Asperger's Syndrome FAQ
Created | Updated Jul 28, 2003
Q. What does Asperger mean..?
A. Asperger's syndrome is named after Han's Asperger, the doctor who first recognised and described the symptoms back in the 1940's. It is sometimes just called autism because it is an autistic spectrum condition, and sometimes it is called A.S. for short. The more widely known, rarer, and more severe autistic spectrum condition commonly referred to as Autism is sometimes called Kanner's Syndrome, after the doctor who discovered it also.
Q. What does Autistic mean..?
A. The word Autism is derived from the Greek word meaning "self" and is understood to have been first used by Eugene Bleuler in 1912 to describe those who are self absorbed or escaping from reality. Daydreams, fantasies, delusions, and hallucinations would all be "autistic" if you indulged in them to the point where you began to appear withdrawn and no longer interested in real life. Years later, both Kanner and Asperger used this established and understood word to describe how the children they saw 'appeared' to be. It was a description, not a diagnosis in itself. It was Kanner's well publicised work that led to the word Autism being associated with the syndrome he identified. Today it is used to describe any condition on the autistic spectrum... which includes people of widely varying levels of ability.
Q. What are Aspies and NT's..?
A. Aspie is a popular term for describing people with Asperger's, but it is more common for people with AS to use it to describe themselves than it is for other people to describe them with it. Many people with AS prefer to say they ARE aspies than they HAVE or SUFFER from Asperger's, because they do not like the negative implications of that.
NT is short for Neurotypical. It is a term used to describe people with more common or more typical neurology (brains). People with AS prefer to use it instead of words like 'normal' because their is no such thing as normal really, just majority and minority.
Q. How common is it..?
A. Asperger's Syndrome occurs in approximately one in every three hundred people.
Q. Where can I find out more..?
A. http://www.as-if.org.uk
A. Asperger's syndrome is named after Han's Asperger, the doctor who first recognised and described the symptoms back in the 1940's. It is sometimes just called autism because it is an autistic spectrum condition, and sometimes it is called A.S. for short. The more widely known, rarer, and more severe autistic spectrum condition commonly referred to as Autism is sometimes called Kanner's Syndrome, after the doctor who discovered it also.
Q. What does Autistic mean..?
A. The word Autism is derived from the Greek word meaning "self" and is understood to have been first used by Eugene Bleuler in 1912 to describe those who are self absorbed or escaping from reality. Daydreams, fantasies, delusions, and hallucinations would all be "autistic" if you indulged in them to the point where you began to appear withdrawn and no longer interested in real life. Years later, both Kanner and Asperger used this established and understood word to describe how the children they saw 'appeared' to be. It was a description, not a diagnosis in itself. It was Kanner's well publicised work that led to the word Autism being associated with the syndrome he identified. Today it is used to describe any condition on the autistic spectrum... which includes people of widely varying levels of ability.
Q. What are Aspies and NT's..?
A. Aspie is a popular term for describing people with Asperger's, but it is more common for people with AS to use it to describe themselves than it is for other people to describe them with it. Many people with AS prefer to say they ARE aspies than they HAVE or SUFFER from Asperger's, because they do not like the negative implications of that.
NT is short for Neurotypical. It is a term used to describe people with more common or more typical neurology (brains). People with AS prefer to use it instead of words like 'normal' because their is no such thing as normal really, just majority and minority.
Q. How common is it..?
A. Asperger's Syndrome occurs in approximately one in every three hundred people.
Q. Where can I find out more..?
A. http://www.as-if.org.uk
