Difference Between Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

The key difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome is that autism typically involves challenges related to language and cognition, whereas Asperger’s syndrome is characterized by fewer difficulties in these areas.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of disorders characterized by developmental disability due to differences in the brain. Different types include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett Syndrome. Both autism and Asperger’s syndrome make social interaction challenging, but people with Asperger’s do not have problems with language and thinking or communication delays.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Autism 
3. What is Asperger’s Syndrome
4. Similarities – Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
5. Autism vs. Asperger’s Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Autism vs. Asperger’s Syndrome

What is Autism?

Autism is a type of autism spectrum disorder. The clinical features of this condition may include finding it hard to communicate and interact with other people, finding it hard to understand how other people think, being stressed or uncomfortable with bright lights and noises, getting anxious with unfamiliar situations, taking a longer time to understand information, and thinking and doing the same thing again and again.

Autism can be caused by genetics (mutations in genes involved in brain metabolism such as AVPR1a, DISC1, DYX1C1, ITGB3, SLC6A4, RELN, RPL10 and SHANK3) and environmental influences. Moreover, risk factors for autism include advanced parent age (either parent), pregnancy and birth complications, and pregnancies happening less than one year apart.

Autism can be diagnosed through medical history, psychological testing and behavioural testing (Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Furthermore, autism is treated through behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, educational and school-based therapies, joint attention therapy, medication therapy (antipsychotic drugs), nutritional therapy, occupational therapy, parent-mediated therapy, physical therapy, social skills therapy, and speech-language therapy.

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism spectrum disorder. Normally, children and teens with this disorder can speak with others and perform well in their schoolwork.  However, these children and teens have trouble understanding social situations and subtle types of communication such as body language, humour, and sarcasm.

The symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome may include inappropriate social interactions, conversations always revolving around themselves rather than others, not understanding emotions well, unusual speech skills, not understanding nonverbal communication, an intense obsession with certain specific, narrow subjects, memorizing preferred facts easily, clumsy movements, difficulties in managing emotions, not understanding other people’s feelings, and hypersensitivity to lights, sounds and textures.

Asperger’s syndrome is caused by genetics (mutation in the ARNT2 gene) and brain abnormalities. The risk factors for this condition include being a boy, being born prematurely, being born less than a year apart from an older sibling, having a family history, being born to older parents, having mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, and having another health condition like Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, or tuberous sclerosis.

Asperger’s syndrome can be diagnosed through medical history, questionnaires, assessing the child’s language and intellectual abilities (Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and psychological testing. Furthermore, treatment options for Asperger’s syndrome may include social skills training, behavioural support, cognitive behavioral therapy, parent education and training, speech-language therapy, special education classes, and medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

What are the Similarities Between Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome?

• Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are two types of autism spectrum disorders.
• Both autism and Asperger’s syndrome make social interaction challenging.
• Both autism and Asperger’s syndrome can be diagnosed by using the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

What is the Difference Between Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome?

Autism is a type of autism spectrum disorder characterized by problems with language and thinking, while Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism spectrum disorder that is not characterized by problems with language and thinking. This is the key difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Furthermore, risk factors for autism include advanced parent age (either parent), pregnancy and birth complications, and pregnancies happening less than one year apart. On the other hand, risk factors for Asperger’s syndrome include being a boy, being born prematurely, being born less than a year apart from an older sibling, having a family history, being born to older parents, having mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety and having another health condition like Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, or tuberous sclerosis.

The following table summarizes the difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Summary – Autism vs. Asperger’s Syndrome

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities. These disorders can cause significant social, communication and behavioural problems. Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are two types of autism spectrum disorders. Both autism and Asperger’s syndrome can make social interaction challenging. However, autism is characterized by problems with language and thinking, while Asperger’s syndrome is not characterized by problems with language and thinking. This summarizes the difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Reference:

1. “What Is Autism?” Autism Speaks.
2. “Asperger’s Syndrome: Symptoms, Tests, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Three Levels of Autism 1” By MissLunaRose12 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Asperger vs normal brain” By Cyndimccoy – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia