Is Aspergers Syndrome more disabling than Down Syndrome?
The word he choose was "aspergers", not "autism".
LFA folks maybe as bad off as DS folks.
But if you're taking the LFA's off the table, and are only comparing the high end of the austism spectrum to DS people then-there is no comparison. DS folks are far more disabled than aspies (or HFAs). I never met, nor heard of a DS person classified as "high functioning".
Down Syndrome has a much higher employment rate. There aren't really enough statistics on marriage and friendships and things like that, but I would guess it's about equal for both disorders. Social ability is more important than intellectual ability for succeeding in this world, though the health factors that go into Down Syndrome are obviously worse. The other factor is overall happiness, and I found one study that suggested Down Syndrome is better in that aspect, but that was just for younger kids. The adult studies I found were for each disorder individually, and it also appears from that, that people with Down's Syndrome are more likely to be happy overall than autistics. Suicidal thoughts are also a lot more common with autistics. My overall ruling is that autism is generally more disabling, but that's just a guess.
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Have Aspergers- Diagnosed
Aspie Score: 178
NT Score: 39
AQ: 46
Last edited by MadHatterMatador on 31 Oct 2014, 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LokiofSassgard
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It really depends. I would think it'd be the other way around. Down Syndrome is harder to live with because it can come with several complications in their lives. They also have trouble speaking and suffer greatly with their development. I've had a few friends with down syndrome before. One of them refused to write because he didn't like to and knew he couldn't do it without support.
It all depends on the severity though. Like others said, some with down syndrome live pretty great lives, have kids and a family of their own and even a job. Same as how most aspies can do the same. It depends on the severity of the condition and the supports they are receiving to overcome their most challenging symptoms.
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Currently diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, ADHD, severe anxiety, learning delays and developmental delays.
The word he choose was "aspergers", not "autism".
LFA folks maybe as bad off as DS folks.
But if you're taking the LFA's off the table, and are only comparing the high end of the austism spectrum to DS people then-there is no comparison. DS folks are far more disabled than aspies (or HFAs). I never met, nor heard of a DS person classified as "high functioning".
You don't really need to be a rocket scientist to know that's what he mean't. I don't really know if it's because of changes in DSMV and preferences for diagnosis but plenty of posts on WP nowadays use the term autism when they really are aiming their posts at Aspergers. So I guess that can cause confusion.
Down's has exactly one thing over Asperger's: A spot on Sesame Street.
http://www.sanys.org/DownSyndromeLowdown.htm
I somehow imagine, based on my very limited experience of the two Downies I knew in high school, that it's sort of like autism: If you've met one person with Down's, you've met one person with Down's. The two people I knew in high school were polar opposites: One was sweet-tempered, funny, friendly, happy-natured, and quite popular, while the other was grouchy, aggressive, prone to mock and taunt others, sulky, and generally avoided except by a small group of mean girls who treated him like a zoo exhibit and bait him into doing things that would get him into trouble.
One, I note, had early childhood intervention, parents who loved her dearly, an extended family that embraced her-- you know, in general, all the necessary elements of a good childhood. The other one came from a wealthy family that was ashamed of him and did everything in their power to keep him out of sight and out of mind. I'll let you decide which kid went with which family.
I think the fact that we're sitting here having a discussion about which group has it worse, which group is worse, and who does/does not deserve life or would/would not be better off dead mostly just shows how brainwashed WE ARE by all the negative media s**t.
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"Alas, our dried voices when we whisper together are quiet and meaningless, as wind in dry grass, or rats' feet over broken glass in our dry cellar." --TS Eliot, "The Hollow Men"
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