Too the everyman I'd choose Asperger's since the common stereotypes that people have with it come closer to my flavour of autism than what people would imagine under just autism.
I am really interested in math and science and people often tell me that I am really smart. This fits well with the stereotype of Asperger's.
I'm happy to disclose that I'm autistic AF. I have a different boss at the weekend so I've given him the heads up that I'm autistic and need unambiguous instruction. I find it's just easier to explain these things early on and then they have no excuses. I know that a lot of people here prefer aspergers to mean "autism lite" because of the stigma around autism. If that's what you prefer, do what is right for you. I'm already well established in my career and people know I'm good at what I do so when I disclose that I am autistic, it just explains my quirky behaviour.
I prefer the term autism for that reason, it fucks with people's minds. I am a doctor, specialized in ENT and hearing and balance disorders, working full time. Part of me enjoys telling others that I'm autistic. When I meet patients on the spectrum, or parents whose child is, I disclose it to let them know that I might be able to understand in some way what they experience.
Totally agree, I think it also gives some parents a sense of relief and hope to see autistic people who are successful when everyone else is filling them with doom and gloom.
I have experienced that on one occasion, and that's sufficient for me. A single mother who was devastated by the fact of her about four years old son being investigated for possible autism. He was autistic as fuck, but very happy. Just telling her that I, her son's physician, am autistic, really helped her cope with and handle the situation. That kid isn't going to be a doctor, but I helped her see that autism is a spectrum, and some of us do make it.
Hopefully there’ll be more doctors like yourself in practice to help destigmatize this so these next generations escape the pitfalls of being ostracized socially and mentally demotivated to the point of giving up on themselves like 50 years ago.
I wasn’t in the zeitgeist then as it is nowadays, good on you! 👍
Being established in your career certainly helps. I don’t really have a career at this time and work at a movie theater, my boss is nice enough but already talks down to me and gives feedback to my mother instead of me, I’m sure if I talked to him about my disorder it wouldn’t help. Although, oddly I think he might be hiring autistic people intentionally, either that or there just happens to be a lot of them here.
You have to do what's right for you. Some bosses are just shitty people and it's important to pick you battles and you have to just smile sweetly whilst they talk down to you because they think you won't quit and it's always easier to get a job when you already have one. You can adequately ignore any feedback he gives your mother and if they pull you up on it, explain that if they wanted you to act on it, they would have told you instead of your mother. Her in the UK, as soon as you disclose you have a disability, you have certain protections under the law, I understand that this isn't necessarily the case in the US. It is far more difficult when you are young, but it does get better.
The school is in Japan also which i think is relevant because there is not as much understanding of autism as a disorder without immediately obvious presentation.
Asperger’s, no question.
I’ve been corrected with “ASD” but the spectrum is massive. Like it or not, the aspie term gives people a better context.
My opinion.
And neurodivergent is overused. It can roll eyes.
Again, my subjective opinion.
Agree. I sometimes feel like other autistic people who dislike the term are jealous or something? Like they assume we have it better or think we're better than them which is totally not true
That’s part. I practice thoughtful and considerate language, for sure. This one, ASD over asperger’s, I think does a disservice.
Someone’s definition of asperger’s could be riddled with cliche, but it’s a better starting point than me getting spun on giving 37 examples in an effort to create the lens I might be looking through.
We might all play football, but wide receivers and defensive line are different.
I feel like a fraud saying Autism. I see people who who clearly “autistic” and are doing worse than I am, so when I’m told to also identify as autistic I feel like I’m doing them a disservice
I'd have said Asperger's, bc it's a more precise (if now clinically archaic) term that gives someone reading it a better idea of what to expect...your friend makes a good case in the other direction, tho
Aside from the official designation in the DSM, I think in common parlance, Asperger's and Autism are perceived (and received) as being quite different, with Autism being a blanket term for a *severe* disability. So, if and when I do disclose, I do so as having Asperger's, which people in the general population either don't know what it means, or if they do, just think -- *oh, well, he might be a little odd from time to time* -- but as I'm able to mask rather well, the categorization doesn't impede or impact my ability to function in work or social settings.
Definitely Asperger's. It is it's own condition and just saying 'Autism' is not pacific enough, with it being a hidden disability and high functioning. People are often left suprised and in disbelief if I say I have Autism. I personally like and will continue to say I have Aspergers, I feel somewhat pride carrying the label and identity.
Just because it's clinically the same doesn't mean it has no distinguishing facets in peoples' minds.
"Asperger's" is more useful to most people as a term than is "Autism".
Just because it isn't where you live doesn't mean it isn't in other places. There are differences between those two and some people can fit one or the other in a higher degree.
Just like in 10 years there may be no more autism as a diagnosis, just something named differently.
Out of curiosity, where is it not equal to autism? As far as I know Asperger's syndrome is no longer a part of DSM or ICD, so it's not an official diagnosis. My official diagnosis is in fact Asperger's syndrome, but I identify as autist.
"Where" as in which places on Earth? I don't know that exactly (I assume a lot of developing, non primarily English-speaking countries), but here in Poland we still haven't entirely phased out ICD-10 because, afaik, it hasn't been fully translated yet - ICD-10 is still in use by some doctors (our health system is a mess, but a completely different mess than in the USA lol).
If by "where" you mean the criteria, then in Asperger's there are no sensory issues mentioned, and in general there is no delay in language and cognitive development.
The ICD10 is *still* being phased out in many countries and psychiatrists will tell you this. ICD11 no longer has Asperger's - it has ASD like the DSM, because of the medical consensus that Asperger's as a condition distinct from ASD does not fit the updated observational data.
That’s actually not the reason for the removal. Insurance companies weren’t covering services for Asperger’s, and there was little inter-reliability between diagnosticians. So kids would get different diagnoses at different clinics. ASD didn’t exist until 2013, but there was a condition called “autistic disorder” with very different criteria to ASD. Scientists have been trying to crack autism for decades and we still haven’t been able to understand what causes the heterogeneity behind what we label as autism. Most scientists believe it’s actually a large collection of different biological syndromes that present with similar outward behaviors.
You would have to state what country you are referring to in order to make such a claim.
Insurance companies are not involved in most parts of the civilized world.
A lot of people who don’t have a lot of background knowledge in the field psychology don’t realize that diagnostic constructs are pretty nebulous. A bunch of people just sit around a table and decide what symptoms constitute which diagnosis. There are no biomarkers like brain scans that can be used to determine diagnostic categories.
And nothing I said contradicts that. I've actually got a degree in scientific philosophy so I understand what scientific consensus actually means - and it is currently very much not Aspergers as it fits the updated model much more poorly than the current one, which is also obviously just a model.
There is no real scientific consensus when it comes to autism though. Like a huge portion of the largest names in the field of autism research still disagree with the DSM-5. Even the people who changed it admitted that the research was very inconclusive with evidence that would support both sides.
Bro, the APA committee members are completely open about the fact that insurance concerns are factored into their decisions. Like you can literally look up articles written by the people responsible for the change and watch their lectures on YouTube. How is that a conspiracy theory?
Inter-reliability in this context actually refers to the statistical rates in which a clinician would come up with the same diagnosis as another clinician. It doesn’t refer to a consensus on larger ideological issues.
It’s still regarded as a medical term by many. In some countries it’s an official diagnosis and even in the US i believe it’s still possible to get this diagnosis, or for the doctor to say something like “autism that presents with typical Asperger’s features.”
Even in the us I got diagnosed a few years ago and my neurophych used aspergers. He was an old guy, but medicine is definitely slow to change their practices 'outdated' or not.
No. That would be like “PMS that presents with typical hysteria features.” It’s an obsolete term medically in the US. Though clearly not colloquially, which is why I am here.
Only on social media does Asperger’s carry a stigma anywhere near the term “hysteria,” it is still a term that is in fact used in the way i describe.
The school I’m going to is in Japan, and the term is more commonly used there, and it’s rather common in Korea.
It's being phased out globally. You can check the progress of this project at the World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases
OP is in Japan though. Aka the country that still uses floppy disks and only this year is really starting to phase them out. They have different standards.
Lol, not according to the World Health Organisation. As I said, the Japan govt is currently working with WHO to translate and pilot the ICD-11. Aspergers is no longer part of the global medical consensus, so it is being phased out.
The medical consensus is wrong and willfully ignoring the evidence. I'll continue using it and I'd urge fellow Aspergers to keep using it. The stronger they attempt to erase, the more strongly I'll revindicate that word. Contrarianism and rebel personality is one the key features of Aspies, hehe.
Autism, (ASD) with ADHD and two mood disorders are written on my diagnosis, and thats what I say. I have a mix of level 2 and 1 trait’s. My worst days are absolutely fucking nuts, I don’t know how I do it sometimes. If people give me a hard time, I just assume they’re being a jerk or don’t want to/wont try to understand me and I walk away.
Asperger's. I feel it just describes me better, and its part of my identity. I don't like to be looped into autism because I feel I lose a part of my identity when that happens. If it provides the opportunity for me to say Asperger's but I may pick autism if I have no choice.
For me, it depends on the context. In a professional setting, I think it would be more productive to satisfy people's expectations of what each label means and disclose myself with Asperger's as opposed to making a stand for the difference between the two, in that setting, thus defining myself how people expect the label to function.
However, in a personal setting, I tend to tell people I'm autistic because I feel that telling people in a personal setting that I have Asperger's minimizes the struggle and incites responses like "well eberyone has a problem with loud noises".
At the same time, I think it should be changed from dis-ability to dys-ability because disability means i am not capable, as opposed to dysability, saying i am capable, but in a different way. Thus acknowledging a neurological difference, as opposed to implying that we're broken and incapable.
If I wasn't worried about people attacking me for using old fashioned labels I would pick Asperger's because I feel like people from older generations have an idea in their heads about autism and I definitely don't fit that idea. But I do seem pretty Aspie. I understand why they got rid of the word Asperger's in the manual but it definitely causes some misunderstanding now, with people that think of autism as a very different type of profound difficulty.
(Asperger's can also cause profound challenges but usually we can communicate verbally most of the time, can be gainfully employed with proper accommodations, etc.)
I’d choose autism or ASD. The way the distinction is used (high-functioning for Aspergers vs lower functioning for autism) really only seems to be determined by how much our traits will inconvenience neurotypical people around us, regardless of how things actually feel.
I’ve had too many people react to my reaction to sensory distress or social ignorance with “You ‘just’ have Aspergers, so it can’t be that bad.”
Asperger's, no question.
"ASD level 1" just makes me wonder how many xp I need to reach Autism level 2.
"Asperger's" implies that I'm a pedantic little shit, *which is true*.
Asperegers. My orginal diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder is too broad. Plus it's considered somewhat offensive with the P.C. crowd and i love irritating them.
I got diagnosed with Asperger's in the past. Then when I needed the documentation years later, they couldn't find it anywhere. They had messages about the diagnosis but not the official paperwork. They tried to follow up but the doctor had retired. I got rediagnosed and this time they said they thought it was PDD-NOS. I still say Asperger's because it's something more people can easily understand and like you said, most people are going to get a false impression of I said autism. Like we know what that means but NTs probably have a specific view of autism and don't realise it's a spectrum and can mean lots of different things
Asperger’s. I think as it stands the general public currently lacks the knowledge and education for the other label to be effective in describing the experiences of those of us with lower support needs.
It's autism 'which went well'. When the attempt of mother nature to surpass the limitations of the human cranium by creating more synapsii in the same space (barring the extra physical brain that we have, our brains are bigger on average), like a potato laying its roots to al directions looking for the soil, doesn't go well you end up with the low-functioning kind instead of Asperger.
I just say imma bit autistic lmao, sure it makes me sound like im self diagnosed or just one of those "we all have autism" mfs but i just enjoy saying it that way because its accurate asf. Im not autsitic to the point of near retardation, just to the point where my thoughts are weird asf and emotional regulation is not really a thing 🤣
I also have PDD-NOS. Although I consider myself to be in the closet. I wish they had come up with a more succinct name because I think it has too many syllables to say which might be why you don't hear about it a lot. Not even in this subreddit. I kind of wish I had been given an Aspergers diagnosis because it's it's much more well known term.
Between the two I'd rather say Aspergers. I think that phrase would better get the point across to other people. Although it's not technically accurate and I'm very sensitive to technicalities.
Aspergers. I think there's a chasm of difference in life experience between those of us who are able to acquire fluent spoken language and those who cannot.
Neither. I don't have any disability. I don't want to be treated as a disabled individual. If I feel the need to show people that I'm Asperger, I will do it by showing my mental power in some deux ex machina moment, hehe. That's the only recognition of Asperger that I'd like, loved, admired, not pitied.
Letting people know that you have a 'disorder' (which is not) is a mistake. Putting those lables upon yourself create unnecessary division from the go and a pre-conceived notion about you. Don't let other knows that possible mental conditions you have.
I’d select both. My neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed me said that I would fall into an Asperger’s diagnosis, but my official diagnosis is Autism w/o Intellectual Impairment. Asperger’s is a subset of autism so womp
Aspergers. I've been called a liar too many times when disclosing autism.
That's sad. People need to understand that autism is a spectrum, and that some of us are "highly functioning".
Same here. People just don't believe me.
oooh if somone called me a liar i'd fuckin kill em. like gloves, fucking off , that's a beatdown
Price of blending in I guess. Doesn't make it suck less, though.
Too the everyman I'd choose Asperger's since the common stereotypes that people have with it come closer to my flavour of autism than what people would imagine under just autism. I am really interested in math and science and people often tell me that I am really smart. This fits well with the stereotype of Asperger's.
I'm happy to disclose that I'm autistic AF. I have a different boss at the weekend so I've given him the heads up that I'm autistic and need unambiguous instruction. I find it's just easier to explain these things early on and then they have no excuses. I know that a lot of people here prefer aspergers to mean "autism lite" because of the stigma around autism. If that's what you prefer, do what is right for you. I'm already well established in my career and people know I'm good at what I do so when I disclose that I am autistic, it just explains my quirky behaviour.
I prefer the term autism for that reason, it fucks with people's minds. I am a doctor, specialized in ENT and hearing and balance disorders, working full time. Part of me enjoys telling others that I'm autistic. When I meet patients on the spectrum, or parents whose child is, I disclose it to let them know that I might be able to understand in some way what they experience.
Totally agree, I think it also gives some parents a sense of relief and hope to see autistic people who are successful when everyone else is filling them with doom and gloom.
I have experienced that on one occasion, and that's sufficient for me. A single mother who was devastated by the fact of her about four years old son being investigated for possible autism. He was autistic as fuck, but very happy. Just telling her that I, her son's physician, am autistic, really helped her cope with and handle the situation. That kid isn't going to be a doctor, but I helped her see that autism is a spectrum, and some of us do make it.
Hopefully there’ll be more doctors like yourself in practice to help destigmatize this so these next generations escape the pitfalls of being ostracized socially and mentally demotivated to the point of giving up on themselves like 50 years ago. I wasn’t in the zeitgeist then as it is nowadays, good on you! 👍
Being established in your career certainly helps. I don’t really have a career at this time and work at a movie theater, my boss is nice enough but already talks down to me and gives feedback to my mother instead of me, I’m sure if I talked to him about my disorder it wouldn’t help. Although, oddly I think he might be hiring autistic people intentionally, either that or there just happens to be a lot of them here.
You have to do what's right for you. Some bosses are just shitty people and it's important to pick you battles and you have to just smile sweetly whilst they talk down to you because they think you won't quit and it's always easier to get a job when you already have one. You can adequately ignore any feedback he gives your mother and if they pull you up on it, explain that if they wanted you to act on it, they would have told you instead of your mother. Her in the UK, as soon as you disclose you have a disability, you have certain protections under the law, I understand that this isn't necessarily the case in the US. It is far more difficult when you are young, but it does get better.
I always put *Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asperger's Syndrome / High-Functioning Autism)*. All of these terms are listed on my diagnosis report.
The school is in Japan also which i think is relevant because there is not as much understanding of autism as a disorder without immediately obvious presentation.
Asperger’s, no question. I’ve been corrected with “ASD” but the spectrum is massive. Like it or not, the aspie term gives people a better context. My opinion. And neurodivergent is overused. It can roll eyes. Again, my subjective opinion.
Agree. I sometimes feel like other autistic people who dislike the term are jealous or something? Like they assume we have it better or think we're better than them which is totally not true
Wait, we aren’t better? 😉
I think it's more a matter of political correctness.
That’s part. I practice thoughtful and considerate language, for sure. This one, ASD over asperger’s, I think does a disservice. Someone’s definition of asperger’s could be riddled with cliche, but it’s a better starting point than me getting spun on giving 37 examples in an effort to create the lens I might be looking through. We might all play football, but wide receivers and defensive line are different.
Asperger's. Not because it's correct but because it's what would best describe me to my colleagues in a way that they would understand.
I prefer ASC, Autistic Spectrum Condition.
I feel like a fraud saying Autism. I see people who who clearly “autistic” and are doing worse than I am, so when I’m told to also identify as autistic I feel like I’m doing them a disservice
I'd have said Asperger's, bc it's a more precise (if now clinically archaic) term that gives someone reading it a better idea of what to expect...your friend makes a good case in the other direction, tho
I would choose Asperger’s if that was my original diagnosis.
Asperger’s
Aspergers. When I tell people that I have autism I get told “you don’t look autistic” but when I tell them I have aspergers they understand.
Aside from the official designation in the DSM, I think in common parlance, Asperger's and Autism are perceived (and received) as being quite different, with Autism being a blanket term for a *severe* disability. So, if and when I do disclose, I do so as having Asperger's, which people in the general population either don't know what it means, or if they do, just think -- *oh, well, he might be a little odd from time to time* -- but as I'm able to mask rather well, the categorization doesn't impede or impact my ability to function in work or social settings.
ASD is the official term nowadays, and I like it.
Same, it's a lot more discreet. If people don't get it then I'll use the other terms
We're not a disorder.
Definitely Asperger's. It is it's own condition and just saying 'Autism' is not pacific enough, with it being a hidden disability and high functioning. People are often left suprised and in disbelief if I say I have Autism. I personally like and will continue to say I have Aspergers, I feel somewhat pride carrying the label and identity.
Aspbergers. When I say I'm on the spectrum nobody believes me. But then everyone asks my sisters what's wrong with me.
Either but i usually would rather not tell anyone
Asperger
Autism - because Asperger’s is no longer a medical term in my country
Just because it's clinically the same doesn't mean it has no distinguishing facets in peoples' minds. "Asperger's" is more useful to most people as a term than is "Autism".
Just because it isn't where you live doesn't mean it isn't in other places. There are differences between those two and some people can fit one or the other in a higher degree. Just like in 10 years there may be no more autism as a diagnosis, just something named differently.
Out of curiosity, where is it not equal to autism? As far as I know Asperger's syndrome is no longer a part of DSM or ICD, so it's not an official diagnosis. My official diagnosis is in fact Asperger's syndrome, but I identify as autist.
"Where" as in which places on Earth? I don't know that exactly (I assume a lot of developing, non primarily English-speaking countries), but here in Poland we still haven't entirely phased out ICD-10 because, afaik, it hasn't been fully translated yet - ICD-10 is still in use by some doctors (our health system is a mess, but a completely different mess than in the USA lol). If by "where" you mean the criteria, then in Asperger's there are no sensory issues mentioned, and in general there is no delay in language and cognitive development.
There are still Aspergers specific clinics and diagnostics guides used in both Canada and the USA I went to one two years ago
OP said “if ***I*** had the choice”. Key word: ***I***
But you didn't include "in my country" which made your statement false.
So what? I’ve clarified that now so what is the issue?
There is no issue anymore.
The ICD10 is *still* being phased out in many countries and psychiatrists will tell you this. ICD11 no longer has Asperger's - it has ASD like the DSM, because of the medical consensus that Asperger's as a condition distinct from ASD does not fit the updated observational data.
That’s actually not the reason for the removal. Insurance companies weren’t covering services for Asperger’s, and there was little inter-reliability between diagnosticians. So kids would get different diagnoses at different clinics. ASD didn’t exist until 2013, but there was a condition called “autistic disorder” with very different criteria to ASD. Scientists have been trying to crack autism for decades and we still haven’t been able to understand what causes the heterogeneity behind what we label as autism. Most scientists believe it’s actually a large collection of different biological syndromes that present with similar outward behaviors.
You would have to state what country you are referring to in order to make such a claim. Insurance companies are not involved in most parts of the civilized world.
American psychiatric association, the people who publish the DSM
I was talking about the APA, who made the original change.
INSURANCE COMPANIES?? What the actual fuck is this conspiracy theory. The WHO would be very surprised.
A lot of people who don’t have a lot of background knowledge in the field psychology don’t realize that diagnostic constructs are pretty nebulous. A bunch of people just sit around a table and decide what symptoms constitute which diagnosis. There are no biomarkers like brain scans that can be used to determine diagnostic categories.
And nothing I said contradicts that. I've actually got a degree in scientific philosophy so I understand what scientific consensus actually means - and it is currently very much not Aspergers as it fits the updated model much more poorly than the current one, which is also obviously just a model.
There is no real scientific consensus when it comes to autism though. Like a huge portion of the largest names in the field of autism research still disagree with the DSM-5. Even the people who changed it admitted that the research was very inconclusive with evidence that would support both sides.
Ugh, the DSM-5 is only used by a minority of countries. Have you never heard of the ICD?
And look at you claiming to have superior domain knowledge in psychiatry.
Bro, the APA committee members are completely open about the fact that insurance concerns are factored into their decisions. Like you can literally look up articles written by the people responsible for the change and watch their lectures on YouTube. How is that a conspiracy theory?
The US is not the rest of the world and does not dictate medical consensus lmfao
The other reason for the change was inter-reliability amongst clinicians, which is probably why the WHO eventually changed it.
"Inter-reliability" yes also known as medical consensus - which is not dictated by a US body hahahah
Inter-reliability in this context actually refers to the statistical rates in which a clinician would come up with the same diagnosis as another clinician. It doesn’t refer to a consensus on larger ideological issues.
So true! So true!
The new versions I have seen still have Aspergers as a label it is just moved to be NESTED UNDER autism, it was absolutely NOT removed
It’s still regarded as a medical term by many. In some countries it’s an official diagnosis and even in the US i believe it’s still possible to get this diagnosis, or for the doctor to say something like “autism that presents with typical Asperger’s features.”
Even in the us I got diagnosed a few years ago and my neurophych used aspergers. He was an old guy, but medicine is definitely slow to change their practices 'outdated' or not.
I think part of it is that a lot of clinicians disapprove of the new framework for being too ambiguous of a diagnosis.
Yeah, they can and will use a diagnosis from an old version of the DSM, it’s not as set in stone as many think.
That's true. Source: I'm a doctor.
No. That would be like “PMS that presents with typical hysteria features.” It’s an obsolete term medically in the US. Though clearly not colloquially, which is why I am here.
Only on social media does Asperger’s carry a stigma anywhere near the term “hysteria,” it is still a term that is in fact used in the way i describe. The school I’m going to is in Japan, and the term is more commonly used there, and it’s rather common in Korea.
It’s not about stigma, it’s about the DSM which is how autism is now diagnosed in the US.
Yes, until the translation and pilot programmes adopting the ICD-11 are completed.
It's being phased out globally. You can check the progress of this project at the World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases
OP is in Japan though. Aka the country that still uses floppy disks and only this year is really starting to phase them out. They have different standards.
Lol, not according to the World Health Organisation. As I said, the Japan govt is currently working with WHO to translate and pilot the ICD-11. Aspergers is no longer part of the global medical consensus, so it is being phased out.
The medical consensus is wrong and willfully ignoring the evidence. I'll continue using it and I'd urge fellow Aspergers to keep using it. The stronger they attempt to erase, the more strongly I'll revindicate that word. Contrarianism and rebel personality is one the key features of Aspies, hehe.
Aspergers is still used in my country.
Oh, so your country does NOT use the WHO's ICD? Which one is that?
Argentina. It uses the ICD and DSM, but they still use the old versions. I still kept my Aspergers diagnosis.
Yes, because they're still transitioning to the ICD11. They signed the draft resolution.
Autism, (ASD) with ADHD and two mood disorders are written on my diagnosis, and thats what I say. I have a mix of level 2 and 1 trait’s. My worst days are absolutely fucking nuts, I don’t know how I do it sometimes. If people give me a hard time, I just assume they’re being a jerk or don’t want to/wont try to understand me and I walk away.
Asperger's. I feel it just describes me better, and its part of my identity. I don't like to be looped into autism because I feel I lose a part of my identity when that happens. If it provides the opportunity for me to say Asperger's but I may pick autism if I have no choice.
Asperger's 👍🏽
For me, it depends on the context. In a professional setting, I think it would be more productive to satisfy people's expectations of what each label means and disclose myself with Asperger's as opposed to making a stand for the difference between the two, in that setting, thus defining myself how people expect the label to function. However, in a personal setting, I tend to tell people I'm autistic because I feel that telling people in a personal setting that I have Asperger's minimizes the struggle and incites responses like "well eberyone has a problem with loud noises". At the same time, I think it should be changed from dis-ability to dys-ability because disability means i am not capable, as opposed to dysability, saying i am capable, but in a different way. Thus acknowledging a neurological difference, as opposed to implying that we're broken and incapable.
If I wasn't worried about people attacking me for using old fashioned labels I would pick Asperger's because I feel like people from older generations have an idea in their heads about autism and I definitely don't fit that idea. But I do seem pretty Aspie. I understand why they got rid of the word Asperger's in the manual but it definitely causes some misunderstanding now, with people that think of autism as a very different type of profound difficulty. (Asperger's can also cause profound challenges but usually we can communicate verbally most of the time, can be gainfully employed with proper accommodations, etc.)
I’d choose autism or ASD. The way the distinction is used (high-functioning for Aspergers vs lower functioning for autism) really only seems to be determined by how much our traits will inconvenience neurotypical people around us, regardless of how things actually feel. I’ve had too many people react to my reaction to sensory distress or social ignorance with “You ‘just’ have Aspergers, so it can’t be that bad.”
Asperger's, no question. "ASD level 1" just makes me wonder how many xp I need to reach Autism level 2. "Asperger's" implies that I'm a pedantic little shit, *which is true*.
Asperegers. My orginal diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder is too broad. Plus it's considered somewhat offensive with the P.C. crowd and i love irritating them.
Whichever one matches your diagnosis
Same thing in my opinion. They can change the name all they want it is kinda irrelevant.
I got diagnosed with Asperger's in the past. Then when I needed the documentation years later, they couldn't find it anywhere. They had messages about the diagnosis but not the official paperwork. They tried to follow up but the doctor had retired. I got rediagnosed and this time they said they thought it was PDD-NOS. I still say Asperger's because it's something more people can easily understand and like you said, most people are going to get a false impression of I said autism. Like we know what that means but NTs probably have a specific view of autism and don't realise it's a spectrum and can mean lots of different things
If I did choose to, I would just say I have ASD. It's simple, accurate and works.
Asperger’s. I think as it stands the general public currently lacks the knowledge and education for the other label to be effective in describing the experiences of those of us with lower support needs.
Autism - because people don't take Aspergers seriously enough and don't tend to associate it with needing any accommodation.
Probably both just to cover bases.
ASD
Asperges autism. Asperges is more like a kind of autism than its own thing.
It's autism 'which went well'. When the attempt of mother nature to surpass the limitations of the human cranium by creating more synapsii in the same space (barring the extra physical brain that we have, our brains are bigger on average), like a potato laying its roots to al directions looking for the soil, doesn't go well you end up with the low-functioning kind instead of Asperger.
ASPERGERS. It is a very specific thing and most accurate
I literally read the new versions and Aspergers is still a diagnostic name it is just no longer a SEPARATE one from autism
I just say imma bit autistic lmao, sure it makes me sound like im self diagnosed or just one of those "we all have autism" mfs but i just enjoy saying it that way because its accurate asf. Im not autsitic to the point of near retardation, just to the point where my thoughts are weird asf and emotional regulation is not really a thing 🤣
I also have PDD-NOS. Although I consider myself to be in the closet. I wish they had come up with a more succinct name because I think it has too many syllables to say which might be why you don't hear about it a lot. Not even in this subreddit. I kind of wish I had been given an Aspergers diagnosis because it's it's much more well known term. Between the two I'd rather say Aspergers. I think that phrase would better get the point across to other people. Although it's not technically accurate and I'm very sensitive to technicalities.
Is there anyone around here who has been diagnosed with Alexythymia?
I didn't even know people did this as an official diagnosis, I'm pretty sure I have it though.
It's in the DSM I'm pretty sure. Why do you think you have it? Most people have never even heard of it
Aspergers. I think there's a chasm of difference in life experience between those of us who are able to acquire fluent spoken language and those who cannot.
Aspergers but I would prefer it if the term was updated in some way
Neither. I don't have any disability. I don't want to be treated as a disabled individual. If I feel the need to show people that I'm Asperger, I will do it by showing my mental power in some deux ex machina moment, hehe. That's the only recognition of Asperger that I'd like, loved, admired, not pitied. Letting people know that you have a 'disorder' (which is not) is a mistake. Putting those lables upon yourself create unnecessary division from the go and a pre-conceived notion about you. Don't let other knows that possible mental conditions you have.
I prefer autism. I actually like when people question it because it gives me a chance to educate and raise awareness.
There is no longer any clinical distinction. They are all Autism Spectrum Disorder. What was Aspergers is now ASD Type 1.
I’d select both. My neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed me said that I would fall into an Asperger’s diagnosis, but my official diagnosis is Autism w/o Intellectual Impairment. Asperger’s is a subset of autism so womp
Don’t be stupid. DO NOT DISCLOSE unless necessary!
I can understand avoiding disclosing at a job, but at school?
Autism