Page 1 of 1 [ 9 posts ] 

The Grand Inquisitor
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 9 Aug 2015
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,765

12 Apr 2018, 1:38 am

Dies anyone here have high-functioning Autism but not Asperger's? If so, how does HFA differ to Asperger's?



EzraS
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 24 Sep 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 27,828
Location: Twin Peaks

12 Apr 2018, 1:49 am

They're pretty much the same thing. And the term Aspergers was retired anyways. The main difference between Aspergers autism and classic/Kanners autism, is that with classic autism there's a significant delay in speech development. Those with classic autism didn't start talking until they were around three years old or older.



magz
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 1 Jun 2017
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 16,283
Location: Poland

12 Apr 2018, 2:36 am

The current understanding is that Asperger's is autism without significant speech delay or seriously impairing learning disabilities. The reason of defining them as separate conditions is historical – Hans Asperger described a kind of gifted but unusual boys, Leo Kanner researched "no contact" children. Now we believe they approached the same spectrum from two different ends.

An example of HFA but no AS is, I believe, kraftiekortie from this forum. He is functioning well in the society but he didn't talk until he was 5 or something like this.


_________________
Let's not confuse being normal with being mentally healthy.

<not moderating PPR stuff concerning East Europe>


renaeden
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Age: 48
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,384
Location: Western Australia

12 Apr 2018, 3:20 am

I was diagnosed with HFA at age 27. I was delayed developmentally in all aspects.

It says in my diagnostic report that although my presentation was also consistent with Asperger's Syndrome, autism is rated first in the diagnostic hierarchy, so that a person who meets sufficient criteria for autism receives this diagnosis rather than Asperger's Syndrome. Conceptually, HFA and Asperger's Syndrome are very similar and on the same continuum, with severity level the main differentiator.

This was back in 2004, so I'd say that I would be diagnosed differently now.



EyeDash
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 14 Nov 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 328
Location: Colorado

12 Apr 2018, 5:15 pm

I'm autistic rather than having Aspergers and I've "functioned" relatively well over the years. I sort of don't like to call myself "high functioning" because it makes it sound like there's less impairment rather than being impaired versus competent in specific areas. I have a lot of differences from neurologically typical / non-autistic folks, including differences in memory, processing of feelings (both emotional and physical feelings), sensory processing disorder, face blindness, etc. I was diagnosed at age 3 - my mom had something of a breakdown because I was hard to handle and feed and I was diagnosed at the hospital. I didn't speak until I was four years old. I get the impression that autistics are less verbal than folks with Aspergers - I think in patterns that I have to translate into words and sometimes I can temporarily lose that ability when I get too stressed. People tell me I'm friendly and nice but quiet. But the social impairment and cognitive empathy difficulties seem to be the same for both autistics and Aspies. I functioned well in terms of learning and getting good grades, got a degree, went to graduate school, had jobs in science and engineering, was a manager, etc. But I certainly didn't do very well with friendships, social engagement and relationships/marriages.



Lumi
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Sep 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,513
Location: Positive-minded

12 Apr 2018, 9:42 pm

I do, though I was diagnosed with Asperger's after my speech delays/disorders faded. I continued to have speech problems (like stuttering) past age 6. I started speaking two words sentences after age 3 (probably caused by prematurity). I've watched videotapes of my birthdays and Christmases when I was a little kid...I was verbal and repetitively played by myself for hours to the point of isolation...and not liking or understanding most girl toys.


_________________
Slytherin/Thunderbird


Rustifer
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 1 Mar 2018
Gender: Male
Posts: 143
Location: Outside

12 Apr 2018, 10:01 pm

I'm thinking the spectrum visualized looks perhaps analogous to an RGB color spectrum selector (in photoshop or some other software) and having a special term for one "type" is very limiting and inaccurate.

Maybe I'm dark green, you're light yellow, that other person is red/purple (just a thought experiment, maybe not accurate at all)

Could be wrong but considering the complex system of the brain, everyone has a lot to learn including scientists. Better we throw out ideas and see what sticks than hold back I think



SplendidSnail
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2017
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 887
Location: Canada

12 Apr 2018, 10:25 pm

Rustifer wrote:
I'm thinking the spectrum visualized looks perhaps analogous to an RGB color spectrum selector (in photoshop or some other software) and having a special term for one "type" is very limiting and inaccurate.

Maybe I'm dark green, you're light yellow, that other person is red/purple (just a thought experiment, maybe not accurate at all)

Could be wrong but considering the complex system of the brain, everyone has a lot to learn including scientists. Better we throw out ideas and see what sticks than hold back I think

You're basically right. Here's a good comic that explains it:
http://the-art-of-autism.com/understand ... planation/


_________________
Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder / Asperger's Syndrome.


HistoryGal
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jan 2017
Age: 59
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,648
Location: Orlando

14 Apr 2018, 11:08 am

HFA not Asperger's. Endless problems for my mom when I was little and Dad was out to sea with his job. I was a holy terror of a child. Lots of communication issues. Teachers in preschool and grade school dreaded seeing me each day.....my label than was more or less difficult child. Autism was never mentioned to me until much later.