HFA vs. Asperger's

I did a bit of research about this a couple years when I was contemplating the possibility that I was an aspie. It's been a while since I disregarded the thought, so I might be a bit off, but this is how I remember it.

High functioning autism is regarded as classical autism where the ability to communicate is imaired but they can still talk. Conversations tend to be simple (or at least worded simply) but they can communicate... think Rain Man. You couldn't talk to him about the World Series or how beautiful his dad's car is, but he can tell you when he needs to eat or sleep. Low Functioning Austism basically identifies someone who is unable to communicate by any means (I'm not certain on this, correct me if I am wrong).

Asperger's Syndrome is less extreme. Physical motor and verbal skills are normal although fine motor skills tend to be awkward. Aspies tend to have a very wide vocabulary but they struggle to utilize it effectively in day to day conversation. At first glance, they appear perfectly normal, but their difficulty with eye contact, body language and voice control reveal the differences underneath.


'Before this war is over, the world will know that few stood against many.' - 300

I am a former teacher at a school for children with Autism across the spectrum. I am also the mother of a child with HFA and one with AS.

The difference according to two lectures that I saw given by Tony Attwood is that HFA presents primarily with language and communication delays and disorders in early childhood/middle childhood - where as in AS langague is not delayed (but may be stilted or robotic etc.)in early childhood/middle childhood.

According to Tony Attwood, HFA and AS seem to merge about the age of 10 to become indistinguisable. (I am paraphrasing here so don't shoot me if I get his message wrong).

This has certainly been the case with my two. My AS child had normally developing speech and behaviours but has always been socially and emotionally 'young'. Both of my children are very literal and cannot see things from others points of view very well. (Which can lead to some chaos!). They are both pretty disorganised generally, but my AS child is the worse of the two in this regard. They both have difficulty with generalising behaviours and knowing social restraints - such as showing appropriate distance between people and keeping secrets.

My HFA son was developing normally until age 3 when he regressed into a headbanging, tantruming, screaming stranger who lost his language. With wonderful early intervention he has become very social(he goes to half mainstream/half autistic school), but has very typically autistic traits, such as major sensory issues, obsessions and routines, toileting and gross motor delays, language delays (but he is very intelligent with an excellent memory and higher than average reading level), and he also has ADHD and possible epilepsy.

I hope this helps chessimprov.

*And for the record...I thought the movie was very good. I do have some issues with the way the members of the group were portrayed, however I understand they were there to give some levity to an otherwise heavy look at relationships between the main characters.

*SPOILERS*
The scenes where the metal hurts Isabelle's ears, where Donald comes home to find 'his world' gone and the scenes where the children torment the main characters where so real they made me cry. So well done I say.