Autism Info > Asperger's Disorder

This syndrome, named for Viennese physician Hans Asperger, was identified in a paper published in 1944. It described the exact same diagnostic criteria as autism in social and communication skills. The basic difference is the fact that Asperger’s disorder describes no delay in speech used as communicative language before the ages of 2 or 3. However the DSMV had not accepted Doctor Asperger’s diagnosis until 1994.

•	Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures to regulate social interaction
•	Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
•	Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people. e.g., lack of showing or bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to all people
•	Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities as follows:

•	Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of information that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
•	Apparently flexible adherence to specific (non-functional) routines or thoughts stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms “e.g. hand or finger snapping or twisting, of complex whole body movements”
•	Persistent preoccupation with the parts of objects

The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other areas of function.

There is no clinically significant delay in language. “e.g., single words used by age 2, communicative phrases used by age 3 years”

There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age appropriate self-help skills, adapted behavior “other than in social interaction” and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

CRITERIA ARE NOT MET FOR ANOTHER SPECIFIC PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER OR SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Of course, there are personality variances. These are noted through higher-functioning Aspergers people who have a display of warmth and different variables of personality.

Anita Zatlow, Associate Executive Director

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