What is the difference between mild autism and Asperger's?

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I don't know why this bothers me so much but I've heard several people refer to Asperger's as mild autism or even very mild autism. This implies that Asperger's is mild and I know from personal experience that is not necessarily the case. Asperger's is a type of autism that is distinct but related closely but it is not necessarily milder than all cases of autism. Am I right?

AS is considered a disorder on the autistic spectrum. It differs from HFA in that there is no clinically significant language delay.

By definition, people with AS must be of at least average intelligence, and often high average, while a person with HFA may be of average intelligence, but may be low average or borderline as well.

Though not part of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, those with AS tend to have high verbal IQ's and low performance IQ's, while those with HFA tend to have low verbal IQ's and high performance IQ's. Hans Asperger noted that children with AS seemed clumsy. I'm not sure if that's a noted trait in HFA...there are disorders similar to autism that does involve motor issues though, such as Rett Syndrome.

I have a second cousin with HFA, you would never know that she didn't start to talk until she was about 4. She's married, has kids, owns a house, and works as a receptionist (something which most with AS would struggle with).

There is another thread active right now about high and low functioning. It has some good stuff in it. It's well worth reading

The difference is mainly language delays and some sensory issues when a child is young. But once individuals are older the difference between an individual with HFA and Aspergers is merely the spelling of their diagnosis.

Not by Gillbergs definition though...

But all diagnostic criteria are based on interpretation of behaviour and highly subjective.

They're basically the same thing if you consider only "mild Asperger's". Asperger's can be "severe", though. (By which I mean "needing help pretty much all day every day"; of course there's everything in between that and being as independent as an NT.) AS usually isn't diagnosed if you had a speech delay or a developmental delay, but some doctors will diagnose it anyway even if you did.

Some people--especially doctors who aren't autism experts--will assume that AS automatically means "very mild autism"; but in reality, that's not the case, because, like I said, AS doesn't have to mean "minor autistic traits"--the traits that AS includes can be extremely strong and still just qualify you for the AS diagnosis.

For that matter, it's usually impossible to tell the difference between Asperger's and regular autism in people who can use language and who have no obvious developmental delay. Almost everybody with regular autism learns language, and most don't have developmental delay in adulthood either. Some do, but many of these also have some other condition which accounts for it. Those whose developmental delay is entirely due to the autism don't necessarily have autistic traits that are stronger than those of autistics who aren't developmentally delayed, though.

Uhm... so, yeah, basically, it's complicated and you really can't make sweeping statements about any category of autism...

Last edited by Callista on 18 Jan 2011, 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

I am trying hard not to allow my mind to be influenced by labels and have decided (for myself at least) to consider the two different words for the same thing.

People with HFA are more likely to have special interests that are more intense. I shouldn't get burned for being that way, though like I have been in the past.

Link, please!

I haven't heard that one before.

Neither have I. I suspect it's not true, just one of many myths floating around about the difference.

I think I came across someone in another, older thread saying the opposite - that Asperger's means more intense interests and HFA means less intensity, or shorter duration?

I think people observe patterns and draw conclusions.

I was speaking from my experience at WP, but I could be wrong.

I guess that if someone posts more, they talk about everything more and not just their special interest. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Quite possible

This is likely true.

Right now, autism is my special interest. Go figure. However! I think I have a few posts in the video game forum.