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Comparison of Asperger's Syndrome and Autism

Tara Warwick, OTD, MS, OTR/L

July 2, 2013

Question

Clarify the difference between Asperger’s syndrome and autism.

 

Answer

It is going to be different with the new criteria.  The current criteria shows that a child with Asperger’s does not have the delay in language like a child with autism.  With Asperger’s, these are the children who are not early talkers, but they talk on schedule.  However, as they get older, they have a lot of social communication type challenges.  Whereas, a child with autism has a marked delay in communication when they are younger.  Right now that is the big difference between the way the DSM-IV describes it between Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism.  Both high-functioning autism and Asperger’s both have cognitive skills that are within normal limits.  The big difference between the two diagnostically is that children with Asperger’s do not have a delay in language when they are younger. 


tara warwick

Tara Warwick, OTD, MS, OTR/L

Dr. Tara Warwick is an occupational therapist and the co-owner of Blue Sparrow, a national training and consulting therapy firm, and Today’s Therapy Solutions, an Oklahoma-based pediatric therapy company. She has over 20 years of experience working with children with disabilities across all settings. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Tara obtained her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy in 2000, her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences with an emphasis in pediatrics in 2005, and her Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate in May 2021. Tara spends her days providing in-home therapy to children, conducting training and consultations for schools on challenging behavior and autism, and consulting with other therapy companies on practice management. Tara’s areas of intervention expertise include behavior management, sensory processing, self-care training (potty training, eating/feeding, dressing, play, etc.), assistive technology, and home programming. Tara enjoys thinking outside the box and developing creative ways to help her business run more efficiently and effectively.

 


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