are aspergers and hfa the same thing?

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I thought they were but I realized that people would distinguish between them ? What are tge differences?

It can be confusing because people do actually refer to Aspergers as high-functioning autism (in terms of the words used, that's a correct description of what it is). However, when people differentiate between AS and HFA, they are usually referring to childhood speech development. It's considered AS if there is no childhood speech delay, and HFA if there was a noticeable speech delay.

There doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference in symptoms between AS and HFA adults, however, which is probably one of the reasons they are merging these terms in the new DSM so they will all just be called "autism spectrum disorder". It's not really a useful distinction in terms of diagnosis and support.

I have a teen son diagnosed with Aspergers at age 7, and a 6 year old old diagnosed last year with Aspergers/HFF. The older son had a good vocabulary early but the younger son did not talk much until he turned 5. However at the time we put this down to temporary hearing loss. They are very similar in some ways but the younger son is considerably more challenging and has significant sensory issues. The biggest difference as far as social issues go is that the older son (Aspergers) wants to make friends but finds it difficult and is often inappropriate. The younger son (HFF) shows no interest in socialising and does not want to make friends.

It is disputable, but the ones that dispute it are usually just nitpicking/quibbling for some ridiculous reason.

It is exactly the same thing.

The speech delay, that can happen anywhere within the range of ASDs.

But Asperger's doesn't involve a delay in speech.

Agreed--in part--the criteria has morphed in so many ways over the years. I recently read a book on Asperger's Syndrome and there were examples of Gillberg's patients who had severe Asperger's but also had speech delays. My son who was dx'd with PDD-NOS due to a speech delays is probably showing more signs of having Asperger's now. One criteria that was also lost in the DSM-IV that was fundamental to an Asperger's dx was the symptom of clumsiness (which thankfully I grew out of for the most part but still have my moments LOL). This is not an exact science and shouldn't be treated as such, at least not until they come up with better definitions and more accurate testing methods.

Why to debate about something that can be easily searched?

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/high- ... ing-autism

[Mod. edit: article truncated for copyright reasons. Please do not copy/paste entire articles on WP.]

There are multiple definitions of HFA vs AS, depending on who you ask.

I've seen the following:
* HFA have a language delay, AS don't
* HFA are aloof, AS are active-but-odd
* HFA are graceful, AS are clumsy
* HFA have nonverbal strengths, AS have verbal strengths

Problem is, each of those definitions carves out the spectrum in a different way. And many don't draw a distinction at all. So if someone says they're AS or they're HFA, both of those just tell you they're on the spectrum and they're higher functioning. Nothing more specific unless you know which definition they use.

I think it's the diagnostic criteria makes them different things. If you say that speech delays or #-of symptoms can separate those with HFA from those with AS, then that's what will separate them because the diagnoses are made based on symptoms rather than on the causes of symptoms .... it creates a self-selection bias ("self selection bias" may not be the right words...but I don't know what they right words would be so I just hope people will understand me either way). Whether or not the underlying neurology is actually different is something nobody has been able to prove.

I think there are probably different varieties of autism because autistic people with the same label can differ from each other so much in terms of their autism, but I don't think that the Asperger's/Autistic Disorder/PDD distinction is all that useful.

According to...?

I spoke my first word at the age of 1, so I don't think I fall under the category of a having a speech delay. I do suffer from a mild stutter and I find it difficult to find the right word to use many times but I do have good vocabulary skills. My mind doesn't find the right word as fast as other people when it comes to using the proper word in a sentence. Wouldn't I be considered to have a speech delay?

In the AAA from http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests . One of the 5 prerequisites listed there for Asperger's Syndrome is a delay in speech (I was over the boundaries except on that one, I had early and advanced speech, but on this particular iteration it knocked me out of the diagnosis).

However, on Tony Attwood's site he lists this:

-Unusual language abilities that include advanced vocabulary and syntax but delayed conversation skills, unusual prosody and a tendency to be pedantic.

Which fits perfectly.

That's interesting, and I had never considered that part. I spoke early, and I guess that's why I was diagnosed with Asperger's and not HFA. Now, however, there is no Asperger's in the book, so it's all Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Charles

What about folks diagnosed with both and have both symptoms?

No one should be diagnosed with both. If you meet the criteria for autism, that excludes AS.

However, it seems that a large number of people diagnosed with AS should have been diagnosed with autism.

wait!- I thought the difference between AUtism and aspergers was big enough to easily be distinguished? am I wrong?

what are the differences in a nutshell?