Autism & Asperger Differences

Using Donna Williams Fruit Salad Analogy 1995 Autism & Aspergers "Fruit Salads" Blog

I going to use two examples to illustrate the profile differences

People with Autism use the Right Hemisphere to Work at the World & People with Asperger's Syndrome use the Left Hemisphere to work out the world and of course there will be people on the spectrum in between the Autie and Aspie Profiles (which means that people can a mix of both Profiles - Autism & Asperger because of the massive diversity in brain connectivity). Autism is a diverse spectrum with different sensory and communication profiles. :-)

Paul - (Myself)

I was diagnosed with Autism in 2010 as with all diagnostic assessments giving a developmental picture of your sensory and communication profiles.

Autism - "Less Literal, Less Logical and Process Things Externally" - D.Williams

I sense the world externally meaning that because of left hemisphere neglect (that is the semantic/meaning system, logic, auditory meaning and visual meaning) I have to use my body to gain semantics (hands, mouth, tongue, sniffing, licking, tapping etc) - I see without meaning and hear without meaning I need to use sensory compensation to access my surroundings.

Visual & Auditory Agnosias Left Hemisphere Neglect

Gilbert - My Grandfather

My Grandfather was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2011 again the diagnostic assessment took into account his sensory and communication profile

Asperger's - "Logical, Literal and Process Things Internally" - D.Williams

My Gramp because of right hemisphere neglect he uses left hemisphere (logic,semantics, auditory and visual meaning) "works out things internally" visually mapping and systemising within to navigate externally. He has problems with navigating his surroundings because of motor clumsiness and has problems and not understanding jokes, sarcasm, intonation and body language.

Right Hemisphere Syndrome

  • No speech delay recognised (although people with AS can have speech delay)

  • Dyspraxic has both fine and gross motor coordination problems

  • Started school at 7 years old and left school at 14. Mood and anxiety disorders persistent later in life

  • Literal (Semantic pragmatic disorder) processing of language

  • Pragmatic and logical in his approach to language which reflects his processing

  • Selective mutism in social situations due to not being able to access the conversation

  • Social Emotional Agnosia to a higher degree

  • Tonal Agnosia (tone deaf) to a higher degree

  • Alexithymia

Aspinauts - D.Williams (A mix of Autism and Asperger Profiles)

"And always be aware of Aspinauts who have crossovers of both common 'fruit salads'" - D.Williams