High-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: utility and meaning for families.
Families treat "high-functioning autism" and "Asperger’s" as the same label—useful for services but equal targets for stigma.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Ruiz Calzada et al. (2012) asked families how they felt about the words "high-functioning autism" and "Asperger’s."
They ran open interviews with parents and kids. The team wrote down every benefit and drawback families linked to each label.
What they found
Families said the two labels mean the same thing in daily life.
Both names helped them get school help and find support groups.
Both names also brought stigma and doubts from teachers, doctors, and relatives.
How this fits with other research
Sharma et al. (2012) looked at 69 studies and found the DSM-IV rules for Asperger’s overlap so much with autism that doctors often can’t agree. This backs the family view that the labels feel interchangeable.
Ghaziuddin et al. (2004) tested IQ scores and saw only small verbal advantages in kids called Asperger’s. The tiny gap supports why parents treat the names alike.
Brosnan et al. (2016) ran an experiment with college students. They showed the same behaviors labeled either "Asperger’s" or "autism." Students rated both labels the same, proving stigma does not hinge on the word chosen.
Why it matters
Stop spending team time arguing over which label is "correct." Pick the term the family prefers, then move straight to teaching the skills the child needs. Write goals for the learner, not for the diagnosis code.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We used framework analysis to investigate the utility of pervasive developmental disorder diagnoses, interviewing young people (aged 9-16 years) with high-functioning autistic disorder (AD) and Asperger's disorder (AsD), and their parents. Twenty two participants from ten families described both gains and costs resulting from diagnosis. Perceived advantages of AD and AsD diagnosis were increased understanding and practical support, and parental empowerment. Disadvantages included the effects of stigma and concerns about validity. Participants tended to consider AsD and AD as interchangeable terms. Findings suggest that the utility of AD and AsD depends upon both their validity and how these diagnoses are received in their cultural, economic and legislative context. Improvement of post-diagnostic services will improve the utility of AD and AsD.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2012 · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1238-5