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Asperger Syndrome should the label stay?

David

My family and I refused to believe that I was Autistic until we were told in family therapy in 1990 that I had Asperger Syndrome.

 

In 1966 aged nine a Psychiatrist wanted to send me to a special school for Autistic children.

She looked up Autism in the dictionary and it said that Autistic children cannot speak.

By the age of nine I could speak fluently so she thought I could not possible be Autistic so I went to main stream schools.

In 1976 a Psychiatrist who visited us said that I was mildly Autistic.

We did not believe him either and his successor also said that I was not Autistic.

 

In 1990 my Father asked in family therapy when I was not in the room if I had been more strictly brought up whether I would have turned out better.

The family therapist said that the way I am has nothing to do with up bringing but because I have Asperger Syndrome.

After that we could believe that I have Asperger Syndrome and my Father stopped blaming my Mother for how I am.

As a matter of fact the only thing on my records is the Psychiatrist in 1976 who said that I was mildly Autistic

The question must be asked is how are we going to describe people who are not really Autistic at all.

We could describe Asperger people as just having Autistic traits.

The difference between an Asperger person and a so calle.d NT person can be very slight and the difference between an Asperger person and an Autistic person is often great.

We should not lump Asperger people with Autistic people.

The NAS leaflets would have to be changed if the Asperger label disappeared.

It could be a step back removing the Asperger label which I understand they are going to do next year in the USA.

David

Parents

  • It is true that Asperger Syndrome is probably not a separate disability from Autism.

    Some people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome have siblings who are truly Autistic.

     

    On the other hand people with Asperger Syndrome often do not have learning difficulties and only have a few Autistic traits so it is hard to consider them Autistic in the true sense of the word.  Is it better to call us mildly Autistic instead of Asperger Syndrome?

    In 1976 a Psychiatrist said I was mildly Autistic.

    In 1990 we accepted I was on the spectrum when it was explained to my Parents that I have Asperger Syndrome.

    In 2009 my GP explained that the remark about mildly Autistic is the equivalent of Asperger Syndrome today.

    It might be clinacally right to get rid of the label Asperger Syndrome but it makes it harder for us.  Anyway even if all the Psychiatrists do not recognise Asperger Syndrome we can campaign as the label still exists.

    That will take some time as in 2013 that is only happening in the USA.

    David

Reply

  • It is true that Asperger Syndrome is probably not a separate disability from Autism.

    Some people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome have siblings who are truly Autistic.

     

    On the other hand people with Asperger Syndrome often do not have learning difficulties and only have a few Autistic traits so it is hard to consider them Autistic in the true sense of the word.  Is it better to call us mildly Autistic instead of Asperger Syndrome?

    In 1976 a Psychiatrist said I was mildly Autistic.

    In 1990 we accepted I was on the spectrum when it was explained to my Parents that I have Asperger Syndrome.

    In 2009 my GP explained that the remark about mildly Autistic is the equivalent of Asperger Syndrome today.

    It might be clinacally right to get rid of the label Asperger Syndrome but it makes it harder for us.  Anyway even if all the Psychiatrists do not recognise Asperger Syndrome we can campaign as the label still exists.

    That will take some time as in 2013 that is only happening in the USA.

    David

Children
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