What is the difference between mild autism and HFA?

Post Reply New Topic

When diagnosed with Asperger's, I have wondered whether I have AS or some other autism spectrum disorder because I've had a language learning delay, and the diagnostic criteria states that a language learning delay isn't associated with Asperger's. While doing some research, I read that there's also high functioning autism and mild autism, which are all considered to fit different criteria. I've been wondering, do any of you know what the supposed differences between all these terms are supposed to be?

Mild Autism and HFA are one and the same historically speaking, and that's Autism with an IQ equal to or above 70. Moderate to Severe go down the various levels of MR (these are deemed LFA). History of speech acquisition is usually a good indicator of whether someone has HFA or AS, but some with HFA go on to appear just like those with AS in manifestation.

AS and Mild Autism are very similar, it's just that some things are a little different; social behaviour tends to be aloof in the latter (i.e., ignoring most people and appearing in their own world as an adult) whereas the former have a more active and odd form of social behaviour (i.e., they don't ignore people).

That sounds about right to me. I also read an article, recently, that said AS people can get over-stimulated while HFA people get under-stimulated. This made sense to me as well. I have been diagnosed with HFA and I don't experience any of the sensory over-stimulation problems I always see people talk about on WP. I can stare at bright light without my eyes hurting, and sometimes I don't notice loud noises, etc.
I also feel like I'm a lot more relaxed and flexible than a lot of AS people seem to be, (changes and surprises don't bother me) but I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
But I don't think I had any significant walking, speech or reading delays.
It seems so hard to find any really consistent info.. D: D: I think the doctors are all still conflicted about the definitions.

the only differences i know besides what danielismyname and wigglyspide(hehe by the way i like ur name!) is that with HFA or just autism you have more self help problems and tend to not care and really try not to hide your stims rather just stim. you can have pddnos which can fit both ways though if you think AS doesnt fit you either.

So, HFA is a bit like the "mellow" version of AS? That's the gist of what I've been reading and it's been confusing as that seems to fit me somewhat better than AS.

I think I am almost constantly in my own world and I can do that out of choice unless I have a meltdown or shut down and then it's just automatic. I've heard that I am quite unresponsive to people as well. I don't think that is the same with AS. I don't know for sure though.

Some people I believe can still have asperger's and still had speech delay. There are also people who started talking before age 2 and then regressed in their language. I believe before the language regression, a child had to have said their first words before 2, for HFA the first word was after 2. I have asperger's because I talked at 8 months, but regressed only in speech at 18 months after my sister was born. I only regressed not because I had problems, but because of Emotional issues surrounding the birth of my sister. plus, i always felt estranged from my family and still do today. They never really understood me. plus I was more closer to my teachers,a nd friends then i ever was to my parents and family.

Not surprisingly, it's not at all straightforward. There are no models out there that I know of that can accurately take into account all of the variables. The "autism wedge" is decent, but there are cross variables that are not accounted for.

I've heard that "classic autism" results from an atypical left brain, and AS results from an atypical right brain... but I don't think it's that straightforward, either.

I think the main difference between AS and HFA is AS people are more easily annoyed and then we complain about what annoys us and we don't take into account what our complaining sounds like. I do this all the time.
It makes me sound kinda spoiled and selfish but when something bugs me I have to go on and on about it in this sorta mini tyrade. That's one of my main symptoms.

All of these labels and sublabels just make my head spin. My psych said I have PDD-NOS, and if it wasn't for my speech delay I would have been diagnosed with Asperger's.. but socially for the most part I am doing well. I need to be stimulated, that is for sure. I used to have sensory issues as a child but outgrew it. I hate change but I am fine with it if I have time to prepare for it, or if I am motivated to make the change myself.

I like that.. yes, that sounds like a good way to sum it up. :3