Confused by the words Autistic vs Autism.

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EvoVari
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26 Dec 2008, 7:11 pm

Could someone tell me why people with Aspergers call themselves autistic?

Some articles say, "Autism spectrum Disorder or Autistic spectrum disorders. Is there a difference in using the words autism and autistic?

Are people using the word autistic to describe themselves an ideological point of view?

From what I understand my diagnoses of Aspergers lead me to believe I have autism. I am not autistic!

I have tried to elicit definition from web dictionaries and people on the spectrum at other forums with little enlightenment. My partner is researching aspergers and autism in general. She is continually being confused by this issue and asks me for clarification.

Hope I do not offend anyone because of my ignorance. My diagnoses was early 2008 and the trying to understand this new world is overwhelming to say the least.



t0
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26 Dec 2008, 7:24 pm

EvoVari wrote:
Could someone tell me why people with Aspergers call themselves autistic?


It's difficult to get a grasp of because the medical community isn't in agreement as to what everything is. Compare it to a time where all stomach pain was diagnosed as the same thing. Now we know food poisoning, stomach flu, ulcers, etc are all different - but at one time medical science was so primitive that we did not. Autism/ASDs are still in that primitive phase.

BTW - there has been some speculation that AS may be removed from the next version of the DSM and instead will be considered HFA or something along those lines.



notbrianna
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26 Dec 2008, 7:28 pm

My understanding is that autistic refers to a person or a set of traits, while autism refers to a disorder.



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26 Dec 2008, 7:32 pm

I was diagnosed as autistic twice. This was before a diagnosis of AS would have been possible. So, that's the first thing that comes to my mind whenever the subject comes up.


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Shayne
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26 Dec 2008, 7:33 pm

simply, autism is a noun and autistic is an adjective that is sometimes used as a noun.


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garyww
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26 Dec 2008, 7:52 pm

I hope that this isn't another one of those I'd rather be an Aspie than an Autistic type of things due to social conventions.


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EvoVari
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26 Dec 2008, 8:06 pm

No garyww, the topic is not about seperation or superior disorder rubbish.



pakled
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26 Dec 2008, 8:13 pm

AS is a subset of the Autisim spectrum. Say, we're purple, while other Autistics go from red to ultraviolet...if you want to look it as a spectrum...



buryuntime
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26 Dec 2008, 8:17 pm

Quote:
BTW - there has been some speculation that AS may be removed from the next version of the DSM and instead will be considered HFA or something along those lines.
Any links? And when will this next version be out?



garyww
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26 Dec 2008, 8:20 pm

So what's the point. Aspergers is a new thing and maybe not to be a long thing based on upcoming findings so we're still Autistics after everything is said and done.


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Callista
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26 Dec 2008, 8:47 pm

Generally what you've got with "I'm not autistic" is somebody who doesn't realize just how wide the autism spectrum is. You know how on TV and stuff, when somebody's autistic it's almost always somebody who can't talk or take care of themselves, somebody with a LOT of special needs? Yeah... that's actually a small minority of the autism spectrum. High functioning autism and Asperger's are just about indistinguishable in adulthood. People who start off with speech delays can learn speech and grow up to be a lot like your average learned-speech-on-time Aspie, to the point that a doctor can't tell the difference without asking about your childhood history.

I know two such examples personally--my father and an autistic friend, both of whom had speech delays and ended up independent adults. Temple Grandin, who says she would probably be diagnosed with AS today but definitely had autism as a child, is another example.

"Autistic" as in the media portrayal of autistic? No, you're not, and neither are most people who are actually diagnosed non-Asperger autistic. But "Autistic" as in the spectrum, the PDDs as a whole, yes. Autism is a broad category, and just because you aren't like the poster children doesn't mean you don't fit into it. They push a lot of stereotypes on us when they try to get us to donate money to the latest useless research; and it really hurts more than it helps because most of it is woefully incacccurate.


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t0
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26 Dec 2008, 8:58 pm

buryuntime wrote:
Any links? And when will this next version be out?


Here's a link to the DSM working group documents:
http://psychiatry.org/MainMenu/Research/DSMIV/DSMV/DSMRevisionActivities/DSMVWorkGroupReports/NeurodevelopmentalDisordersWorkGroupReport.aspx

Most notably:
Quote:
The ND Work Group will be seeking additional feedback from advisors and other experts prior to “finalizing” any recommendations.

Questions still under active discussion for ASD include:
...
5) Whether Asperger’s disorder is the same as “high-functioning autism”;


Atwood says AS and HFA are more similar than not. Skip down to the "Conclusion" if you don't want to read the whole thing:
http://sacramentoasis.com/docs/8-22-03/as_&_hfa.pdf

EDIT: typo



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26 Dec 2008, 11:43 pm

I'm sorry to disappoint you, Evo, but as an Aspie, you are indeed autistic. As has been pointed out, Asperger's Syndrome occupies one end of the "autism spectrum", nestled in there next to PDD-NOS; the other end of the spectrum is Kanner's autism, with a wide range between. Further, being identified at one point on the spectrum does not preclude moving to another point later (cf above note re: Dr. Temple Grandin).

The question now becomes, why do you reject identification as an autistic so strongly? You even ended your denial with an exclamation point.


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EvoVari
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27 Dec 2008, 1:34 am

Appreciate the helpful information from all and the website links from to.

Callista your reply was excellent. My next question would have been in relation to a moving autism diagnoses, such as, Dr. Temple Grandin. No need, thank you.

Deacon blues said,
"The question now becomes, why do you reject identification as an autistic so strongly? You even ended your denial with an exclamation point".

Never was the question. How can you reject an identity when you are not aware of it's existence pertaining to yourself? Why would I be disappointed at clarity and acceptance in understanding, "I am autistic" and the ASD umbrella.



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27 Dec 2008, 2:26 am

I think autistic means thats what you are, while autism is something you have. A lot of people view me and talk about me as being autistic rather then having autism. I do know people though like my doctor who describes me as having autism.


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27 Dec 2008, 2:56 am

Callista wrote:
Yeah... that's actually a small minority of the autism spectrum.


Not really. It's about 1/3 who are severe, and will need a lot of care and support. The small minority is nonverbal adults (which is around 18%).

The other two-thirds aren't exactly "mild" by anyone's standards. People don't realize that most people with Asperger's don't work, they live at home, and they have few or no friends (the rate of college attendance is far below that of the normal population too). Those with HFA have no friends (barring outliers), they don't work (again, outliers), and they live at home or in government facilities (in other words, HFA has a little worst outcome after school).

If you have Asperger's, you have a form of autism, and it was even called "Autistic Psychopathy" to refer to the disorder, and "autist" to refer to the individual, by Hans Asperger himself.