Asperger's? Should we call it an autistic condition?

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Not all professionals consider AS an autistic condition. So, should we?

Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin seem to think it is an autistic condition, though I've read excerpts by other professionals online and offline that are spewing the debate as to whether or not AS should be an autistic condition or a standalone condition.

Should AS be included as part of the autistic spectrum? What do you think?

- Ray M -

Calling it that seems to focus on the negative aspect of it to be honest.

Well bear in mind with professionals you have to take some of what they say with a pinch of salt seeing that there all after making a name for themselves in their chosen line of work and of course like that pay cheque at the end of the day.

The main fundamental problem here is the research and study conducted is so few, far between and trivial that any old clown with a degree/phd behind him can make any claim he likes with even a tiny bit of research. See mercury poisoning, MMR vaccinations etc

Afraid these kind of people also tend to be the eugenics loving type and it won't do anyone any good to let those kind of arguments win out

Also not to sound like a paranoid nutter as i did in my last case theres certainly alot of people out there on the boundaries of HFA or even mid range functioning autistics who would upset this theory alittle bit. Not to mention families such as mine were you can see their has been a hereditary link of aspergers, engineering, autism throughout my family tree

It only focuses on negative things due to your average person knowing sweet FA about autism.

Personally,think AS is part of Autism,just as Kanners,PDDNOS etc is,they are all varied levels of each other,there are many who were originally diagnosed as being a Kanners Autistic but eventually developed speech and were then given AS diagnoses.

Those with AS who are able to function well or perfectly in society,emulating NTism culture and having very little relation to Autism are often those who do not want to be associated with the label because it is more of a hinderance/insult to them,their experience cannot speak for every other AS Autistic though,it comes in all forms.

This is one reason why do not like the current labelling-Kanners,AS etc. it would be fairer if all diagnosis were just 'ASD' and people were judged on individual traits,strengths and difficulties rather than having an inacurate functioning label as well as an individual sub label,perhaps then people won't automatically associate LF Kanners with Autism as a whole.
ASD is a neutral term and doesn't focus on a specific severity,this is what specialists are often diagnosing now instead of the individual sub labels of Autism.

If a person only experienced the positive traits,why would they even need the AS label?
All diagnose focus on the negative aspects as they are what set apart the so called expectation of 'normality' and 'unnormality'.

I don't think calling something autism is calling something negative.

(...says the person with an autism diagnosis.)

I agree with you anbuend, it all depends on the connotation someone uses it in.



Yes Aspergers is on the autism spectrum, it shares many of the main criteria to be on the autism spectrum, so in some ways it can be considered an 'autistic condition."

The main problem with calling it an autistic condition is that people have such little understanding of HFA that they see us as not being able to speak or do any normal stuff which most of us can do.

I want to see proof that AS is an autistic condition before people say that it is.

Personally, I don't believe that it is. Genetics may make it possible to prove one way or the other.

As long as it gets my son the services he needs from the school- I'll call it whatever they want me to.

This topic has come up before and I've already rendered my opinion on it several times.

I will say, though, that this subject seems to demonstrate our self loathing and discomfort with our identity more effectively than almost any other.

I was diagnosed as autistic when I was a kid about 8. Low funtion autism then, but since my cognitive abilities have improved in areas of puzzle solving in mental arithmatic etc which puts me up in a high function bracket. But I still daydream and have just as many obsessive thoughts as I did then. Also the tics in my hands and face have not changed at all. I am more comforable with the autistic lable than the Asperger lable. For one I do not like the word syndrome not am I comfortable with the word apsie.

Paul

I think it's fair to say that Asperger's is part of the autistic spectrum. And is thus part of the autism 'family', if you will.

Sorry, I don't think it is fair to say that until we know more about both conditions and can prove a connection. The fact that someone says there is a connection doesn't really make it so.

Objectively speaking, it is a form of autism with many of the traits. Proper scientific classification is necessary irregardless of what someone on the spectrum wishes to be called.

I believe that Asperger's is part of autism and I have started owning it. When I tell someone I am autistic, I think it makes it easier for those worse off on the spectrum. I think this is important to show people that autism isn't as it is so often portrayed. I also think we should stick together and stand up for those who cannot...