergers, who remained mostly unknown outside Europe.
Some debate still exists today around the four main areas of difference that separate Aspergers syndrome from high-functioning autism:
What Are The 3 Patterns Of Sensory Processing Disorders
The severity and symptoms of sensory processing problems greatly vary from one person to another.
These problems can occur in any of the senses, be it visual, auditory, smell or interoception.
There have been three patterns of sensory processing disorders identified, consisting of six subtypes of SPD.
Most of the individuals with the SPD have a combination of symptoms from more than one subtype.
The following chart will give a basic idea.
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The Bottom Line: Both Disorders Require Intervention
Sometimes, theres not an obvious difference between a child with Aspergers and one with autism. Signs and symptoms can overlap, and doctors may not make a distinction between the two disorders.
Because the newer diagnostic criteria lumps the conditions together, you may be told that your child has an autism spectrum disorder, instead of autism or Aspergers.
Also, every child with an autism spectrum disorder is different. He or she may not have the same symptoms as another child.
Your doctor can help you determine specific traits that may further categorize your child. But, for the most part, kids with Aspergers syndrome and autism face similar challenges and benefit from similar treatment approaches.
The takeaway for parents is to tell your doctor if you notice the signs of Aspergers or autism. Both disorders benefit from early intervention. The sooner you can spot and treat an autism spectrum disorder, the better your chances for a good outcome.
What Should I Do If My Child Has Aspergers
As we mentioned numerous times before, Aspergers Syndrome is no longer diagnosed as a condition by itself.
It is now a part of many disorders categorized under the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
If you are concerned that your child may have issues with their social development, unusual patterns and different behaviors, you should consult a pediatrician first.
Pediatrician will be able to assess the situation and may refer your child to a specialist if need be.
These specialists include developmental pediatricians, child clinical psychologists or other clinicians who are experienced in dealing with autism spectrum disorders. They will conduct certain tests to see if the child is on the spectrum.
The specialist will ask parents and caregivers various questions to determine the childs development and other skills and issues.
They will also interact with the child to detect if there are any symptoms in terms of interacting with others. In this assessment, the childs language abilities will also be examined.
Getting a correct diagnosis on your childs disorder will be a great way to start to equip them with what they need to have a balanced and normal life.
It may be a difficult process for the parents and caregivers to get ASD diagnosis. But with professional help and your support, your child can receive therapies and interventions that will help them live an independent and a quality life.
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Differences Between As And Asd
AS and ASD are no longer considered different conditions. ASD is the name for a group of conditions, and AS is one of these. A person who might have received an AS diagnosis in the past may now receive a broader diagnosis of ASD.
Many people who were diagnosed with AS consider this to be a part of their identity. There can be an unfair assumption that ASD is a significant disability, and a person who identifies as having AS may wish to avoid the ASD label due to associated stigma.
The diagnostic criteria once recognized that people with AS have neurotypical language development and intelligence. An autistic person may also have neurotypical intelligence or may experience mild or significant intellectual delays.
A person with AS may require less support than an autistic person, depending on the characteristics of their condition.
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder
The idea behind ASD is that autism is a spectrum or range of persistent communication and behavior patterns.
Support needs also exist on somewhat of a spectrum for autistic people. While some people require significant day-to-day support, others need less.
In 2013, four different diagnoses were combined into autism spectrum disorder. These conditions were:
- autism
- childhood disintegrative disorder
- pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
An ASD diagnosis means a persons behavior and communication skills fit certain patterns. And according to the DSM-5, they must show signs of these patterns by the time theyre 2 years old.
Criteria for an autism diagnosis includes:
- difficulty starting, joining, or participating in conversation
- differences in nonverbal communication
- sensory processing differences
- preference for routines
- focused, strong interest in certain topics or activities
- stimming, or repetitive movements
- difficulty adjusting to or understanding context in relationships, especially in neurotypical contexts
Some people felt that the DSM-5 took away their identity when it removed the Aspergers diagnosis. Many websites and forums specifically for people with Aspergers are still in use today.
One of the biggest differences between the two is that Aspergers syndrome is no longer an up-to-date, standalone diagnosis.
The other major difference is that people with Aspergers syndrome are considered high-functioning, meaning they:
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Aspergers Autism And Asd Are All The Same In The Dsm
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that involves challenges with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, from the level of quirky to truly debilitating.
In the DSM-V, the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder covers previous diagnosis such as Aspergers, Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Delay Not Otherwise Specified . The diagnosis of Aspergers generally covered a range of symptoms found in higher functioning levels of autism. While that diagnosis is no longer used in the DSM, some members of the autism community prefer to use the term over autism spectrum disorder.
Amanda Whittington
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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How Do People With Asperger Syndrome See The World
Some people with Asperger syndrome say the world feels overwhelming and this can cause them considerable anxiety. In particular, understanding and relating to other people, and taking part in everyday family, school, work and social life, can be harder. Other people appear to know, intuitively, how to communicate and interact with each other, yet can also struggle to build rapport with people with Asperger syndrome. People with Asperger syndrome may wonder why they are ‘different’ and feel their social differences mean people dont understand them.Autistic people often do not ‘look’ disabled. Some parents of autistic children say that other people simply think their child is naughty, while adults may find that they are misunderstood.
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Kids With Autism Sensory Processing Disorders Show Brain Wiring Differences
UCSF Study Builds on its Groundbreaking Research Showing Children with SPD Have Measureable Brain Differences
Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that children with sensory processing disorders have decreased structural brain connections in specific sensory regions different than those in autism, further establishing SPD as a clinically important neurodevelopmental disorder.
The research, published in the journal PLOS ONE, is the first study to compare structural connectivity in the brains of children with an autism diagnosis versus those with an SPD diagnosis, and with a group of typically developing boys. This new research follows UCSFs groundbreaking study published in 2013 that was the first to find that boys affected with SPD have quantifiable regional differences in brain structure when compared to typically developing boys. This work showed a biological basis for the disease but prompted the question of how these differences compared with other neurodevelopmental disorders.
With more than 1 percent of children in the U.S. diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and reports of 5 to 16 percent of children having sensory processing difficulties, its essential we define the neural underpinnings of these conditions, and identify the areas they overlap and where they are very distinct, said senior author Pratik Mukherjee, MD, PhD, a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging and bioengineering at UCSF.
Treatment For Children With Autism
Learning about the difference between autism and Aspergers is helpful, but taking action is even more important. At Therapeutic Pathways, we encourage parents to seek treatment for their child as early as possible. Research suggests that early intervention provides the best opportunity for children to learn valuable independent life skills.
For more information about treatment options, contact Therapeutic Pathways at 422-3280.
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What Is The Difference Between Asperger’s And Autism
There is a great deal of confusion when it comes to the differences between Asperger’s and autism. It seems that even medical professionals have difficulty determining a clear line between the two conditions. Often, it boils down to simply categorizing people according to the specific traits they exhibit, such as how they use language. However, there are some people who assert that Asperger’s and autism are actually the same condition and should both fall under the heading of autism.
It’s important to understand pervasive developmental disorders when trying to determine the differences between Asperger’sand autism. PDDs are neurobiolocal disorders that include a wide spectrum of conditions, including Asperger’s and autism. PDDS are marked by much delayed or significantly lacking social and language skills. A person with a PDD will usually have problems communicating with others and understanding language. Often, people with these conditions ignore or fail to understand facial expressions, and they may not make eye contact as most people expect in social situations.