If you have Asperger's, do you also have "autism"

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If you have Asperger's, do you say "I'm autistic"? or wouldn't people assume that you have Classic Autisim? Wouldn't you just say "I have Asperger's" or "I am an Aspie"? or "I'm on the autistic spectrum"?? or do some people with Asperger's just say "I'm autistic"? or mildly autistic?

just trying to understand, so I explain it the right way..

Thanks.

I say I'm high functioning autistic. It's easier.

I prefer to say that I'm autistic. I don't like saying that I have something, and the word aspie doesn't feel like something that people would understand.

And anyway, if they think I'm classic autistic they have to be pretty dumb, because it is obvious that I am not.

Another reason for saying autistic rather than aspergers is that most people don't know what AS, but at least they often think they know what autism is, so it will bring more interesting reactions.

Technically: yes. When talking to the average person, I'd say: no.

Vernacular speech often differs from the specialized mini-languages that develop in certain subcultures or highly specialized academic fields.

For example: The word "Atheist".
In vernacular, everyday speech, most people interpret the word to refer to a person who believes that there is no god (i.e. a belief, or assertion, of a negative), whereas almost every writer, philosopher, etc. who calls him/her self an "Atheist", actually holds closer to the position that the average person would call "Agnostic" -- (i.e. a lack of belief in a god or gods, but not an assertion of either a negative or positive stance).

So while technically, Asperger's is a form of Autism, saying so to anyone who doesn't already know a lot about AS would probably serve more to misinform than to inform.

I just say that I am autistic, for several of the same reasons as Tormod. If someone wants clarification, I'll bring up Asperger's, but Asperger's is just a more narrowly defined subset of autism.

Technically, one should state the diagnosis that they have if one wants to give an accurate picture to the listener, i.e., saying you have cancer doesn't reveal much.

I am on the spectrum, but too high functioning to be Aspergers, according to the shrink that I received my DX from. So yes, it is all related.

I would probably say I have Aspergers rather than Autism. But I have never really revealed it to anybody so I cannot say what would happen.

I usually say I have a more mild form of Autism and explain that the major problem is with social situations. Usually shuts people up.

I don't say either - I just say "my brain works in a different way to most people's" & they don't have any trouble understanding that concept because it is pretty obvious from my behaviour anyway!

i say aspergers sydrome which is a mild form of autism, when i tell people about it, which is very rare.

i was diagnosed with classic autism as a kid then someone else i saw about it diagnosed me with AS.

I prefer the term Asperger's. Allthough many people don't know what this is, they don't associate it with Rain Man.