Identifying as Aspie

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You could say I'm having a bit of an identity crisis at the moment. I'm busy integrating autism as another part of my identity. I've been stalking around the online autistic community, and I'm rather proud to be on the spectrum. However, being diagnosed under the DSM-V, my official diagnosis is Autism Spectrum Disorder. As you're probably aware, this diagnosis encompasses the previous disgnoses of Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, and PDD-NOS. The diagnosis is a bit vague, and I'd like to get more specific than just ASD when explaining my condition. Do I tell people I have Asperger's? Autism? Can I accurately call myself and aspie?

Before the diagnostic change, the only difference between classic autism and Asperger's was that those with Asperger's experienced no clinically significant delay in language development. According to my parents, I said my first words -which were full sentences- at 2 1/2 years, and was selectively mute until age 3. My whole life after that point I've been hyperlexic. Just based on this delay alone you could say I don't qualify for Asperger's. (My parents didn't know my speech was delayed until they had my typically developing sister. This was before the Internet was widespread and definitely before significant autism awareness was a thing.) At the moment though, I'm more aspie than anything. My intelligence is above average and my verbal abilities are great. I follow many of the stereotypical Asperger's traits, though I do have some symptoms more congruent with classic autism.

Given this information, how should I identify? In the past I've told some people I have Asperger's and I've also told people I have autism. Usually I just say I'm autistic or that I'm on the autism spectrum, as this works with either specific diagnosis. I'll call myself an aspie in informal contexts. I don't notice a whole lot of difference in reactions between the two. Most of the time if people already have an opinion of me it seems that knowing I'm autistic doesn't change that opinion. So, if I wanted to be specific, what should I say? Do I have Asperger's? Am I an autie? An aspie? An autie who acts like an aspie? Do I just go on saying I'm autistic and not elaborate? I know this post was rambly and I know it's my personal desicion in the end, but I'd love to hear what others in this community think I should go as.

I think that you could identify yourself as yourself.
Your being asperger or in the autistic spectrum doesn't define you.
What define you is your personality, your tastes, your characteristics etc.
As a NT don't present themself as NT, you don't have to present yourself as Autistic or Asperger. Just present yourself as CenturioAlpha.
Then, if you want to be specific, you can say that you are in the autistic spectrum, since in this moment it is the more correct clynical expression.
But, you know what? Doctors are still confused themeselves, they don't know much about this subject yet, and these are just words they use to have a common clynical language.
You are you. Asperger, autism or not.

It sounds to me like you would be more comfortable with saying that you have Asperger's. If that's the case, I don't see a problem with that.

Personally, I say that I'm autistic and feel uncomfortable with using the term Asperger's, simply because that was not what I was diagnosed with. I was told that I would have been diagnosed with Asperger's in the past, but (as you say) that's not done any more.

I'm a stickler for being all official and using the correct term, so for me it's autism. But people will know what you're talking about, either way.

I appreciate the little inspiring talk, but it's not what I was looking for. (Is there a laughing emoji? I don't see one.) I hope the autism spectrum isn't the only thing I'm defined by. I hope I'm also defined as the logician, amateur entomologist, quick witted guy I also am. I don't mind if autistic is in there too though. I don't see it as a bad thing to be "defined" by autism, but we may disagree there. There are times when I need to tell people about my disability, and I'm just looking for an accurate way to do it.

My thought process exactly.

If you want to identify as an Aspie, I have no objection.

Personally, I identify as Wolfman LOL

Like other posters have said, I believe a person is more than just a "disorder." There's more to an Aspergian person than Asperger's.

I cannot ever aspire to be an Aspie----because I spoke late, at 5 1/2 years old. My first "word" was a short sentence: "I see a ball," which I repeated in the therapy room. For some reason, my speech took off from there, to the point where, at 6, I talked like an average 6 year old.

Despite this, I call myself an Aspie here on this Site sometimes. Other times, I call myself a Spectrumite. Still others, an Autistic person.

I was really quite Aspergian after I started to speak. I still am, to this day.

here it is

I guess I have misunderstood what you wrote then and of course I don't think that it is a bad thing too. My boyfriend is in the spectrum too and I adore him. I probably am in the spectrum too, I will have a diagnosis soon.
Well, if you want to be specific you should use the clynical term, I guess.
But I would use the word that I prefer, regardless how exact it is.
I guess that I will use the word Asperger if it will come out that I actually am. Just because it seems to me that it is more known and more used here in Italy than high functioning autism.
But I guess that most of the people know very little about the definitions, so I will end to have to explain them what it is and it doesn't matter which word I use.

Lol, thanks for pointing out the emoji! It's interesting that in your country that Asperger's is better known than HFA. There have been times when I've said "Asperger's" and no one knew what I was talking about. Thanks to Autism $peaks and their ilk autism is very well known in the USA, more so than Asperger's.

Personally, I like the word Aspie to identify myself. I think it sounds cutesy, and that's kind of my style-or aesthetic-if you will. My official diagnosis is Asperger's, but I've heard that it technically isn't a diagnosis anymore.

For the most part, I would not identify myself as specifically an "Aspie."

I would just let my eccentricities "speak" for themselves.

I completely understand the "autism doesn't define you" comments, and don't think using the label negates that (unless you decide it should).

Personally I like labels, classifications, titles and other "tags" to classify things. Aspergers, was a sub-category of the overarching umbrella of autism; Autism minus language delay.

So, if you're looking for an easy, accurate label, I believe "autism" or "autism spectrum" works in any case. Aspie is fine if you can and want to be more specific, but not always necessary.

why are the youths so preoccupied with (self)identifying? isn"t there anything else to do anymore?
you're still devellopping, don't try to confine yourself when even you not know all
omg

How old do you think I am? I'm NG exactly... Well experienced, but I'm not a youth

One of the needs I witness within this online community is that individuals have a need to connect. Labeling aside, connecting is something everyone needs.

I can't answer from the youths' perspective, but the thread was about specifics of self-ID within the autism spectrum. Medical diagnoses aren't offered as a party affiliation to decide upon.