According to most laypeople autism = mental retardation

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My understanding is that low IQ measures on standardized IQ scales are associated with autism. The sub-group of autistic people who have Asperger's Syndrome is small compared to the over-all group. So while Asperger's Syndrome itself is associated with average to above average IQ measures on standardized IQ scales, those autistic persons with Asperger's Syndrome are a minority of all autistic persons, and do not greatly impact average IQ measures for autistic people as a group.

I wouldn't have said it if I didn't read it; the source is perhaps the largest of its kind in the psychiatric field. An IQ of 80 is still within the normal range. Personally, I'm betting that the IQ will jump 10-20 points as the individual matures.

Asperger's: mild MR to normal (the majority are in normal with standardized tests)
Autism: MR to normal (the majority are in normal when tests that don't rely on verbal ability are administered)
Overall (this includes all PDDs, not just Autism/Asperger's): the majority have MR when given standardized tests (the 70% figure)

autism = retardation

for others

because they only see the tip of the iceberg,
only those kids with kanners syndrome
some kids with asperger's syndrome go on with life
undetected... moving from school to school encountering different
labels...

I think most people are uneducated. There are stereotypes about every 'fringe' group.

I don't think my boyfriend is ret*d even though he has Asperger's syndrome. In fact, I find him completely intellectually stimulating

What about HFA?

Excuse me. My IQ happens to be above average.

My IQ generally tests between 140 and 160 ... and that's only because there's so much of the damn social stuff in it. That doesn't stop me being a complete social f**k-up.

I think that's where the HF (HIGH functioning) in the HFA comes from

Note that depending on the exact criteria used, there is no difference between HFA and AS. If one of the main differentiating criteria is speech, then I am HFA, not AS - I didn't speak a word before I was 40 months ... (I read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was 5 or 6).

I was tested for Autism three times before I started school (at the age of 4), but each time they said I was "too high functioning to warrant a diagnosis".

Just FYI and all, in outcome for people with Autism, whether HFA or LFA, it isn't much different; IQ is relatively meaningless in outcome in relation to living an independent life, as outcome studies have shown.

AS has a better outcome (poor to fair, rather than just poor as is for people with Autism).

Umm...what is a "layperson"?

I have always scored relatively high on all standardized tests which explains why I am regarded as so high functioning. Also, it is part of the reason I am convinced my problem isn't with AS or ADHD or whatever label I have, it's with the way others treat me and try to prevent me from achieving. What else explains it? Obviously I am not stupid, look at my test scores.

Damn I wish people would just give me a chance without judging me and show me some respect it's all I ask. Is this too much?

After learning about AS, first reaction was, quoting here, "so I'm some kinda fancy ret*d?"

Had always blown off people who claimed "social retardation" as being my main problem. Personally, in total agreement:
Most social people have a form of retardation that causes them to clump together for no dang reason.

What is the stigma with the words "ret*d" and "retardation", is it just that kids yelled the "R-word" at each other on the playground? When you let school boys run things, none of us heterosexuals get to engage in gaiety ever again. Seems ridiculous, "ret*d" should be no more out of bouns than "idiot", if someone is one, well, yeah, that's the word for it. Nobody would mind being called socially gifted or a social genius. It's all Newspeak, replacing the word "bad" with "ungood", as though all negative traits needed to be glossed over. Not a murderer, someone who has Life Preservation Deficit Disorder.

If someone was desribing an Aspie as a social s***-for-brains, that would be an insult, maybe something to get ticked off about. Yes, I'm a ret*d; ret*d, ret*d, ret*d!! A ret*d that blew out 78% of college bound seniors on the SATs (1340), and has an IQ in the 99th percentile (137 verbal test, 150+ written). So what if I am? It is the stigmatizer who has a problem, not me.

Ditto here. Someone at school caught me rocking once, and asked if I was "autistic or something". I thought in my head "What the heck, I'm nothing like Rain Man." and said "No."



I've only taken online IQ tests, but all the ones I've done were mostly math problems, so I can see why a lot of people on the spectrum would score low.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/layman

Most popular meaning:


It is usually a way of admiting ignorance:

"could I have that in layman's terms please?"

or kind of subtly insulting people:

"In layman's terms...."

I give IQ tests for a living. Sound fun, huh? j/k

I just don't believe you can get an accurate score with people on the spectrum.

Last edited by natesmom on 30 Jul 2008, 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

So in this case it means people who aren't autistic?

NO. It means that a lawyer or doctor or scientist might consider me one, and not speak of relative theories or use industry words, because they consider ME a layman/layperson. Then again, I may simplify any special speech in talking with them about matters I am more adept at, for the same reason.

It has NOTHING to do with being autistic. I think the title here simply means most people that aren't doctors/psychiatrists believe that autism=MR.

Okay, I understand now. Thank you for clearing that up...