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ASPERGERS AND AUTISM

IS ASPERGERS AND HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM THE SAME?

ANDREINA MIOLAN
ACADEMIC WRITING

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ASPERGERS AND AUTISM

Is Aspergers and High Functioning Autism the same?

I dont think the worst thing that could happen to me is raising a child with special
needs. I think the worst thing is to raise a child who is cruel to those with special needsUnknown. 1 percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have an autism
spectrum disorder (Pedtriatics) .A common mistake people make is thinking that autistic people
and people with aspergers syndrome are the same. Not knowing the difference and knowing
how to interact with these two kinds of syndromes, people tend to offend, bully and mistreat
them. As an illustration Dr. Angela Ver Ploeg once received a very bright student who was
being expelled for the last six weeks of school. For these students, frustration often mounts
because they do not cope well with stress. Many of the stresses they face involve their inability
to read social cues as well as other students do; and consequently, they make social mistakes and
are often bullied. While these syndromes share many similarities, due to the fact that aspergers
is a form of autism and autism have difficulty with social and communication they are not the
same and should not be considered as such. The difference between people with aspergers
syndrome and high functioning autism lies within their social behavior, communication and
cognitive ability.
While a person with aspergers disorder struggle to fit in, autistics remain indifferent in
any social event. While the average person understands social rules, such as dont speak to close
to a person or dont talk to strangers, people with autism and aspergers do not understand
nonverbal rules. Autistics cannot follow social rules; they do not recognize people
feelings/emotions, leading them to offend people. They prefer to be alone than to be with other
people and its hard for them to form friendships. On the other hand someone with aspergers
disorder wants to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply do not know how to do it.

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They will try to interact with others even though they may be awkward about it; however they
still find it hard to understand non verbal signals, such as facial expressions. In this case one of
Dr. Angela Ver Ploeg aspergers eight year old student told her, "I can't make friends. I don't
have friends."
In contrast to autistics that have speech delay, a person with aspergers disorder has good
speech. Ordinarily someone with Aspergers syndrome has good language skills, they may not
take notice of others reactions while they speak and will continue talking regardless if the other
person is actively aware of the conversation. Moreover someone with aspergers syndrome may
have lack of rhythm in their speech, their facial expression may be flat and they dont understand
sarcasm or irony. As an example for aspergers syndrome this is what happens mostly to them
Jared walks too close to other people, sometimes even bumping into them. Samantha talks too
loudly and right in peoples faces. She doesnt sense when she has gone on too long, not noticing
that the people she is talking to are giving her nonverbal cues that show that they wish to end the
conversation. (Your little Professor). However autistics have problem with both verbal and non
verbal language, they take everything people say literally. Similar to Aspergers syndrome its
hard for autistics to understand facial expression, jokes and sarcasm and phrases with double
meaning such as thats cool. Some autistics may not speak or speak a few words.
However, some autistics have intellectual disabilities; a person with aspergers disorder
tends to be highly intelligent. Autistics tend to have ADHD (Attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder that tends to have difficulties of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness or a
combination of the two ) they have problems with concentrating specially if there is noise, the
room is too bright, they have no interest in the subject or they dont understand what is being
said. Autistic may also be very obsessive with something they find interest in and pay little

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attention to anything else. In regards to Aspergers syndrome, they are highly intelligent and
excel in math and science. They have great memory skills, but show delayed motor skills
meaning they tend to be clumsy. Do not underestimate someone with autism or aspergers
though they may have their limitations they become to be the greatest in what they excel, such as
it is said that these great people have one of these two disorders like : Jane Austen, Ludwig van
Beethoven, Emily Dickenson, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein,
In the end we can see how even though some characteristics relate these two syndromes
they are different. While the autistics are reserved, more into its own world, the aspergers is
willing to interact despite its lack of understanding of our world. People must be aware that our
world is not necessarily the best way to view it, they have to put themselves in other peoples
shoes to understand what they are dealing with instead of being prejudiced about it and simply
labeling a person as retarded or not normal. Autistics and people with Aspergers syndrome
have feelings like any other human being, they may be different from what one is accustomed
but if you take the time to know them and understand them you will be among the lucky ones to
befriend these amazing people .Matthew Dicks once said that you have to be the bravest person
in the world to go out every day, being yourself when no one likes who you are.

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Reference

1. Pediatrics, October 5, 2009, based on a National Childrens Health Survey done with
78,000 parents in 2007.
2.
1. Your little Professor. (n.d.). Retrieved from Autism Spectrum Disorders:
http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/spectrum.html

2. "About Autism," from the American Society of Autism, posted at

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_whatis_home
3. Christian Nordqvist. (2012, March 9). "What Is Asperger's Syndrome?." Medical News
Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7601.php.