How is aspergers syndrome related to autism?

Severity Differences: Aspergers is now part of what is called the autistic spectrum, a range of conditions sharing characteristics of autism, but with different levels of severity.

Related: Usually the Asperger patient has better language ability than the autistic patient. One could also consider them to be different sections of a spectrum of continuity. Some people call it high functioning autism. In my opinion the exact label doesn't matter a great deal, it is what are the needs of the child and make sure those needs are addressed.

Because the same: Deficits in social understanding underlie all, the term autistic disorder will be used for autism, as & pdd-nos. Resistance to "lumping" the diagnoses stems from the perception that all people with as have high iq's; the current definition of as requires an iq > 70, in the "normal" range, not necessarily avg. Or above. Lack of joint attention & theory of mind cause atypical social skills in all.

Areas of difficulty: Quite soon, the system will change and we'll have only "autism spectrum disorder." it'll included autism, asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified. Those with asperger's disorder are characterized with good language ability and normal to superior iq but difficulties with social interactions and use of nonverbal language as well as odd interests.