You ever wish AS had a different name?

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No, that's not quite what I'm saying.

I honestly don't think I could stand the change if AS was named something else. I've gotten used to it being Asperger's syndrome, and i'd really like it to stay that way.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (rename "autistic disorder" to this too so we then all have one label which is far less confusing).

Kanner and Asperger were describing the same thing; Asperger had "LFA" individuals amongst those he studied, Kanner had "HFA" individuals amongst the same.

I don't like the idea of us all having one label. I like to know what people specific disorders are. or am i misunderstanding you???

The problem is, you can have someone with AS who has a greater level of impairment in all areas than someone with autism (other than having a delay in the development of speech). You have people with AS cross over into autism in certain areas; you have people with autism cross over into AS.

There's far too many areas affected in ASDs to describe them with two labels that are supposed to describe the "low-functioning" area to the "high-functioning" area, and we're all supposed to fit into either of the two categories (three with PDD-NOS).

"Spectrum" describes all of it adequately without confusion

Oh, sorry. I think I misread. I agree, Autism spectrum is suiting.

I dont like Nerd because not all aspies fit into the Nerd catagory; I dont, and I know a few aspies who have an antisocial streak and not so much interests.. perhaps Nerd can be a subvariety...

Im just not dilligent enough to be a nerd.

I don't really care for changing the name.

If people want to be immature and say "ASS-BURGERS" then thats entirely their problem.

If someone says to me..."You have Ass-burgers!"....I say...."No, I have Aspergers".

In my opinion, "nerd" is a little slang.

Alternatively, we could let scientists find the causes and pathophysiology of it before finding a label.

I would also like to let psychiatrists know that in addition to hearing voices that do nothing but call me names, I've been retching (throwing up), in case they thought it was funny to take advantage of me to maximize their profit.

Love it! Adore it!

***Cameo is a Nerd and proud of it!*** lol

'Ass-burgers' does make me a little flighty. If I'm ever diagnosed, I may just opt to call myself 'autistic'. Personally, I think that's better. If we constantly name drop Asperger, why don't we namedrop Kanner? Why don't we call autistic people 'Kannies' and just never use the word 'autistic' at all?

Also, counting Asperger's as true autism seems to promote understanding of people on the spectrum. When I first suspected I may be autistic, I have to say it changed the way I look at other
people who are even less 'functional'.

My room-mate likes to make jokes about it by saying "would you like fries with your ASSBURGER?!"

Doesn't matter what it's called it don't change what I have. I don't think aspergers such a mad name

lol. The problem with autistic psychopathy is that psychopathy (psychopath) has become an informal term for antisocial personality disorder. Obviously, it did not have that connotation when Asperger came up with it. I just say I am an Asperger's autistic (or, simply, an autistic).

I just saw this thread.. and

Yes, I wish it was called something else... Something that doesn't begin with a condescending, cruel word I've heard over and over again because of misunderstandings associated with being neurologically different from most of the population...

I realize the name came from Hans Asperger, a person's name that was in another country that would not have possibly known the ramifications of the word "ASS" in the English language... and that it would be used derogatorily against practically all people with Asperger's many times during their life... It makes it even harder for people with this neurological difference, especially kids, to try and explain it to the general population without receiving even more humiliation... even for adults it's hard.

I once tried to use the word and accentuate another syllable (asPERger's), but being that I was talking with a professional, she was quick to point out, "NO, it's not pronounced that way. It's pronounced ASSpergers... " she accentuated the "AS" part of the word really loudly.. I almost took it personally.. I really try not to be an ass out there in the world... I really do...

I didn't read any of the other replies here yet, just the title of the thread.. but PLEASE, can it be called something else??? I bet Hans Asperger had no idea of the connotations his name would hold for kids and adults in English speaking countries in the world today...

HANS SYNDROME (Use his first name, instead of last??) or HighER Functioning Autism? Mild High Functioning Autism?

Any of the above wouldn't illicit the same response as something starting with ASS.... sorry, but that's how I feel... For some reason, the name Aspie, does NOT sound bad to me, maybe because the first syllable tends to sound more like ASP, instead of ASS...? Anyway, I wonder what would be involved actually changing the name in all of the DSM manuals, documents, websites, etc.. You know, NLD (nonverbal learning disability or disorder) used to be called "right hemisphere brain dysfunction"... It may end up with a totally new again name too.. I know "Asperger's" has been around a while though.. I doubt they'd change it now.. but who knows.. HANS SYNDROME... is not too far off??

Last edited by Felinity on 28 Mar 2008, 2:09 am, edited 2 times in total.

I for one welcome this new name for our beloved syndrome