Do you feel children with Aspergers should not be diagnosed Autistic ?

Question

I hear many time's that because my son has a DX of aspergers he does not have autism. But it is a controversy to many .What is your opinion ?

Answer 1

I don't see why not because it shares some of the same impairments and it is controversial whether HFA and AS are the same thing because they are almost exactly the same.  I have asperger's myself and I need to get the services provided from being on the autistic spectrum; the services of which are the same for those with classical autism.  Autism spectrum disorders is just a classification made to organize diagnostic criteria for doctors.  I find that being labeled under the autistic spectrum makes life easier for me because I am probably more likely to get the help I need and also be more understood.

What is wrong with being diagnosed autistic?  What will that change? It is not like it changes who your child is or how functional your child is.

Answer 2

I think that Aspergers does belong on the autism spectrum. It's basically High Functioning Autism.  

I don't see it as a stigma. Is it a stigma to have diabetes, epilepsy?  It's simply a medical diagnosis.

Answer 3

As Asperger syndrome is part of the autistic spectrum of disorders why should it be classified as a separate condition? All autistic spectrum disorders share the same basic triad of impairments, difficulty with social imagination, difficulty with social communication and difficulty with social interaction. As they are all on the spectrum from the profoundly autistic through to high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome then they should all be diagnosed as autism. No two people who have any sort of autism are ever the same but they do have a lot in common and face many shared difficulties. As for accessing services, these should be tailored to the individual and not to the diagnosis.

Answer 4

My 11 year-old has low-functioning autism.  I think  both HFA and LFA belong on the spectrum.  My only issue comes from some people's assumption that my son must be high functioning, because those are the autistic people they've seen or met.  Aspergers has a name that is separate.  It would be helpful if LFA did as well, though I admit that would be complicated since there are people who don't fit well into either category.  I'm sure there are people with HFA who have experienced the same thing in reverse.

Answer 5

It certainly is a controversial issue. I would have to say no they shouldn't. Why give them such a stigma for their lives if they are still functional in society. That may sound harsh but life will be a lot harder for them if they are classified as autistic.