AspieOtaku wrote:
fleurdelily wrote:
I think it's just semantics. ie. It's the same thing, two different professionals may use either term to mean the same thing
Like a puma as to cougar as to mountai lion?Or freedom fries is to french fries is to fries?
I actually disagree. Everyone here goes on about a spectrum. If AS and HFA are different segments of the spectrum, there isn't going to be a clear line separating AS from HFA for those in the border territory.
I think with HFA there's sort of an "a-ha," moment for those diagnosing, especially in childhood, wherein the doctor can pull out a check list and say, "this child doesn't have age-appropriate skills for speaking or verbal comprehension." There's something, usually language-related skills, that can be used as a measuring stick comparing the subject to "normal" children.
The reason AS has been so invisible is because while it is also a form of autism, it may not be apparent at a young age. An AS child may seem very different, but they pass all the "tests" as to what a child is expected to at his particular age, which is why you hear so many stories of people with AS saying, "I always felt different than the rest, it became apparent as I grew. But as a kid in school, I wasn't identified by doctors/administrators as having any problems because I didn't exhibit any delay in age-appropriate language and comprehension skills."