ASDs: difference or disorder?

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was just wondering what the general consensus was. i think its a difference. you can elbaborate on your opinion if you want.

I said disorder, but all disorders are also differences.

It's an Autistic Spectrum DISORDER! In other words, the condition causes a noteworthy impairment in daily living. There are a lot of geeks with ASD traits, but by lacking significant impairment, they don't qualify for a diagnosis.

I agree- it depends on how it effects the individual and whether or not there are co-morbids.

I said it depends on the severity - although I'm not sure that's really what I mean, it was the closest.

ASD is autistic spectrum disorder. That is, you only get an ASD diagnosis when your differences (due to being on the autistic spectrum) cause you difficulties/distress in your every day functioning - at work, at home, at school, when socialising - which can result in comorbids such as depression/anxiety/stress.

So ... you can be on the spectrum and not be disordered if you are not experiencing any distress as a result of your differences.

And you might, at various times in your life vary between being disordered and not being disordered. But you would always be on the autistic spectrum because that is to do with differences in the way your brain works.

Not sure if that makes sense.

I say that it's both a difference and a disorder. My opinion is also that it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I voted "depends on severity". I also agree with Cockney Rebel. It is a disorder - it causes me significant distress and has prevented me from doing things I want to do, but it's also a difference; it's what makes me me, and also what fuels some of my strengths.

I consider it has a disorder. I never call myself ''alien'' or anything like that, just because of a disability. I find every-day tasks more challenging than most people. How does that make my whole personality different?

I think that it's not really about "severity." I think that term gets thrown around way too much. I think autism is a difference, and other things that can come along with autism are disorders.

How debilitating those disorders are depend on their severity as well as the person's ability to overcome them (obviously, some cannot be overcome).

I generally say "both" when that is an option. Because it wasn't, I chose "disorder". I know some people disagree with the term, but I really don't. I am not mild, and I am far more disabled and far behind other people my age who are NTs. In my case, it is a disorder. I do not abhor it, I live with it just as other people accept and live with their disorders. But it is still a disorder.