Many people often ask what is the difference between autism and Asperger’s Syndrome? It is a fine line that separates these two disorders from each other. Indeed, both of these disorders are part of the much larger autism spectrum disorders. This gradient field includes a number of similar disorders that rate the severity of symptoms and the level of impact on a patient’s life each degree of the spectrum entails.

Both autism, classical autism to be precise, and Asperger’s Syndrome entail similar behavior. Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by a patient’s inability to interact socially with his or her peers, a lack of understanding or appreciation of other’s feelings, engaging in repetitive or ritualistic behavior, being unable or unwilling to divert one’s attention away from a current task, having an above average level of intelligence, being unable to express or understand one’s feelings, being unable to regular sensory inputs and providing self stimulation through bodily movements, facial tics or abnormal speech patterns and behavior.

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Autism spectrum disorders are all caused during development by the synapses of the brain, the carries of information from one region to the other, being written differently than people who do not have an autism spectrum disorder. This in turn gives rise to their lack of social cooperation and introverted nature.

However, the difference between classical autism and Asperger’s Syndrome lies in the level of functioning. Patients who have classical autism are generally “lower functioning” than those who have Asperger’s Syndrome, classified as “higher functioning”. This means that patients with autism have a greater degree and severity of symptoms compared to patients with Asperger’s Syndrome.

A patient with Asperger’s are generally better adapted at handling social situations compared to patients with lower functioning forms of autism. While they may be better able to socialize, common social symptoms of Asperger’s include shying away from social situations or being nervous or twitchy when talking with someone. A lack of eye contact is common with autism patients and is usually found in patients with Asperger’s.

The reduced severity of symptoms is also found in Asperger’s patients mental capacities. While people with Asperger’s do generally have higher levels of intelligence, they are generally better able to express themselves and their thoughts compared to patients with classical autism. However, Asperger’s patients still can be obsessive, generally on hobbies or activities such as making model train sets or playing video games, and can be difficult to pry away from their current task. This is largely due to patients with autism spectrum disorders being unable to govern how they interpret their external stimuli, leading them to be overly focused with selective hearing and seeing.

Abnormal physical behavior for Asperger’s patients is also reduced compared to lower functioning autism patients. Speech patterns are generally clearer but are noticeably erratic or accelerated. Body movements are also quick and jerky but are less dramatic or harmful compared to classical autism where some patients often injure themselves by quickly whipping around parts of their body, such as their neck or arms.

Symptoms described above can differ on a case by case basis but are generally true for all patients afflicted with an autism spectrum disorder. Consult a professional to diagnose any and all symptoms that may relate to autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.