Difference between High Functioning Autism and Asperger

Post Reply New Topic

Basically, I already know some of the differences between high functioning autism and asperger disorder, but I was hoping if you can share some more differences I might not know about, thanks.

Can you share please what you know?

Today after reading many articles and information around the Internet, I fail to find any big differences if at all, and some have stated its the same thing. I was hoping to learn more about it with your replies. If you know a thing or two, please share what you know.

In my observations, there are differences as to how it's defined;

Defining functioning labels on autism is usually about the self.
Aspergers is defined by how they adapt, react and execute on an environment.

High functioning autism means one without lagging major developmental milestones, not one with intellectual disability, no self help issues and has no adaptive daily living issues.
Basically having 'less deficits' and 'less needs'.

High functioning aspergers means having high performance and achievements.
Basically having 'more functioning'.


But look at the contrasting low functioning versions of the two labels;

Low functioning autism means having intellectual disability and basically needs 24/7 supervision.
Having 'less self autonomy' and 'more needs' as a person.

Low functioning aspergers usually means dealing with psychiatric issues, personality disorders or whatever severe sensory intolerance, maladaptations and health issues that makes them less or not independent.
Usually having 'less management and regulation' over life.


So if taking this seriously, then I'm someone who is both a high functioning autistic and a middle functioning aspie...
And is overall low support needs.



But seriously.
I'm also a person who's coping with things that aren't autism or aspergers. I care more about that than whatever my labels' statuses are.



But if I misread that, and it's about aspergers and high functioning autism...
Other than aspergers is basically high functioning autism without speech delays...

Usually the difference is the cognitive profiles; autism favors nonverbal aptitudes while aspergers favors verbal aptitudes.

I'm someone who cognitively favors nonverbal aptitudes and is diagnosed with aspergers.

And those who doesn't pass for aspergers yet favors verbal aptitudes exists.

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

I think of them as being the same darn thing.

But there is one difference actually. Lets back it up.

Before they got rid of the aspergers, but AFTER they expanded the autism spectrum to include the less severely impaired - yes - there was a difference. The difference is when you learned to talk as a baby. If you learned to talk at the normal time (had no 'speech delay') you were aspergers. If you had a speech delay you were autistic (even you functioned as well as an aspie now).

They got rid of aspergers as a seperate category. So now someone who would have been diagnosed as 'aspergers' a few years ago would most likely be labeled "level one autistic with no speech delay" today. HFA would be 'level one autistic with speech delay'.

I thought Asperger's was another term for high-functioning autism.

I was diagnosed using the DSM-IV-TR autism criteria. If I had met 5 or 6 criteria, I would have gotten a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. I met 9 out of the 12 criteria and so earnt a diagnosis of HFA.

All of my baby milestones were delayed but I didn't say much about that to the assessor.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's because I wasn't delayed in any of my milestones and I was articulate as a child and wasn't that different to other children. I made normal eye contact and was very chatty and social. That's why I don't feel autistic.

People with the DSM-IV diagnosis of Aspergers had no speech delay, and tended to do relatively better on the “verbal” subtests of IQ tests than the “performance” subtests.

People who were seen as being “high-functioning autistic” folks (HFA never became a formal diagnosis) had speech and other adaptive delays, but had normal or higher than normal intelligence. They tended to do relatively better on the “performance” subtests of IQ tests than the “verbal” subtests.

I mostly fit the HFA category, though I always did better on the verbal subtests than the performance subtests.

My report says:


Isabella meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder - Social Communication Severity Level 2 - Requiring substantial support; Restricted, Repetitive Behaviours - Severity Level 2 - Requiring substantial support.

(their bold)

It seems that functioning level is indeed part of the diagnosis as they are written together.
Functioning levels are also described in the DSM-5 so assessment doctors know which to choose.


My doctor said that Asperger's and HFA weren't the same thing but I didn't ask why, since I'm not HFA.

i was diagnosed as low functioning because i didnt speak until i was 8
even though i was diagnosed after i learnt to speak
because my parents denied it and also psychiatrist wasnt sure with my case because i didnt have typical behaviours that indicate autism

but im more high functioning now but i have some severe symptoms and can go nonverbal or even violent during a meltdown and unable to have the self awareness to control or understand what im doing

yes im a bus driver but bus routes and driving is a special interests to me and also i wear myself out from masking so that is what keeps me going

so id say im moderate functioning

I've read these type of discussions now for more than a decade on WP and they always conclude the same inevitable thing that functional labels don't capture all the manifestations of functional behaviour.