Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is quite a challenge for parents, their children, and other adults suffering from it.
It is characterized by impairments in communication and social interaction that affects 2.2% of American adults, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That is 5.4 million Americans aged 18 and older, or about 1 in 45 adults. For quite some time, it has been difficult to reach an estimated number as most studies were focused on children with autism. It is not as easy to monitor, especially with adults in the spectrum who are living independently and must be reached to be included in said studies.
More confusing is the use of terms associated with autism, such as Asperger’s and High-functioning and Low-functioning autism.
There is no formal medical label or diagnosis for “high-functioning autism.” It’s an informal term that some people use to describe persons with autism who can speak, read, write, and handle basic living functions like eating and dressing.
But first, let us learn about these terms individually.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that can pose a challenge for sufferers with regard to social interactions, communication, and behaviors.
Conditions that fall within the ASD umbrella might vary in severity and characteristics. There is a wide range of symptoms, and one person’s ASD experience may be substantially different from another’s.
ASD is typically diagnosed in childhood, with one out of every 68 children having the disorder.
ASD has several characteristics or symptoms, including:
- having trouble conversing in ordinary situations
- they express feelings or interests less frequently than their peers
- having trouble reading or responding to social cues
- having trouble deciphering other people’s emotions or facial expressions
- delayed speech or language abilities
- having difficulty forming or comprehending relationships
- performing repetitive movements like hand flapping or rocking
- developing a strong interest in specific areas
- using unusual speech patterns, such as talking in a singsong voice
- having a strong desire for predictability and order
- feeling agitated or overwhelmed in unfamiliar settings
- being overwhelmed by loud noises or brilliant lights
- having intellectual difficulties
What is Asperger’s?
Asperger’s syndrome (also known as Asperger’s Disorder) was initially identified in the 1940s by Viennese physician Hans Asperger, who noticed autism-like symptoms and social and communication difficulties in boys with normal IQ and language development.
Many doctors thought Asperger’s syndrome was just a milder type of autism. Therefore they called these people “high-functioning autism.” Uta Frith, a professor at University College London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and editor of Autism and Asperger Syndrome, described people with Asperger’s as “having a dash of autism.”
In 1994, Asperger’s Disorder was recognized as a distinct disorder from autism by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4). Many professionals, however, still regard Asperger’s Disorder to be a milder type of autism.
But technically speaking, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) hasn’t recognized Asperger’s Syndrome as a diagnosis since 2013. Instead, its symptoms, including Autistic Disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders, are now classified as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
Difference between Asperger’s and Autism
Despite the definitions and characteristics already mentioned, people still use the term Asperger’s on a frequent basis. Knowing the differences between it and ASD is worthwhile in and of itself.
So, how do Asperger’s and Autism really differ from each other?
Autism diagnosis is based on diagnostic criteria. However, Asperger’s or high-functioning autism diagnosis is not. It is instead a societal evaluation of a person’s ability to function. As a result, medical experts may disagree over who is high functioning.
Because individuals with Asperger’s syndrome are less likely to have language issues and show fewer signs of autism, some therapists used to refer to them as “high-functioning.” They define “high-functioning” as a subjective assessment based on cultural standards rather than a diagnosis.
From 1994 to 2013, Asperger’s syndrome (also known as Asperger’s disorder or simply “Asperger’s”) was used as a diagnosis. What was different about 2013?
The most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was released, and Asperger’s syndrome is no longer considered a separate diagnosis.
Asperger’s syndrome is now included in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) umbrella. This change has elicited varied reactions, particularly among those who have an Asperger’s diagnosis and believe it best describes them. It was removed from the DSM in a contentious manner, and some people are calling for it to be reinstated in the next version.
Why? All because people with an Asperger’s diagnosis do not need as much support in day-to-day life as other autistic people.
To learn more about the specifics of Asperger’s and ASD, you can read journals on autism clinical trials that contain in-depth knowledge about these conditions. You can then form your own opinion if there is merit in the call to separate Asperger’s from ASD or that it is already okay to combine in the autism spectrum approach what used to be multiple formerly separate diagnoses, such as Asperger’s syndrome, into a single set of symptoms.