The main difference between Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorder

For most people, distinguishing Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorder or ASD can be difficult. We in the science community continue discovering new aspects of neurological disorders that definitions tend to change often, especially for relatively new diseases. Dr. Curtis Cripe states that people need to have a clear idea of the two neurological disorders as mistaking one for the other can raise serious concerns.

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Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological condition where the brain’s development is hindered, which causes problems in social interaction and communication. Medical experts use the term spectrum because ASD refers to a wide range of different symptoms with varying severities. Aside from leading to difficulty in communication and social interaction, ASD can also show repetitive patterns of behavior in people suffering from it.

As for Asperger’s Disorder, people who suffer from the condition, unlike those with ASD, want to have social interaction with other people but don’t know how to do it. They are described as socially awkward and have poor understanding of social conventions, may lack empathy, or find it difficult to read social cues.

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One would easily mistake Asperger’s with the first level of the ASD spectrum, which is often described as manifesting in people with high functioning autism. What makes it easy to distinguish Asperger’s from ASD is the fact that there is no delay when it comes to speech and communication in Asperger’s patients.

Because of the nature of Asperger’s, it has been added and removed or reclassified as being part of the spectrum of ASD. Due to the nature of neurological diseases and disorders, Dr. Curtis Cripe believes that there is still much to learn about neurological disorders, how they can be treated, and how people can better manage them.

Dr. Curtis Cripe is a multidisciplinary neuroengineer and aerospace engineer whose diverse background includes software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, brain injury, and child neurodevelopment. To know more about Dr. Cripe, visit this website.