Re: Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

[Guest guest]

>

> So....

> Whats the difference?

>

> Holly

>

Hi Holly- Dean Mooney spoke about this. He lives in Vt and speaks

all over the country about the differences. My son is a high

functioning autistic. He is 9.

I am taking this right from his slide presentation. excuse my

typing.

HFA- AS

strengths- strengths

information information

similarities similarities

picture completion vocabulary

block design

HFA- AS

weaknesses- weaknesses

comprehension comprehension

coding picture arrangement

symbol search object assembly

coding

symbol search

SOCIAL

HFA - decreased social interest

AS - less solitary

HFA- reduced social chat

AS - verbose-one sided

HFA- reduced to seeking help or comfort

AS - seek out others

COMMUNICATIONS

HFA- early delays

AS- preserved early language

HFA- characteristic speech pattern

AS- but pramatic deficits

HFA- More echolalia, pronoun reversal

AS- speech natable for rate and volume

HFA- fewer conventional gestures

AS- exaggerated gestures

BEHAVIORAL

HFA- stereotyped/repetitive motor mannerisms

AS- motor stereotypes generally not present

HFA- preoccupation with unusual aspects of objects

AS- all absorbing special interest- a mass information

HFA- special interests- spatial and mechanical

Now- the dr. did say- this isnt all cut and dry all the time- but-

it hit home with me. There is a difference between the two...

Dean Mooney has a website. I think it is www.mapleleafclinic.com

It was so wonderful to hear him speak and listen to all the studies

done.

Hope this helps.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

[Guest guest]

I think according to the DSM the difference is whether there is a speech

delay. However, my son who is 3.5 does have a speech delay but the ped

neuro still Dx him AS. From the research I have done there is now some

controversy over whether or not speech delay should be used as part of

the DX. I have tried to let the difference between the 2 go, because it

was really upsetting me when the intermediate unit(I live in PA) came

back and said they didn't agree with AS because of his speech delay they

felt he was autistic. I am trying to not get wrapped up in labels!

( ) Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

So....

Whats the difference?

Holly

[Guest guest]

That is some great information! Thanks!

Tina

( ) Re: Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

>

> So....

> Whats the difference?

>

> Holly

>

Hi Holly- Dean Mooney spoke about this. He lives in Vt and speaks

all over the country about the differences. My son is a high

functioning autistic. He is 9.

I am taking this right from his slide presentation. excuse my

typing.

HFA- AS

strengths- strengths

information information

similarities similarities

picture completion vocabulary

block design

HFA- AS

weaknesses- weaknesses

comprehension comprehension

coding picture arrangement

symbol search object assembly

coding

symbol search

SOCIAL

HFA - decreased social interest

AS - less solitary

HFA- reduced social chat

AS - verbose-one sided

HFA- reduced to seeking help or comfort

AS - seek out others

COMMUNICATIONS

HFA- early delays

AS- preserved early language

HFA- characteristic speech pattern

AS- but pramatic deficits

HFA- More echolalia, pronoun reversal

AS- speech natable for rate and volume

HFA- fewer conventional gestures

AS- exaggerated gestures

BEHAVIORAL

HFA- stereotyped/repetitive motor mannerisms

AS- motor stereotypes generally not present

HFA- preoccupation with unusual aspects of objects

AS- all absorbing special interest- a mass information

HFA- special interests- spatial and mechanical

Now- the dr. did say- this isnt all cut and dry all the time- but-

it hit home with me. There is a difference between the two...

Dean Mooney has a website. I think it is www.mapleleafclinic.com

It was so wonderful to hear him speak and listen to all the studies

done.

Hope this helps.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

[Guest guest]

Thanks!!

But believe it or not--it didn't help!!

has signs of both. Some are HFA. Others AS.

In each category---some of the items were HFA and others AS.

But that's the way he has been all along our " Search " . Alittle bit of

this, alittle bit of that.

I guess we will know when he's older!!

I will check out the website!

Holly

--5yo

[Guest guest]

This list only reaffirms my son's diagnosis of AS. Thanks for the information

and the website. My principal is paying for me to attend a workshop in March

concerning AS and HFA. I will gladly share any information from that inservice.

Janice

Gail <gail711@...> wrote:

>

> So....

> Whats the difference?

>

> Holly

>

Hi Holly- Dean Mooney spoke about this. He lives in Vt and speaks

all over the country about the differences. My son is a high

functioning autistic. He is 9.

I am taking this right from his slide presentation. excuse my

typing.

HFA- AS

strengths- strengths

information information

similarities similarities

picture completion vocabulary

block design

HFA- AS

weaknesses- weaknesses

comprehension comprehension

coding picture arrangement

symbol search object assembly

coding

symbol search

SOCIAL

HFA - decreased social interest

AS - less solitary

HFA- reduced social chat

AS - verbose-one sided

HFA- reduced to seeking help or comfort

AS - seek out others

COMMUNICATIONS

HFA- early delays

AS- preserved early language

HFA- characteristic speech pattern

AS- but pramatic deficits

HFA- More echolalia, pronoun reversal

AS- speech natable for rate and volume

HFA- fewer conventional gestures

AS- exaggerated gestures

BEHAVIORAL

HFA- stereotyped/repetitive motor mannerisms

AS- motor stereotypes generally not present

HFA- preoccupation with unusual aspects of objects

AS- all absorbing special interest- a mass information

HFA- special interests- spatial and mechanical

Now- the dr. did say- this isnt all cut and dry all the time- but-

it hit home with me. There is a difference between the two...

Dean Mooney has a website. I think it is www.mapleleafclinic.com

It was so wonderful to hear him speak and listen to all the studies

done.

Hope this helps.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

[Guest guest]

ditto for my son. i guess socially he falls more in

the AS range, but communications are definitely HFA.

although, his language is improving gradually. just

two months ago, his vocabulary was quite impressive

but sentence formation was a huge issue. now, he can

pretty much repeat everthing that you tell him to. but

it needs some prompting from us.

--- Holly <hollym3k@...> wrote:

> Thanks!!

> But believe it or not--it didn't help!!

> has signs of both. Some are HFA. Others AS.

>

> In each category---some of the items were HFA and

> others AS.

>

> But that's the way he has been all along our

> " Search " . Alittle bit of

> this, alittle bit of that.

>

> I guess we will know when he's older!!

>

> I will check out the website!

>

> Holly

> --5yo

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

my son jeremy is 9 and i didnt know all of the differences. The

speech delay and visual strength was the things that made me

realize 'yeah- hes a hfa'- and he has always been diagnosed as

autistic and very high functioning- so it made sense.

Vermont is small but they do have good resources.

Good luck to all.

Gail

>

> > Thanks!!

> > But believe it or not--it didn't help!!

> > has signs of both. Some are HFA. Others AS.

> >

> > In each category---some of the items were HFA and

> > others AS.

> >

> > But that's the way he has been all along our

> > " Search " . Alittle bit of

> > this, alittle bit of that.

> >

> > I guess we will know when he's older!!

> >

> > I will check out the website!

> >

> > Holly

> > --5yo

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________

> DSL – Something to write home about.

> Just $16.99/mo. or less.

> dsl.

>

[Guest guest]

That's correct. A child who has a delay, but when he does speak has

no problems with language, would also classify. My son had a speech

delay and has speech problems that are in existence today at 7.5. He

was diagnosed with HFA. HFA and Aspergers are not too different from

eachother, and different diagnoticians make different diagnoses based

on many reasons, including future access to services. A child with

AS may qualify for less than a child with HFA.

>

> I think according to the DSM the difference is whether there is a

speech

> delay. However, my son who is 3.5 does have a speech delay but the

ped

> neuro still Dx him AS. From the research I have done there is now

some

> controversy over whether or not speech delay should be used as part

of

> the DX. I have tried to let the difference between the 2 go,

because it

> was really upsetting me when the intermediate unit(I live in PA)

came

> back and said they didn't agree with AS because of his speech delay

they

> felt he was autistic. I am trying to not get wrapped up in labels!

>

[Guest guest]

I guess I thought that they were the same thing---except AS kids

don't have a language delay.

At our psych appt yesterday--I asked her. She said that AS kids do

have a delay--but it depends on when it was---before the age of 3 or

4y or something. Now I still don't get that, and I don't know if she

meant speech or langauge.

My son was a great talker and we never thought of language probs

until 3y when they found it at an autism eval. Which at that time---

he wasn't dx ASD. The speech therapist said yes--but the

psychiatrist and Dr said no.

Even now-----we have sat on the ASD dx for 1 year and finally

decided to go ahead and give it to him in hopes of more services at

school. His longest dx was anxiety at 4y--he still has that. Then

bipolar has been for one year now. And HFA/AS for 2 weeks!!!!! (even

though he fit the criteria 1 year ago)

Holly

---6yo on Saturday!!!!

bipolar

Anxiety

HFA/AS

[Guest guest]

Hi Tina,

I'm in PA also. I'm in Connellsville which is about 45 minutes southwest

of Pittsburgh. Is your son not speaking at all or is he omitted sounds and

letters? was tested in preschool also for speech services and started

those at age 3.5 long before the dx of AS at age 7. He speaks and even started

talking early but he is hard to understand because he omits many sounds, drops

letters off words and when he gets really excited forget about trying to

understand him until he calms down. But the speech therapy has helped so much.

This is his 4th year for the services. We originally received services from the

IU and they came to our home or his preschool to give the therapy and when he

went to Elem. school his IEP went with him and he started right away last year

in Kindg. with the services. I'm not sure where the line is between AS and full

blown autism but I'm sure as long as he receives therapy he will be fine. So

your right don't get caught up with the labels!! Just do whats best for your

ds. Good luck!

( ) Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

So....

Whats the difference?

Holly

[Guest guest]

Just a quick note..........my son's psychologist and I discussed this

recently. There is such a wide spectrum with AS kids, the same things

may not always apply to every kid. He tells me that they (drs) are

started to use just plain ASD - autism spectrum disorder. THis covers

everything! -lSara

>

> Hi Tina,

> I'm in PA also. I'm in Connellsville which is about 45 minutes

southwest of Pittsburgh. Is your son not speaking at all or is he

omitted sounds and letters? was tested in preschool also for

speech services and started those at age 3.5 long before the dx of AS

at age 7. He speaks and even started talking early but he is hard to

understand because he omits many sounds, drops letters off words and

when he gets really excited forget about trying to understand him

until he calms down. But the speech therapy has helped so much. This

is his 4th year for the services. We originally received services

from the IU and they came to our home or his preschool to give the

therapy and when he went to Elem. school his IEP went with him and he

started right away last year in Kindg. with the services. I'm not

sure where the line is between AS and full blown autism but I'm sure

as long as he receives therapy he will be fine. So your right don't

get caught up with the labels!! Just do whats best for your ds. Good

luck!

>

> ( ) Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

>

> So....

> Whats the difference?

>

> Holly

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !

We live on the opposite side of the state, SE Pa in a suburb of Philly

called West Grove. At the time Bobby was evaluated which was right

after his 3rd bday he spoke in 2/3 word phrases and has continued to

make progress even before his speech started in October. I think part

of the confusion we had with the IU and his DX was that they had me

start him in a regular preschool and they did his developmental and

psychological evals there. However, he had only been in the class 1 ½

wks when they were done. Apaprently he didn’t really talk while he was

there. Which is where they got the idea he was nonverbal. So they

wanted to put him in the autistic support preschool which I didn’t see

the harm. It is a great class 5.5 hrs a day 4 dys a week. I did tell

them however, that I felt they got a bad picture of his abilities. Low

and behold after a month of being in the autistic classroom his teacher

started talking about moving him to a less restrictive class. She feels

the kids in his class really aren’t typical peers for him and apparently

he is a chatterbox there. I am going to hold off I think in moving him.

It would be his 3rd preschool in 4 months and he has become VERY

attached to everyone there. I kept him home today because he was sick

and he cried when I told him he wasn’t going today. Bobby’s big

problems are more behavioral. He steals toys from the other kids

constantly. Always into things he shouldn’t be into. We have fianllly

been able to use the “naughty step” concept in the past month or so with

him. We have also finally been able to start getting him on the

potty!!! HE use to just refuse. WE started him on risperdal about 3

wks ago and all of a sudden he was willing to go potty like a big boy!

Anway, I could go on and on…lol

Tina

Re: ( ) Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

Hi Tina,

I'm in PA also. I'm in Connellsville which is about 45 minutes

southwest of Pittsburgh. Is your son not speaking at all or is he

omitted sounds and letters? was tested in preschool also for

speech services and started those at age 3.5 long before the dx of AS at

age 7. He speaks and even started talking early but he is hard to

understand because he omits many sounds, drops letters off words and

when he gets really excited forget about trying to understand him until

he calms down. But the speech therapy has helped so much. This is his

4th year for the services. We originally received services from the IU

and they came to our home or his preschool to give the therapy and when

he went to Elem. school his IEP went with him and he started right away

last year in Kindg. with the services. I'm not sure where the line is

between AS and full blown autism but I'm sure as long as he receives

therapy he will be fine. So your right don't get caught up with the

labels!! Just do whats best for your ds. Good luck!

( ) Aspergers or High functioning Autism???

So....

Whats the difference?

Holly

[Guest guest]

Ok re the delay.

(soon to be 17) talked late; began closer to age 3; but so

did his twin so I don't really count that. It was what I

called " jibber-jabber " before that, couldn't understand what they

said; and both twins would rather point at things than talk/say

words.

He did have trouble understanding directions (up/down,

over/under,...) whereas his twin didn't.

They both had articulation problems and needed speech therapy, which

I did too growing up.

Also, took things said literally.

So - when he was evaluated in 8th grade and the tester said HFA due

to language delay, what do you all think they were referring to?

They actually put HFA/Aspergers as his diagnosis, as I felt he

didn't have a language delay since his twin, who is typical and not

an identical twin, had similar problems in some of the areas

(talking late, articulation).

Any thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Dear Cathie,

Hmmm... I never put the diagnosis of echolalia for my son into

perspective until I read your post:

" ...we

> did have a tad bit of echolalia (mostly repeating questions he was

asked

> rather than answering them)... " > Cathie

When I read one of his reports stating he demonstrated " echolalia " I

thought, " No he doesn't. " For some reason, I simply thought of

echolalia as random repeating of words or phrases without any real

awareness of what was being spoken. I realize that my son does repeat

questions posed to him - often. I chalked it up to him simply running

the wording through his head again so that he could take time to come

to a conclusion - and that still may be so - but I never considered

that to be echolalia; so I guess his evaluators were correct after-all.

[Guest guest]

Cathie,

I agree with you, everyone evaluates differently. I guess that's why

it's so hard sometimes to get a diagnosis, whether for Aspergers or

something else. Oh well, just so we do have " something " to use when

needed and to understand our kids.

Before was diagnosed (8th grade), I already understood his

difficulties since I felt he had traits of autism. I was worried

about high school though and then some of the difficulties I felt he

had in middle school associated with his Aspergers part, so I went

for an actual diagnosis so we'd have it if needed for school and

beyond.

I still remember when the evaluator said HFA, I was waiting to

hear " Aspergers " and I was shocked. But she reminded me what a long

spectrum this is, and knew I was thinking of those with HFA who had

more difficulties than . I work as an office assistant at our

county mental health center, so the few there with autism or HFA

getting services were having more problems, more severity of traits,

which is what she knew I was thinking of.

Gotta go, thanks for sharing that!

>

> Chris-

>

> I had the smae encounter with my neurologist. My son had a

similiar

> language history as yours. Jargon followed by speech with

articulation issues, we

> did have a tad bit of echolalia (mostly repeating questions he was

asked

> rather than answering them). The " wh " questions were also hard

for him. Anyway,

> his neuro. said she didn't feel like she could give him an aspie

dx because

> he was speech delayed.( He's 8 now BTW). He rec'd a HFA dx. Two

friends of

> mine took their ASD boys to her as well, and although all 3 boys

had a

> similiar language history, she dx the other 2 boy Aspergers

because they could both

> read at 3 years old. (self-taught) Every evaluator has their own

criteria.

> Apparently they don't all follow the DSM-IV. My son is much more

social and

> aware than these boys. It makes no difference to me really, I just

realized

> everyone evaluates differently.

>

> Cathie

>

>

>