AS vs HFA DSM-IV criteria

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Strictly by the DSM-IV, what are the differences between Asperger's Syndrome and the high functioning form of autism?

Is being able to read very early for your age a characteristic of high functioning autism?

Just another reason for me to beleive as an adult HFA simply is the wrong DX, of course I was DX'ed prior to aspringers even being accepted in the 90's, my original DX is from 1987! HEH.

All well... id update but why spend money to have a professional tell me somethin I already know...

I think I might now fully understand, because of my autistic co-worker. Warning, this is a strange story.

There was shirt button that was bothering him. He didn't say why at all, just that it was upsetting. For more people that = crazy.

I had a good idea why the shirt button was bothering him, and he agreed with me 100% why it was a problem, mostly because we thought about it the same exact way. Won't go into details, the reason why the shirt button is troublesome would take up too much room, though his reaction was "exactly!" and he briefly had this expression that perfectly said "how did she know"

Difference:
I had the same thoughts, briefly, but I didn't dwell on them and just sat the shirt button aside to let someone else deal with it later. There are bigger issues to worry about.

He couldn't stop thinking about the shirt button's issue to the point where it was emotionally upsetting him.

Anyway, I came up with the solution we would finally ask the manager what to do about the shirt button, but I remember phrasing badly "There's this pin that we couldn't figure out what to do with, so there's a note on your desk about it, see you later!"

He mumbled under his breath while I walked away "oh my..."

In short, an Asperger's will often act Autistic over an important situation, or maybe decided not to dwell on common metaphors, but is still perplexed by less common ones (resent complaint I had from someone I suspect is much smarter than me "Why can't you understand complex metaphors? You need some philosophy classes." , while maybe a HFA thinks about everything to the same degree?

I hope that made sense

The DSM-IV's only difference between HFA and AS is the following: in autism, there is a delay in communication where in Asperger's, there is not. See below, the differing criteria are in bold and italic. Hope this helps clear some things up

Autism:

Diagnostic criteria for 299.00 Autistic Disorder
(cautionary statement)
A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3):

(1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(a) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(b) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
(d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(2) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
(a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
(b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
(c) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
(d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

(3) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(d) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

B. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years: (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social communication, or (3) symbolic or imaginative play.

C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.


http://behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/autistic.htm

Asperger's:

Diagnostic criteria for 299.80 Asperger's Disorder
(cautionary statement)
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(2) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(3) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(4) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(1) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(2) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(3) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(4) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.


http://behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/asperger.htm

I think it was Tony Attwood's book (though I don't remember for sure) that theorized that it's probably a moot point by the time you're an adult. That both end up in kind of the same spot. No idea if it's true, and I'm only about 90% sure that's where I read that.

Look it up. The DSM-IV-TR uses the terms Autistic Disorderand Asperger's Disorder. The biggest difference is that Asperger's syndrome excludes clinically significant impairment in basic self-help skills and delay in language acquisition.

siuan,

The paragraph I quoted is from the DSM-IV-TR, page 77 I think.

And just to confuse everyone, check this out (also from the DSM):

According to what Siuan tells, I fit into Asperger's unless the "Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia".