AS/HFA

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I know there are different schools of thought regarding what Asperger's actually is. According to the DSM-5, it doesn't exist ( ). Some people believe it is the same as high-functioning autism. Some people believe it is on the autism spectrum, but is not the same as autism. Some people believe it is not on the spectrum (and therefore unrelated?), and actually belongs to some other group of mental "disorder." Right now, I am leaning toward AS/HFA being the same thing. So I'm curious, what is the difference between Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism?

I agree with you. A lot of people seem to use those terms interchangeably.

When I got diagnosed recently I got diagnosed with HFA. The doctor also said that HFA is what USED to be Aspergers.

Seems it depends on who you ask and what someone's definition of HFA is -- even among experts.

AS and HFA are often classified together, but if a distinction is made, then it is based on childhood language development.
AS children develop speech on time, and HFA children have significant delay.
If an autistic child can communicate basic needs through language and have a simple short conversation by age four, then the child is probably more like AS than HFA.