Difference between classic autism, pdd nos, and aspergers

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I know classic autism, pdd nos, and aspergers are all considered autism spectrum disorder now, and there were specific criteriae to diagnose them, but I want to know what all of you think the differences are from your own personal experiences. For example, I have pdd nos and in a lot of ways I am similar to people with aspergers but I know there are lots of people with pdd nos who are more severely autistic. What do you all think?

Well, PDD-NOS is also considered "atypical autism," so that says some information. Really, it's this kind of question that made classic autism, Asperger's syndrome, and PDD-NOS all put together as simply Autism Spectrum Disorders, because really, they are all too similar. Someone could fit the AS criteria in some aspects more than the classic autism one, but they're diagnosed with classic autism because of one little thing, or people diagnosed with AS could fit classic autism more, but they are diagnosed with AS because of one little thing, and then PDD-NOS can just be all over the place, because it can be more like AS or more like classic autism, and it just all gets so confusing, so they're all just diagnosed as ASD now.

From information I have collected, however, it seems to be that PDD-NOS / atypical autism was diagnosed when, it is just that- atypical autism. Criteria isn't met fully for AS in the ways it needs to be, and it's not met fully for classic autism the ways it needs to be, but there are still significant symptoms- just not all of the required ones for the diagnosis. There it is, atypical autism.

Classic autism was diagnosed when there is a speech delay accompanied with the ASD traits. For some reason, that speech delay was just some huge thing. Some people who fit the Asperger's diagnosis more were diagnosed with classic autism, just because of the speech delay.

Asperger's syndrome was diagnosed when ASD traits are present, and there was no speech delay. Again, the speech delay was considered such a huge deal, but there are many people diagnosed with AS that fit the autism diagnosis much more, but they are considered aspies, because they did not have a speech delay.

What actually makes people fit the classic autism diagnosis more or the Aspreger's diagnosis more? It's just the severity / how prominent traits are. Because of this, PDD-NOS, classic autism, and Asperger's syndrome are all now diagnosed as ASD, because it is just that- a spectrum.

Some people are frustrated about them all being combined, because then some people diagnosed who have more mild traits are getting things they don't need, or something. I'm not really sure what all of the fuss is about, but no matter where you are on the autism spectrum, traits aren't all going to be prominent at the same amount anyway. ASD traits always individually vary- not just yourself placed on a scale.

There's what I learned from hearing my counselor talk to my mom, doing my own research, and having my own experiences.

Wow, that was very well said! You are one smart 13 year old...
I totally agree with what you're saying. Thanks for your insight!!

Yes, yes I am. *smiles* thank you

That type of "one little thing" is the only real, on-paper, official, diagnostic-criteria difference between the two that ever existed.

For autistic disorder, you needed I think 2 more symptom criteria in total than for asperger's, and to qualify for an asperger's diagnosis you could have no significant delays in language/communication. Differences beyond that are not part of the diagnostic criteria, and many are just stereotypes not even mentioned in the expanded DSM-IV text (things about what behaviors or abilities are common with one diagnosis but not others).

The whole business of diagnosing ASD is 'work-in-progress', and there is little to be gained from allowing the search for an exact explanation to become an ASD-like pre-occupation or obsession. It is a bit of a catch22 type situation - ASD sufferers need clear answers, but the more they demand them, the harder it becomes to provide them.

I don't know what the stereotypes are.

I don't know the technical side much. I do think of it as a spectrum more then specific sub-diagnoses. In other words we all scattered across the page. Are there really distinct groups? It doesn't seem so to me. It feels more like they just pick places to separate us into sub-categories, based on symptoms or co-morbids.

But I know in my case certain things only came on strong later in life, so we are not even fixed in our position on the spectrum possibly.