[emma4health]

I do not want to be professionally diagnosed.
Could someone help me understand what the difference is with both and what the symptoms are.
I am familiar with most of it altough I would like as much information as I can from all kinds of sources especially people that have Autism or Asperger's.
I've only met one person that I know has Aspergers and he didn't really want to talk to me about it, so talking to people who are diagnose would be a great help.

[kkrrhh]

Asperger's is just grouped in with autism as a diagnosis now, I'm pretty sure. When Asperger's was split into a different diagnosis, though, the main difference was supposed to be communication and milestones hit at a very young age... I think something like, if the person could talk normally for the most part at 3, it would be considered Asperger's instead of autism. And then communication issues and some other symptoms could tend to be milder, I guess.

If you don't want a professional diagnosis, you could always try some of the more "official" tests online, which still obviously can't diagnose you but are somewhat reliable. The autism spectrum quotient is the one that I remember. Also, assuming you're female (by your username), you might want to look up Tania Marshall's list of autistic traits in women, and read experiences online from autistic women specifically. Both of those things have been really helpful for me.

(I'm not officially diagnosed but I'm currently in the process and 99% sure.)

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by kkrrhh

Asperger's is just grouped in with autism as a diagnosis now, I'm pretty sure...

Yes, and I believe I have Asperger Syndrome (AS) rather than High-Functioning Autism (HFA) since I was as verbal as child as just about any other. Nevertheless, I usually speak of AS/HFA together or else just mention "Autism Spectrum" when referring to myself...and neither do I have a professional diagnosis. Some people who do have a professional diagnosis might give you (OP) some grief over the matter of so-called "self-diagnosis", but I do not argue with them since I do not need any "official label" to augment my personal identity. The knowledge of AS/HFA I have gained now explains many things about me for which I could never have accounted in any other way...and that is that!

[Bucky O'Hare]

Kkrrhh has mentioned the asq and that is a pretty solid test. Was used in the process of my own diagnosis (aspergers... or ASD1). For me it was a late (late 30's) diagnosis and came as a shock when I was first referred for testing... had met a few people who have Aspergers prior (through general interests rather than deliberately) and... well, it just didn't twig that I too might be on the spectrum (I don't want to say anything disparaging).

As for difference... I am up for correction here, but people with Aspergers are generally considered as high functioning on the spectrum.

[TheStrange]

From what I've learnt Asperger's Syndrome is different from 'classical' autism. This is mainly because in Asperger's Syndrome there's no difference in acquiring language milestones compared to people without autism and people with Asperger's have a normal to high IQ. I think the symptoms of Asperger's are basically the symptoms of classical autism, only less severe. I suspected myself of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder for years, but I only knew examples of people with very severe autism and men. I didn't dare to ask for a professional to investigate it. But I kept thinking obsessively about whether or not I'd have an ASD, so I decided to go to a professional after all. I got diagnosed with ASD (DSMV) about 2.5 weeks ago (DSMIV: Asperger's Syndrome) and for me in some ways it's a relief to finally know for sure. A self-diagnosis can be useful, but if you're in need of professional help it might be helpful to have an official diagnosis. Also, as with people in general, every person with ASD is different.

[Anonymous37919]

Try getting diagnosed by an autism catered doctor. It's the only way you will know. Other than that, I don't know, because they told me I had PDD-NOS.

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by emma4health

I do not want to be professionally diagnosed.
Could someone help me understand what the difference is with both and what the symptoms are.
I am familiar with most of it altough I would like as much information as I can from all kinds of sources especially people that have Autism or Asperger's.
I've only met one person that I know has Aspergers and he didn't really want to talk to me about it, so talking to people who are diagnose would be a great help.

I hear Aspergers has been taken off the DSM-5 and it is now just under Autism. But the word Aspergers is still used anyway. Aspergers is basically a milder version of Autism.