What is the difference btwn ASD & Asp?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
What is the difference btwn ASD & Asp?
2
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 6:13pm
My son is a high functioning autistic. I have heard of Asperger's, but I am not sure how I would know if he falls into that catagory. My son has a definitely speech delay, and I thought a big difference btwn ASD adn Asperger's was that Asperger's children do not have a speech delay/disorder. Is that correct?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 8:55pm

On the one hand Asperger's Diagnosis says that there is no "clinically significant" delay in language or cognitive skills. However, doctors tend to disagree on what "clinically significant" means.

My oldest was language delayed and now has a AS diagnosis. Her language for the most part caught up and tested within normal limits by around 6 or 7 but it still remains her lowest area. Because she did have "language" before 4 and her test scores caught up she was dx'ed AS. There are other doctors that wouldn't have based on the extent of her language delay. I don't have time to go into it now more in depth now though.

She has had all the high function autism diagnosis though including Autism, PDD-NOS, Aspergers and Autism spectrum disorder depending on the doc. Which is why I think autism spectrum disorder is a better term. It is just too hard to separate these kids into nice neat diagnosis.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 10:04pm

I think Renee answered that one pretty good!! I just wanted to say that that's how our neuropsych described it to me. My ds, Nathan, was given a dx of high functioning autistic. His dr said that he wouldn't give him a dx of asperger's because he had/has a delay in speech. If his speech wasn't delayed, he would have gotten an asperger's dx.

But after coming to this board, it's quite obvious that it really depends on who you see and where you live. I agree with Renee, that it's just too hard to pinpoint each child into a specific category. Not to mention that our kids also seem to gain skills with age and maturity, which can change their dx all together!

Michelle