What is the difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome?

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If you’ve spent any time on Google (or in a school corridor, or at the family dinner table where Auntie Sheila is convinced she’s now an expert), you may have come across the terms autism and Asperger’s syndrome being used side-by-side.

And if you’ve wondered, “Are they different? Are they the same? Did the names change while I wasn’t looking?” — you’re certainly not alone.

The good news? You don’t need a PhD in neurodevelopment to understand it. Just a cup of tea, a calm moment, and perhaps a child who isn’t currently painting the dog.

Let’s break it down gently.

Autism vs Asperger’s: What’s the actual difference?​

Here’s the headline:

Asperger’s syndrome used to be a separate diagnosis. It no longer is.

Today, children and adults who would once have been diagnosed with “Asperger’s syndrome” are now understood to be autistic — specifically, autistic people who typically have average or above-average cognitive ability and who do not have significant language delays.

This shift happened because clinicians and researchers realised that the old categories were confusing, inconsistent, and not very helpful for families. So in 2013, the diagnostic manuals moved everything under one umbrella term: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

(NHS reference)

Think of it less like removing an identity, and more like updating a map so it matches the real roads.

Why was Asperger’s removed as a diagnosis?​

A few key reasons:

1. Children didn’t neatly fit the boxes

Many young people sat somewhere between the old definitions of “autism” and “Asperger’s", and clinicians often disagreed about which label was “correct”. Predictably, this led to delays, confusion, and more than a few frazzled parents.

2. The differences weren’t meaningful enough

Research showed that the core features — differences in social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behaviour — were essentially the same (CDC overview: Autism / Asperger's).

The main historical difference was around language development and cognitive ability, but even that wasn’t consistent enough to justify a separate label.

3. The autism community voiced strong preferences

Many autistic adults shared that they felt “Asperger’s” created unhelpful hierarchies: as though some autistic profiles were somehow “more acceptable”. The move towards a single spectrum emphasises that all autistic people deserve equal understanding, support, and acceptance.

So what does this mean for my child?​

If your child was previously labelled “Asperger’s”:

They’re still the same child, with the same strengths, challenges, and sparkly quirks — only now they sit under the updated diagnostic term autism.

If you’re seeking a new assessment:

Clinicians (including private clinics like ours) no longer diagnose Asperger’s syndrome. Instead, we identify whether a child meets criteria for autism, and we carefully describe their individual profile — including communication style, sensory needs, strengths, and any associated differences such as ADHD or anxiety.

This is much more helpful than a single word ever was.

But why do people still use the term “Asperger’s”?

A few reasons pop up:

• Habit: Old terminology tends to linger. (Ask any doctor still calling ADHD “ADD” from time to time.)

• Identity: Some autistic adults grew up with the term and feel attached to it.

• Schools and services: Occasionally still use legacy language, especially in older reports.

• The internet: Well… the internet is the internet.

It’s completely okay if people use different words, but for clinical purposes, “autism” is the correct and up-to-date term.

Autism is a spectrum — not a ladder

A key part of modern understanding is this:

Autism isn’t a scale from “mild” to “severe”. It’s a spectrum of differences, much like a mixing desk with lots of sliders — sensory sensitivity, language style, flexibility, executive function, social energy, special interests, and so on.

Every autistic child has their own unique pattern.

Every autistic adult has their own way of being in the world.

And our job — as parents, carers, teachers, and clinicians — is to understand that pattern, not push them into old categories.

How can I support my child?

You don’t need to master diagnostic history. The most important things you can do are:

• Understand their sensory profile (NICE guidance on autism support in children)

• Support executive function through routines, visual supports, and gentle structure

• Work with your child’s strengths, not against them

• Advocate confidently — clear language, reasonable adjustments, and collaboration with school

• Seek assessment and help early if you notice signs that affect daily life

  
  

Whether the old label fits or the new one, your child is still wholly themselves — curious, capable, and wonderfully wired.

And as always, if you need support with assessment, guidance, or understanding the jargon, our clinic team is here to help.

​Book an assessment or discuss treatment.