Does DSMIVs Aspergers Syndrome exsist?

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Some sources say that if Aspergers is based on DSMIV/ICD10 criteria, Aspergers would be a very rare disease. A study concluded that those diagnosed as Aspergers fit the criteria for Autistic Disorder, none met the criteria for Aspergers, the reason is problems with communication.
But actually that would not be true. The main reason is because the symptons were detected after the age of 3 since many Aspies do not get diagnosed with Aspergers until they are older children, even as teenager, or adults. Therefore, if 'Asperger's Disorder' did not exisit in DSMIV, the would be Aspergers people would of been diagnosed as PDD(NOS)/Atypical Autism since the symptoms became a problem at a later age (after age 3) as they would fit this PDD(NOS) subgroup, "Resembles classic autism but whose symptoms were recognized at a later age or were too young or too low functioning to rate symptons".
DSMIV criteria for Autistic Disorder/Classic Autism requires that symptoms must become a problem before the age of 3 years, and that's the only reason many As pies DO NOT fit the criteria for Classic Autism.

People can/could be diagnosed with classic autism at older ages (including adulthood), based on their developmental history.

I'm slightly confused by some of the wording in your post, so I'm sorry if this post isn't relevant.

Yes, it exists. There are people who meet the diagnostic criteria.

However, it is better understood as part of the broader autistic spectrum than a distinct entity in its own right.

When I researched it was based on them using ICD or DSM IV (I'm in the uk) so was expecting (if I was diagnosed) for aspergers not to be considered anyway, but I got my diagnosis last week and they used DSM IV. I was diagnosed with "Autism Spectrum Disorder", which I'm very happy with- it's starting to sink in and help me to chill .

I don't see how aspergers can realistically be differentiated anyway, or why it would need a separate diagnosis, given what we know about the full spectrum now.

I did very well at school and have always had good language/social skills, so thought It'd technically be aspergers if they used DSM IV, as I thought that is what the criteria said- maybe I'm wrong. Im not sure of the specific criteria that make it "rare"? I thought they must not be using the term Aspergers anymore even if the criteria is technically correct, as it will soon be removed when they start using DSM V (I'm assuming that's what they will do).

I didn't meet the autistic disorder criteria according to my psychiatrist. Sure I had a delay spoken language and had poor conversation skills but that was the result of early hearing loss so it gave me that issue. I also did pretend play and played with my dolls and made them eat and sit at the table and sit in their chairs but I would say my play was rigid and I did reinactments and copied things I saw on TV or in books. If you meet the autistic criteria, you do not meet the AS criteria so therefore you would not have AS.

I'm not yet diagnosed with anything (seems nobody has no idea what autism is in my family with a history of autism ), but lack of imaginary play rules out Asperger's and instead is classic autism? Because literally all I did as a toddler was collect and sort and line things. If my parents wanted money sorting they could just put it in front of me and come back an hour later with me asleep on the floor and the money into neat, sorted piles, along with everything else I got my hands on. I remember in preschool (yes my short term memory is bad, but hell my long term is great) this kid was pointing in the distance at a "wolf", and I kept trying to correct him by saying it was a just a log on the floor and not a wolf. Only a couple years ago did I realize that they weren't the crazy ones, they were just roleplaying toddlers. But does this mean I don't have Asperger's? Does imaginary play have to be present?

Are you asking if Aspergers syndrome is in reality the same or different them the DSM IV criteria?

Lack of imaginary or spontaneous play is in the autistic criteria, AS criteria does not have that. You would have to ask the doctor about it who specializes in it.

I'm just waiting, I'm at an awkward age for them because I'm almost 18 so they want to get rid of me really At least I am on the system anyway.

Well, that could be my case because I had a very unusual early developmental course: I had a COMPLETLY normal development. I first spoke at age 12 months. In fact I did better than my brother until I was like 16 months old. At that point, I regressed slowly for like 8 months until I was 2, when I did not speak at all and I was LFA. I never spoke again until I was 5, the next year I was diagnosed with Aspergers. So I do really fit DSMIVs criteria for 'Classic Autism.' But informally I fit the criteria for both 'Regressive Autism'/'Acquired Autistic Syndrome' AND Christopher Gillberg's criteria for 'Asperger's Syndrome'.
The only reason why many other people diagnosed with Aspergers fit DSMIV's Aspergers is explained up in my first post above in the discussion. Just because they had a speech delay doesn't mean they have no problems with communication.

By the sounds of it I regressed, but not anywhere near as much as you. I just stopped smiling and looking at people, went very very quiet and just showed every single autistic behavior - but the lack of speech delay (I developed normally to 2) meant I didn't get a diagnosis - nobody saw it as worrying, just very very shy and interested in collecting. Every question about me as a toddler was answered with a yes. It is weird you're diagnosed with Asperger's though.

So you regressed too? You were normal before the regression like me? Your regression was milder than mine?

Yeah, sounds like it from what my nan said - but her kids (my mum and her siblings) grew up in the 60s and she's never used the internet and probably has no idea what autism is so she didn't see it as regression, but based on what she's said it does sound like it. I never lost language or anything, though. So mildy. I was definitely behind at preschool, I remember that pretty clearly - my long term memory is somehow better than my short term, I have no idea why. And at school, actually, but not behind enough for it to be brought to attention. I eventually caught up though, so I was under the radar which I cannot understand and nor can CAHMS because it should have been pretty obvious. Weird.

This is not how the diagnostic criteria are used. You should consult with a diagnostician if you are interested in this. Some diagnosticians may be willing to briefly discuss this with you on the phone.

I am also having a hard time parsing the OP, but something in the first few sentences seems off to me:

I was diagnosed with Aspergers under DSM IV criteria, as were many who have discussed their diagnoses on WP. I don't understand how problems with communication are supposed to invalidate an Aspergers diagnosis. The general idea was that autistic behaviors with no delay in language developement was Aspergers, but the same behaviors with a language delay was High Functioning Autism....

The age at diagnosis doesn't impact the issue of early language delay.

Yeah, I believe it exists and that it deviates slightly from "high functioning autism" which I was diagnosed with.

I can't do phone calls. I just have an irrational fear of them. And I am on the system I am just waiting, read my profile. My 18th birthday is making it awkward for CAHMS but they're still allowing me to be a child from the fear I'd never get seen as an adult because they only see adults trying to kill themselves and I am too stupid to find a way to so I am safe.