However, if you ask me, it's like asking "Is a cold really pneumonia?" and then answering it with, "Yes, a cold is high functioning pneumonia." It seems pointless. The two things are different enough that they shouldn't be interchangeable.
My family does not have autism. We have asperger's. I find it an important distinction, because it makes a mockery of autism to lump us all together. People with autism, by definition, are "non-functioning," meaning they can't manage their own daily needs by themselves in any long-term, sustainable way. This is the serious cases that you see, where the person is unable to speak or communicate in a meaningful way with others. That is autism.
Then you have "highly functioning autism." What are the differences between Asperger's Disorder and 'High Functioning' (i.e. IQ > 70) Autism?
It is believed that in Asperger's Disorder
- onset is usually later
- outcome is usually more positive
- social and communication deficits are less severe
- circumscribed interests are more prominent
- verbal I.Q. is usually higher than performance I.Q. (in autism, the case is usually the reverse)
- clumsiness is more frequently seen
- family history is more frequently positive
- neurological disorders are less common
And, I think that if I had an autistic child and see someone with Asperger's being called autistic, I think I'd have a fit, too! In a truly autistic meltdown! Can anyone else relate with this?
There is a family "with 6 autistic children." However, when you look into it, you find that several of them are Asperger's. I think that makes a huge difference in describing the situation. We all tip our hats to their situation, but the description of 6 autistic children is misleading. Autism is a much more extreme condition than Aspergers.
What do you think about calling individuals with Asperger's autistic? Does it even matter to you?
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