| One of the most common mistakes made about | | | | On the other hand, Asperger's Syndrome is a |
| autism is that Asperger's Syndrome and high | | | | separate autism spectrum disorder. Children with |
| functioning autism are the same thing. Many parents | | | | Asperger's Syndrome struggle with social interactions |
| struggle with this problem because there is so much | | | | and restrictions, and tend to have intensely narrow |
| information out there that uses the two terms | | | | interests in subjects and activities. However, unlike |
| interchangeably. There are many crossover | | | | with autism - even high functioning autism - there is |
| symptoms between Asperger's Syndrome and high | | | | no cognitive development or language delay. Though |
| functioning autism which can make it very challenging | | | | language may be used atypically and motor skills may |
| to tell the difference between the two. Furthermore, | | | | be clumsy at times, their development is normal. |
| many doctors and scientists differ in their definitions | | | | Asperger's Syndrome will typically present in children |
| of the two disorders. | | | | at about the age of three. Brain imaging has shown |
| High functioning autism is an unofficial designation for | | | | structural and functional differences within certain |
| people who have autism but whose symptoms are | | | | brain regions among children without autism spectrum |
| not severe. High functioning autistic children have an | | | | disorders, children with Asperger's Syndrome, and |
| average or above-average intelligence level and will | | | | children who are high functioning autistics. |
| generally maintain an adequate vocabulary. However | | | | Children with Asperger's Syndrome often fail to |
| their learning comprehension is typically behind other | | | | display empathy in their behaviors. It is social |
| children at the same age. Furthermore, high | | | | interaction where these children face their deepest |
| functioning autistic children will generally not express | | | | challenges. Many struggle or fail to develop |
| much emotional detail in their speech, and struggle | | | | friendships, don't take pleasure in achievements or |
| with interpreting non-verbal cues. | | | | spontaneous activities with others, lack in emotional |
| There is no solid line between the diagnosis of low | | | | and social reciprocity, and have diminished non-verbal |
| functioning and high functioning autism. Though some | | | | communication behaviors such as facial expressions, |
| doctors use an IQ score as an indicator to help with | | | | postures, eye contact, and overall gestures. |
| the diagnosis, the function level of autism is not | | | | However, children with classic autism (even those |
| based on IQ alone. There are also elements of | | | | who are high functioning), Asperger's Syndrome |
| language processing, behavioral elements, and other | | | | children will not typically withdraw from other people. |
| non-verbal details, which must be considered above | | | | In fact, even if they are awkward in their method, |
| and beyond measurable intelligence levels. | | | | they will often approach others and begin a |
| Furthermore, standard IQ testing is typically | | | | discussion. It is conversation where their struggle may |
| inaccurate for autistic children as the testing itself | | | | occur, as a discussion for a child with Asperger's |
| may involve skills with which an autistic child struggles. | | | | Syndrome may simply consist of a long-winded |
| Whether high or low functioning, autism will typically | | | | single-sided speech about something the child truly |
| present in around the age of two years old with a | | | | enjoys, without any need for contribution from the |
| sudden regression or presentation of autistic | | | | other people present. |
| symptoms. | | | | |