HFA? What's the difference between this and AS?

[ANiceCupofTeaandASitDown]

My DD does not have any official dx as yet but she is undoubtably on the spectrum somewhere!! At last paed appt he said that if it is autism (they are still faffing around with a decision) then its high functioning. Can anybody explain to me what this is? I have read some things on the web but would be grateful for input from a MN SN Mummy who has experience in this area. Nothing compares with hearing from someone who knows precisely what they're talking about!

I THINK it's to do with speech and awareness. I'm not sure though

Bump. Someone will be along. The mums on here are bloody great at this stuff.

Not a lot, really. AS is a high functioning form if autism, so they're almost interchangeable. The way it works is that if there was a speech delay they'd get a diagnosis of HFA over AS, if there was no speech delay...it's usually AS, but sometimes it just depends on the person doing the diagnosing.

There's an explanation on the NAS website, but I'm on my phone and can't do links.

quite frankly very little - the only real difference these days is whether there was significant language delay at 36 months. And they are shortly changing the official diagnostic manual (DSM IV) such that that distinct is going to go. If you get any choice in the matter, go for whatever will help you access most resources - to hedge your bets, having both aspergers and autistic spectrum disorder in the wording should cover everything.

My understanding of it is,its HFA if there was a speech delay and AS if there was no speech delay, however i could be wrong

I agree with Strong Coffee - thats how I have always looked at it.

However the AS Diagnosis will soon be gone - in 2013 I think.

Mince pie it will be gone??

Yes - the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders) which sets the diagnosis criteria for ASD/AS/HFA and all the other co-morbidities has its newest adsition coming out in 2013.

They are removing AS and it will all be encompassed under the Autism Spectrum Disorders 'title'

Here is an article on it

Thank you.

It has always been that Aspergers was diagnosed if there was no speech delay before 3 years old but after 2013 the only diagnosis will be Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

The psychiatrist who diagnosed Dd3 in Septembe told us a bit about it. She gave Dd3 an ASD diagnosis even though she is v.high functioning and she didn't have a speech delay.

I don't think it will matter too much to your Dd Anicecup... so long as she can access the support that she needs.

Good luck.

paeds diagnose in a way that can sometimes seem random but otherwise the cxorrect routine is:

Child has no speech delay at age 3 (as opposed to differences or lanugaue problems becuase many with AS do) and no LD as measured by IQ around 65+ = AS

Child has speech delay at age 3 (a crucial diagnostic point- can be resolved afterwards) and no LD as per above measurement- HFA

Child has speech delay at age 3 and LD- autism.

But as Ineedalife states after 2013 it will be generic diagnosis of ASD with three levels of 1, 2 and 3 assessed by a chart in DSM (will link to draft in a mo)- under which mine are 1.5 and 2.5 LMAO

Sidetracking slightly...

I've known about the DSM changing for a wee while - it's just occurred to me, what happens to my highly prized, hard fought for letter with DS's diagnosis of AS? Will it be completely meaningless?

No, existing dx's still stand.

here is new criteria here although having re read it seems ds3 has dropped to level 3 since I first saw this last eyar. Bugger.

NICE recommendations also due out with possibly have more impact on our chidlren's actual care, and I know one person on panel and rather amazingly trust her.

You could use ASD interchangeably with AS mind, which technically can open more doors to services.

Here services ahve swapped from being AS to HFA so they can work within rules: DS1 now attends a unit for people with HFA- operationally ASD with no LD

I use them interchangeably - it just took so long to get an official diagnosis of anything at all that I suddenly had a moment of panic, lol.

Suspected AS or ASD really doesn't open that many doors at all, unfortunately.

it's so odd, because DS2 fits those descriptions (all 4 listed in the above link) and yet the paed is hemming and hawing over ASD diagnosis. I just don't understand it at all, how some can say it's pretty obvious, yet others don't think so.