Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism are often misunderstood by people in general, because they both exist on the autism spectrum. Asperger's syndrome is one of the primary forms of autism, and it has some similarities with autism which can make it confusing for us to distinguish one from the other. Though there are similarities, it's important to ask "what is the difference between Asperger syndrome and autism" if you want to fully understand these conditions.
Here, we are going to take a look at both the similarities between Asperger's and autism, and the differences that set them apart. At this time, it's worth noting that research is still being done into both of these issues, and more information may become available in the future.
The Similarities Between the Two Conditions:
One of the ways to understand the answer to the question to "what is the difference between Asperger syndrome and autism" is to first ask ourselves what the similarities are. For example, people who have both disabilities have been observed to struggle with behavior problems. For instance, individuals who suffer from Asperger's or high-level autism may have difficulties with forming different kinds of relationships, and may not be able to maintain eye contact when they're talking to other people.
It's common for people with one of these conditions to also have problems in reading the facial expressions that other people have, and their hand gestures. Research indicates that there are four particular areas that distinguish both issues, including level of cognitive function, motor skills, language development and aging. When a diagnosis is conducted, it's common for some debate to occur over whether a patient has Asperger's or high-functioning autism. Additionally, the treatments that are offered for both conditions are usually very similar, and the factors that distinguish the two from each other can remain highly controversial.
The Differences Between the Two Conditions:
Of course, although there are many similarities, we can still ask "what is the difference between Asperger Syndrome and autism?" Unlike in autism, it's hard to identify someone who has Asperger's at a very young age. People who have Asperger's syndrome at a younger age don't experience delayed developments in language, and this is found to be a key concern when examining the differences between Asperger's and autism. Furthermore, it's common for people who have Asperger's to show an obsession with various random things.
People who struggle from autism will have stronger connections with particular things. Though the probability level is sometimes low, people with Asperger's can often be very intelligent, even though they might struggle with communication, although it's worth noting that we shouldn't focus on identifying Asperger's through intelligence levels. Instead, Asperger's can be identified through three key areas: how they socialize, how they communicate, and how they behave.
Ultimately, the professionals in this area are equipped and rather skilled to identify whether a person has one condition or the other. The issue is that it's not always clear, and further testing may sometimes be required to ensure that the right treatment solutions are given.