What is the difference between aspergers and high functioning asd?

[joencaitlinsmum]

Hi

Today we have seen another child psychiatrist who has just dx'd my DS (11) with high functioning asd whereas the one we saw originally said he had aspergers, I'm confused now as he said he does have some aspergers traits but as he is'nt ocd doesnt want to pigeon hole him.

Can anyone tell me what the difference between the two is and whether this other diagnose will have a effect on what support he will get at secondary school when he goes in September, originally they suggested I apply for a statement but now have siadd they dont feel its necessary at the moment as long as he gets some support in school when the time comes.

I was also advised to apply for DLA can I still apply now he has high functioning asd rather than aspergers?

Thank you.

We've just had a big chat about this one. Thread link here

But basically, Aspergers comes under the wider umbrella of High Functioning ASD. With Aspergers there is no language delay, otherwise it's pretty much the same thing. HF means IQ within normal to high range.

Have a read of last week's thread, lots of opinions on why one may be better to get than the other.

Generally HF ASD is seen as a slightly more serious DX than Aspergers (rightly or wrongly) I don't think that that would be why they are putting you off getting support. It's more likely a money saving exercise. Don't let them put you off, if your DS needs support, request Statutory Assessment yourself. My DS is 11 and has a HF ASD DX from when he was 3 and he has had a statement from when he started MS school full time at nearly 6. I'm panicking enough about his transition to secondary in Sept with a statement. It's a big change. How has your DS been in Primary, has he needed support? There's a thread on SN education about the transition to secondary with DC with and without statements on it, which you may also find useful to read. I'll find it later and put a link on.

Me again! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs_education/1171065-Moving-up-to-secondary-school-lets-flap-about-it-together That's the Secondary school support thread.

Maybe your paed doesn't want to be too specific and has decided the umbrella DX is more accurate for now. It shouldn't make any difference to applying for DLA, in fact, as I said some people view it as a more serious DX, so that should actually help with getting DLA and provision at school. Not that it necessarily means less able! My DS is really quite able these days especially academically, but is completely noticably autistic with flapping and jumping and everything. He's also gorgeous. Keep asking questions, lots of help here.

Hi EllenJane

Thank you for your helpful post. I was hoping that HF ASD would be a milder form of Autism than Aspergers.

DS has had the odd blip at primary school mainly down to high anxiety issues but the psychiatrist has said he has coped a. inwardly rather than outwardly and b. down to our parenting skills in teaching him coping mechanisms. He hasnt had any support infact school are surprised that he has had the dx he has had as they regard him as the model pupil!!

He has been dianosed with various types of anxiety by the anxiety clinic but according to the psychiatrist today his separation anxiety has been caused by me being anxious when he was a baby so I passed it on and it has continued, I really dont believe this is true but its hard not to feel guilty.

I think we crossed.

That's bollocks about separation anxiety! Does this psychiatrist know about the ASD DX? It used to be a commonly held belief in the 1960's that parents 'caused' autism! But separation anxiety is a real condition that can have a similar presentation to the anxiety caused by ASD, but with ASD it has nothing to do with parenting.

I'm actually gobsmacked she even hinted at that?! You have nothing to feel guilty about. Poor you, ((((hugs)))).

'He has been dianosed with various types of anxiety by the anxiety clinic but according to the psychiatrist today his separation anxiety has been caused by me being anxious when he was a baby so I passed it on and it has continued, I really dont believe this is true but its hard not to feel guilty'

Wtf?

That's complete and utter drivel. Demand a second opinion! How ridiculous!

Thanks Star, I was really hoping some others would back me up. Poor old joencaitlinsmum. That's awful.

Hi Ellenjane

Thank you! This is the same psychiatrist who has made the ASD diagnosis today. THis guy has got a great reputation in our area as well.

I'm now questioning his dx!!

Dx

Perhaps you need to see a developmental paed who specialises in these things. The whole thing is starting to sound a bit dodgy. Why DX HF ASD not AS if there's no speech delay, he/she sounds really unsure and not very knowledgeable about autism to be honest.

Ive been told the same about my 6 year old sons seperation anxiety, a load of rubbish! upset me at the time, totally untrue, dont let them get you down xx

joencaitlinsmum

In a 2006 research paper Prof. David Moore, Director of the Medical Research Councils Institute of Hearing Research, outlined how from identical symptoms it is possible to get 4 very different diagnosis depending on the type of diagnostic professionals you were referred to.
He cited that from identical symptoms, an Audiologist would diagnose Auditory Processing Disorder, a Psychologist would diagnose dyslexia, a Psychiatrist would diagnose Autism, and an Speech and Language Pathologist would diagnose Speech and Langauge problems.
This is why the need for multi - discipline (multi professional) assessments is becoming recognised. So that the out symptoms such as Dyslexia, Autism, and Speech and Language are identified as well as the underlying cognitive cause such as Auditory Processing Disorder.

So no mater how good these professionals reputations are in one filed of specialisation does not imply that they are experts or have any great knowledge of any of the related issues.

We went through something similar with our eldest son, who only got the correct diagnosis when he was 10 years old, and only began to get the correct help from the age of 16 when he went to college, but he has been damaged by the ignorance and lack of willingness to learn of the so called professionals.

As of last month Doctors are no longer allowed to dx Aspergers all now comes under hf asc or significant asc, this is due to new regs. Bloody confusing if you ask me!

I know that the proposed diagnostic criteria for DSM 5 is recommending dropping Aspergers but that isn't supposed to come into effect for a few years. I have heard anecdotally that doctors had started dropping it already but not that it was a rule, as such. This psychiatrist didn't say that, though. He was talking about not labelling?

'As of last month Doctors are no longer allowed to dx Aspergers'

Didn't know that. Blimey! Was at one time planning to use a re-diagnosis from asd to aspergers as a way of opening up the statement. Not necessary now of course because all statment review statements are 'open' in the sense that they can be challenged, - at least for the moment.

I know it is mad isn't it. Where I work we do parent programmes in asc and adhd and we have had to totally redo the programme as we are not even allowed to use the word disorder anymore, bloody nightmare!