Published on 12, July, 2020
I have Asperger’s syndrome. Why do they class Asperger’s and autism as the same now when they are so different from each other? I mean Asperger’s is a genetic condition which affects the way someone thinks and makes them slightly different and socially awkward and more anxious. Autism on the other hand in the classic sense is a debilitating condition characterised by the inability to speak and vocalise words, intellectual disability and aggression with violent outbursts. Why do people with Asperger’s dominate the perception of autism. Everybody seems to forget about these kids who cannot talk at all. People view people like us people with Asperger’s as what autism is. This is not the case classic autism as it used to be defined was basically someone who regressed around the ages 2-4 into losing all speech and ability to function. It seemed to start around the 50s to 60s. Whereas Asperger’s has been around for maybe thousands of years. There is cases documented of people who may have had Asperger’s way before the 50s. A woman in Russia in the early 1900’s at the beginning of that decade worked with under a dozen kids who would have been declared as autism highly functioning or Asperger’s syndrome nowadays. These kids were quiet and inhibited but showed great ability to work machines and understand mechanisms of things and patterns. However it appears that people who have Asperger’s are born with it and always have it. They may take a while to develop language but they never develop it and lose it forever the same way someone with classic autism does. I have known people who had one child who lost the ability to speak and function about 2-4 years old and never spoke again and had to be put in a care home. But none of the boys other siblings had this happen to them. So how do you explain this sudden regression in some people that doesn’t happen with every other kid in that same family. Something must be causing a sudden regression especially if it’s only in a specific family member and no others. Asperger’s on the other hand is genetic and if one family member has it they all are almost garuanteed to have it more or less. If anyone has any thoughts on this please do share them as I would like to make more sense of this.
Think of a spectrum. A spectrum of abilities and support needs in all the myriad aspects of life. You may find a quick read in the DSM5 revised '23 cam illuminate. Also reading the book "Nuerotribes" will give a sense history and back story on the terms. They are but terms. having labels and hoping for one and not the other is, for me, unhelpful. Iwas releaved to have two finally under one term. They fall within the spectrum for autism. NO difference.
There is a massive difference. Someone who is completely disabled that has to live in a care home is different from someone who can live independently with minimal support. Lorna Wing was an important researcher who argued for the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome she invented it based off Hans Asperger’s work. She came up with the diagnosis in 1980’s
History:
Lorna WIng worked in the 70's. She coined the phrase Asperger Syndrome in '76. That was neigh on 50 years ago. Asperger worked neigh on 90 years ago. Under the tutelage of the Nazi's.
so, to be able to "work" and "be independent" or not?
Is that where you draw a distinction?
High support needs= autism?
low support needs - Asperger's S?
Just asking for clarification.
Not really I am not so sure. It is all a bit confusing at times. Does it make sense to you? I have not read this book about neurotribes but it sounds good. I might read it when I get time though thanks for the suggestion.