Asperger Syndrome Vs. High-Functioning Autism

Asperger Syndrome vs. High-functioning Autism

Asperger syndrome (AS) is one of several pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which presents itself very similarly to high-functioning autism (HFA). Hans Asperger first discovered the condition in 1944, but it was only uniquely recognized in standard classification models in 1994. To this day, it is difficult to estimate how many people are affected by AS, as there are still very unclear and controversial classification and diagnostic criteria. This review will examine two articles which discuss the similarities and differences of AS and HFA to determine the whether or not separate codification is warranted.

The first article was called "The external validity of Asperger disorder: lack of evidence from the domain of neuropsychology" by Judith N. Miller and Susan Ozonoff (1997). Their study aimed to test and compare individuals who were diagnosed (using the current standard classification models) with AD and HFA, in order to find distinctions between the two disorders. Forty Utah children, recruited through a local autism newsletter and word-of-mouth referrals, participated in the study and were tested in the following neuropsychological domains: language, motor, cognitive, visuospatial, and executive functions. Two diagnostic measures were utilized to validate the participants' qualifications. The experimental measures included an IQ test, a movement battery, a visual-perception test, and two executive function tests.

The results of the study indicate little evidence of pattern(s) of distinction between the participants diagnosed with AD and those diagnosed with HFA. The largest difference found was the IQ levels of the two groups of participants. The individuals with AD scored higher than those with HFA, which implies that intellectual ability is the major demarcating factor. Miller and Ozonoff also found that the AD group displayed fewer symptoms of AD, as listed in standard classification models.

Miller and Ozonoff report their findings as supporting the idea that "AD is truly just a milder variant of autism." In which case, they offer that distinguishing between AD and HFA may only cause confusion for service and treatment providers, as well as loved ones. Of course, they suggest further research of AD and its external validity to determine the value of classifying it as a subtype of PDD.

The other article