What Is Asperger’s Syndrome?
Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder that, like others on the spectrum, is marked by difficulties in communication and social interaction. Asperger’s Syndrome is applied to identify the mildest and highest functioning end of Autism spectrum. It is a high functioning form of Autism. Therefore, it is at the mild spectrum of Autism. There is no prescribed regimen of treatment for this disease; however adults may live productive, independent lives.
Differences Between Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
There are many differences between a person who has Asperger’s Syndrome and one who has Autism. Let’s take a look at some of the basic differences.
Cognitive Abilities
Children with classic autism display cognitive impairments that usually do not improve with age while children with Asperger’s show average or even above cognitive ability in school and I.Q. testing.
Language
Lapses in development of language is common with a child who is typically autistic, in fact a high percentage of autistic children may never develop basic language skills at all. A child with Asperger’s syndrome is usually unaffected in the area of language skills. A child with Asperger’s often experiences a delay in social skills which may lead to lack of language usage but their development is on par with their peers.
Social Abilities
The way a child with autism interacts socially is dramatically different than how one with Asperger’s behaves. Usually a child with Asperger’s Syndrom experiences discomfort in social situations, behaving akwardly and yet expreses a desire to become involved and fit in. The child with Asperger’s is often too formal, and thought to be self-absorbed and insensitive to others around them. Social rules elude them and mannerisms are overlooked; you may notice a lack of eye contact or sense of interest or difficult in reading other people’s expressions.
Children with Autism generally appear detached, uninterested in the social setting. Autistic children typically are to some degree oblivious to the need for social interactions.
You really need to make this distinction more distinct. High-functioning autism is NOT Asperger’s syndrome. Instead, HFA is a made up term to define an highly functioning autistic person that is PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). Pediatric News (http://www.pediatricnews.com/news/behavioral-pediatrics/single-article/asperger-s-high-functioning-autism-often-overlap/eec6a60363.html) published an article years ago that stated “Officially, the lack of delayed language skills is what separates a child with Asperger’s disorder from one with high-functioning autism” (Tucker, 2005). This article also covered how HFA people were commonly classified as having atypical autism, which is why we now have the term PDD-NOS. Also, HFA children not only commonly HAVE delayed language skills, they DO NOT have delayed motor skills. You seem to have the misconception that there is Asperger’s, and then there is autism, and that is all. There are several types of autism, and Asperger’s is but one of them. If you are going to “teach” people about autism, DO SO ACCORDINGLY AND CORRECTLY. Every single autistic person is different while remaining similar. They all go through different things, and your generalizations are not helping them to be understood. Educate thyself…