Asperger’s and Autism

This research essay is part of our Peculiar Minds series.

Asperger’s Disorder was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Many professionals felt Asperger’s Disorder was simply a milder form of autism and used the term high-functioning autism to describe these individuals. Professor Uta Frith, with the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of University College London and author ofAutism and Asperger Syndrome, describes individuals with Asperger’s Disorder as “having a dash of Autism.” Asperger’s Disorder was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 as a separate disorder from autism. However, there are still many professionals who consider Asperger’s Disorder a less severe form of autism.

Characteristics

What distinguishes Asperger’s Disorder from autism are the less severe symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger’s Disorder may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger’s Disorder may just seem like a normal child behaving differently.

Children with autism are frequently seen as aloof and uninterested in others. This is not the case with Asperger’s Disorder. Individuals with Asperger’s Disorder usually want to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply don’t know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understanding of conventional social rules, or show a lack of empathy. They may have limited eye contact, seem to be unengaged in a conversation, and not understand the use of gestures.

Interests in a particular subject may border on the obsessive. Children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently like to collect categories of things, such as rocks or bottle caps. They may be proficient in knowing categories of information, such as baseball statistics or Latin names of flowers. While they may have good rote memory skills, they have difficulty with abstract concepts.

One of the major differences between Asperger’s Disorder and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger’s. In fact, children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. Speech patterns may be unusual, lack inflection or have a rhythmic nature, or it may be formal, but too loud or high pitched. Children with Asperger’s Disorder may not understand the subtleties of language, such as irony and humor, or they may not understand the give-and-take nature of a conversation.

Another distinction between Asperger’s Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with autism have intellectual disabilities, by definition a person with Asperger’s Disorder cannot possess a “clinically significant” cognitive delay and most possess average to above average intelligence.

While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger’s, children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently have motor skill delays and may appear clumsy or awkward.

The first step to diagnosis is an assessment, including a developmental history and observation. This should be done by medical professionals experienced with autism and other PDDs. If Asperger’s Disorder or high-functioning autism is suspected, the diagnosis of autism will generally be ruled out first. Early diagnosis is also important as children with Asperger’s Disorder who are diagnosed and treated early in life have an increased chance of being successful in school and eventually living independently.

 

The Entire Series

• Forum – Is Mental Illness a Latter Day Plague?
• Resources (research)
• Resources for Help with Mental Illness by Paul
• Understanding PTSD by Robin Grosland
• Anxiety Disorders, Including PTSD (research)
• The Diagnosis by anonymous
• Understanding Asperger’s by Kathy Ward
• Understanding Dementia by Cassandra Jones
• Different Issues for Children (research)
• Asperger’s and Autism (research)
• Simply Depression by Jendoop
• How to Help Someone Who is Depressed: an LDS perspective by Sarah Hancock
• Forum - Does Committing Suicide Consign Someone to Hell?
• The Well of Depression by Cheryl
• Panic, OCD, Grandma and Me by NotMolly
• Understanding Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and OCD by Robison Wells
• Free at Last by anonymous
• Forum - No One Wants to Hear They’re Wrong
• Understanding P0rnography Addiction by Dr. Kevin Skinner
• What is Real? Living Without Diagnosis by anonymous
• A Reader’s Story of Hope by anonymous
• Understanding Bipolar II Disorder by Tresa Edmunds (Reese Dixon)
• What is Bipolar Disorder? (research)
• Choosing Treatment through Revelation by Bonnie
• Overcoming Anxiety and Depression Without Medication by Aaron Anderson
• How Do We Embrace Those with Mental Illness by Jendoop
• What is Schizophrenia? (research)
• Understanding Schizophrenia by Judy Hall
• Understanding a Roommate with Schizophrenia by anonymous
• Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder by Melissa Horsley
• My Path Down the Rabbit Hole by anonymous
• Mental Illness FHE Lesson by Jendoop
• Healing by Michelle