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I don't doubt you mean well Neanthumain, but you are arguing definitions, and I am arguing morphology. With your evident intelligence and knowledge, I wonder why you are not more consistent?

I actually think that we have to give up the term Asperger in the future. I think autistic spectrum will overcome asperger at some point at least in the diagnostic criteria. Research shows that autism and asperger may be the same thing (1) and that atypical autism, early childhood autism and asperger may be the same thing (2). Therefore a holistic view of the autistic spectrum may be more appropriate.

If that is correct, than we cannot maintain the discussion of asperger being a disorder or not. Rather, we will have to extend the debate on wheater autism spectrum is a disorder or not. And for those who claim it would be a disorder indeed, they would have to come up with a border between 'disorder' and 'no disorder', which at present does not exist. There is only a statistical disorder between 'normal' and not 'norma' that is breaking down already by MDs who diagnose subclinical autism.

Is there still a reason to talk about asperger and not replace it by autism spectrum?

And if so, do you all maintain your positions of asperger being or not being a disabiltiy when it is seen part of the whole autistic spectrum?



(1) http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... pic&t=1122

(2) http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... pic&t=1122

By the way, does anyone here - especially those advocating the use of the label 'disorder' - have a definition for what constitutes 'mental health'!?

Ermm... it is a disorder isn't it...? I'm confused now...

If autism is a disorder is a matter of perspectve. Let's take asperger syndrome for an example:

There are reports about people dating back to 12th cenutury close to today's reports about people who have received asperger syndrom diagnosis. Asperger diagnosis was written into the DSM-IV ten years ago by the American Psychatric Association. It was believed to differ from 'autism' in the respect of early speech developement. New research questions the existence of significant differences between asperger and autism. The diagnosis asperger might disapear into the 'autistic spectrum'.

There are lots of other critics about autism being a mental health concern throughout this post. Just read through it.

I think everyone is a bit autistic - its a question of degree, and yes - there are severe cases. The monotropism theory supports that idea. But that contadicts the present idea of being 'mental health' OR 'mental disorderd'. Autism is a 'pschycatric' disorder, but no one knows if a 'psyche' exist, where it is, how it functions and how you know that it is not functioning properly. The term is a placeholder for things we don't understand yet. And its discriminating. I don't like that.

You can read about the monotropism theory here:
http://www.autismandcomputing.org.uk

Here is an alternative word for disability in respect to autism:

Author Wendy Lawson is diagnoses with autism. She has raised 4 kids and is now working on her PhD on stress and autism. She has written a book called "Understanding and Working with the Spectrum of Autism An Insider's View" in which she explains the concept of 'diffability' - different abilities. She offers this concept as an alternative to 'disability'. I like it..

Last edited by attention-tunnel on 01 Dec 2004, 7:40 pm, edited 3 times in total.

I agree! that is much beter way to put it!