Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say I have Aspergers?

31 replies

Oiyouoverthere · 09/09/2023 09:40

I was diagnosed with Asperger's aged 10, I'm now almost 40.

I know that due to Dr Asperger's Nazi connections and better understanding of ASD has lead to the term being dropped from common use, but AIBU to still say it's what I have? It's what's on my diagnosis history, it's what I've always been told it is.

Recently I've had a few people say "you can't call it that any", but surely when describing myself I can? Or am I wrong?

OP posts:
Noicant · 09/09/2023 09:45

It seems reasonable to me to describe yourself that way. Everyone knows what you mean.

ExtraOnions · 09/09/2023 09:55

You have Autism

Asperger’s isn’t really used anymore medically … not only because of his dubious behaviour, but, because it almost separates it from ASD. it also belies the level of disability that someone can have, even when they have “high functioning” Autism.

My Daughter (17), has just had her diagnosis, she is Level 2 … meaning she had significant issues in some areas (school mainly) but not in others. This means we get additional support where needed.

As she doesn’t have any leaning disability, and can function independently- she would, in the past, have been referred to as “high functioning” or “Aspergers” .. and probably wouldn’t have been eligible for any support.

The new classification are a way of showing that people with ASD have various needs in different situations (my daughter is low need in some, and high need in others) - the old style “high functioning” made an assumption that being ok in one type of situation, meant you were ok in all.

10HailMarys · 09/09/2023 09:55

‘Asperger’s’ is another name for high-functioning autism. ‘Asperger’s’ is what it was called when you were 10. It isn’t, however, what it’s called now. The condition you were diagnosed with is the same, regardless of the word that was used to describe it on your medical notes. There was a time when ‘spastic’ was an accepted medical term for someone with cerebral palsy, but I doubt many older adults with cerebral palsy would continue to use that term, even if it was the one originally scribbled on their medical notes by a doctor in (for example) the 1950s.

You can call your condition what you want, ultimately. But if you choose to keep using the old and outdated term, you need to accept that some people will find it offensive, confusing and unhelpful and that they may react on that basis.

HoppingPavlova · 09/09/2023 09:57

Mumsnet is not a great place to ask this. There will be a lot of pearl clutching and hysteria. One of mine was diagnosed under this back when it existed in the DM at the time they were diagnosed. They grew up with this diagnosis, identified with this diagnosis, embraced it and ‘lived it’. Then all of a sudden they have autism, which they don’t identify with (bit like telling a diabetic they don’t have diabetes anymore but now have blahdy blah), and they will tell you nope, they have Asperger’s and what’s more they are an Aspie (another Mumsnet no no, seemingly they are evil for referring to themselves thusly). I have had Mumsnet go full on horror with this and supposedly my child is obviously a Nazi lover. So good luck with this here …………..

continentallentil · 09/09/2023 09:58

As the PP’s say it’s an outdated term, and not really due to his rep.

Everyone knows what it means though so use it if you want.

Personally I think autism is too broad a term to be useful day to day.

PicaK · 09/09/2023 10:00

I'd puzzle why you were insisting on using an outdated term. It's your right to use it but I'd be curious about why.

Sparkletastic · 09/09/2023 10:00

You can refer to your own condition as you wish. Others should not feel that they have the right to 'correct' you.

JaukiVexnoydi · 09/09/2023 10:02

I am in my late 40s and got my diagnosis in my early 40s - and my diagnosis is ASD though if I had been diagnosed age 10 it would have been a diagnosis of Aspergers.

If you are comfortable describing yourself as someone living with Aspergers then that's your perogative. No one gets to tell you what language to use of yourself and that is what is in your records.

However I think in your situation I would read up more about why the language changed and would self describe with something that's a mishmash - eg "I am on the Autism Spectrum, I was diagnosed with Aspergers when that was still a thing" if it was in a context where something that long wasn't inappropriate, and would use Aspergers or ASD interchangeably if in a context where a briefer description was needed

continentallentil · 09/09/2023 10:02

10HailMarys · 09/09/2023 09:55

‘Asperger’s’ is another name for high-functioning autism. ‘Asperger’s’ is what it was called when you were 10. It isn’t, however, what it’s called now. The condition you were diagnosed with is the same, regardless of the word that was used to describe it on your medical notes. There was a time when ‘spastic’ was an accepted medical term for someone with cerebral palsy, but I doubt many older adults with cerebral palsy would continue to use that term, even if it was the one originally scribbled on their medical notes by a doctor in (for example) the 1950s.

You can call your condition what you want, ultimately. But if you choose to keep using the old and outdated term, you need to accept that some people will find it offensive, confusing and unhelpful and that they may react on that basis.

Well this is cracked.

In no way is Aspergers an offensive term like spastic. It was a term for people with high functioning autism with no language delay etc. Whether or not you think it’s useful it was dropped, it certainly isn’t offensive.

Droppit · 09/09/2023 10:03

I would say "I have the condition formerly known as Asperger's". (In a homage to Prince).

amylou8 · 09/09/2023 10:04

My son had Aspergers, that's what it says on his CAMHS letter and on his medical records.
His step brother is autistic and at 18 has the capacity of a toddler and needs full time care. My son is a well functioning adult, he has a 1st class degree, a management level job and a mortgage.
It would be crazy to say that both men have the same diagnosis and he'll be sticking with Aspergers.

TotalOverhaul · 09/09/2023 10:06

I understand the desire to use Aspergers or HFA as descriptors. They are currently frowned on, but I know parents who have autistic children who are non verbal, stim and tantrum all the time. It seems churlish to align my son's issues with their children's issues, when he's just gained a first at uni, lives independently and in many ways copes with the nuerotypical world.

I also loathe the term ASD because for HFA/Aspergic people I do think it's not a disorder, it's a condition. Most of my favourite people in the world (DH, several close friends, DS) are autistic and I prefer their company to the vast majority of neurotypical people I know.

Coffeeshopsings · 09/09/2023 10:13

My DS has a diagnosis of Aspergers, he's only 8 and was diagnosed when he was 4 so it's not as outdated as everyone seems to think it is. I do just say he's on the autism spectrum though, I always have done. People would ask me what his speciality was or say oh at least he'll be really smart, when I would say he has Aspergers. And I felt like I was banging my head on a wall explaining that that's really not how it works. I don't seem to get those comments when I say he's on the spectrum. My other 2 sons have a diagnosis of autism.

I think it's fine to describe yourself as having Aspergers. It's your condition after all and if you feel that describes you better than having autism or being on the spectrum then that's up to you.

MyHornCanPierceTheSky · 09/09/2023 10:20

Are posters really berating the op for using the term she wishes to use to describe herself which she was given in a diagnosis because it might offend others re their own diagnosis?

Dascha · 09/09/2023 10:25

When the diagnostic criteria changed it was explicitly said that existing diagnoses would stand. You carry on using the words on your diagnosis as long as you like. Not that you need my permission or anyone else's.

You'll probably get more and more pushback over time though. People love to correct other people even when it's not their place. But the language changes all the time, and terms that are "in" now will be criticised soon. I think the term Neurotypical is next in line to go.

TreadLight · 09/09/2023 10:27

I have Asperger's, because that is what I chose to describe my neuro divergence. And I don't think anyone has the right to tell me otherwise.

And it was only in 2022 that the latest version of the ICD (international classification of diseases) removed Asperger's. The Americans removed it earlier at which point we were plague by Smart Alecks telling us it no longer existed, when the World Health Organisation were still recognising it.

HoppingPavlova · 09/09/2023 10:37

@PicaK It's your right to use it but I'd be curious about why

Because if you were diagnosed with it, had identified with it, lived most of your life with it as part of your identity, then don’t you think it may be hard to just swap across to what you feel is another identity? It’s a case of having to re-identify for some people, not all, but some. What on earth is curious about that?

Namechangedtoanswerthisone · 09/09/2023 10:39

amylou8 · 09/09/2023 10:04

My son had Aspergers, that's what it says on his CAMHS letter and on his medical records.
His step brother is autistic and at 18 has the capacity of a toddler and needs full time care. My son is a well functioning adult, he has a 1st class degree, a management level job and a mortgage.
It would be crazy to say that both men have the same diagnosis and he'll be sticking with Aspergers.

I agree with this.

Many (usually those with children who are individuals that are high functioning would suggest it's all the same), it clearly isn't.

The individual can continue to use the term he was diagnosed with if he likes, it's his diagnosis. The knobs will try to tell him not to, it's not their diagnosis though.

Namechangedtoanswerthisone · 09/09/2023 10:39

TreadLight · 09/09/2023 10:27

I have Asperger's, because that is what I chose to describe my neuro divergence. And I don't think anyone has the right to tell me otherwise.

And it was only in 2022 that the latest version of the ICD (international classification of diseases) removed Asperger's. The Americans removed it earlier at which point we were plague by Smart Alecks telling us it no longer existed, when the World Health Organisation were still recognising it.

Edited

Totally this 100%.

fairyfluf · 09/09/2023 10:40

It's up to you perhaps say you have been diagnosed with "what was called aspergers"?

Original poster
Oiyouoverthere · 09/09/2023 10:42

I don't feel that my difficulties align with Autism. Not my perception of ASD but often others. It also feels disingenuous to say that I experience difficulties on the level of some of the others with ASD, particularly when terms like "severe" and "high functioning" are also considered incorrect and inappropriate. My life has been minimally affected by my divergence.

Those saying I need to "read up". I've already done that.

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 09/09/2023 10:44

I have found the new diagnosis criteria to be hugely helpful when getting the correct support for my daughter.

Absolutely use whatever term works for you, but don’t belittle the new criteria, it’s been transformative for people like us. She would have been seen as “high functioning” and recurved little in the way of support. however her ASD has kept her out of education for 3 years, as she has complex needs in that area.

The new criteria (Level 2) means we are getting the support she needs.

Original poster
Oiyouoverthere · 09/09/2023 10:46

@ExtraOnions where have I belittled it?

OP posts:
Qwertyyui · 09/09/2023 10:46

I find when I tell people my daughter has autism they gasp and ask if she is OK. She is high functioning and the practitioner said it would have been classed as aspergers. The issue with autism is people assume low function because there has been no education to remove the stigma. Also asking people who can (not always) struggle with change to change thier diagnosis name seems unreasonable to me. Call it what you want it is not hurting anyone. In reality there needs work to educate the masses it is a sliding scale and autism is not a bad thing to have! In fact I find the fact dd IS high functioning I have to fight to get what she is entitled to for reasonable adjustments more as people do not understand she needs these things to not have sensory overload so she remains high functioning!

PTSDBarbiegirl · 09/09/2023 10:48

Oiyouoverthere · 09/09/2023 09:40

I was diagnosed with Asperger's aged 10, I'm now almost 40.

I know that due to Dr Asperger's Nazi connections and better understanding of ASD has lead to the term being dropped from common use, but AIBU to still say it's what I have? It's what's on my diagnosis history, it's what I've always been told it is.

Recently I've had a few people say "you can't call it that any", but surely when describing myself I can? Or am I wrong?

I reckon it's upto you which words you use to describe your diagnosis. Since Aspergers was your original diagnosis, that makes sense.