What Is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's syndrome was first described by a German doctor, Hans Asperger, in 1944 (one year after Leo Kanner's first paper on autism)

Often individuals with Asperger's syndrome have many of the behaviors listed here:

Language

• lucid speech before age 4 years; grammar and vocabulary are
   usually very good,
• speech is sometimes stilted and repetitive,
• voice tends to be flat and emotionless,
• conversations revolve around self

Cognition

• obsessed with complex topics, such as patterns, weather, music, history,
   etc., 
• often described as eccentric,
• I.Q.'s fall along the full spectrum, but many are in the above normal range
  in verbal ability and in the below average range in performance abilities, 
• many have dyslexia, writing problems, and difficulty with mathematics,
• lack common sense,
• concrete thinking (versus abstract)

Behavior

• movements tend to be clumsy and awkward,
• odd forms of self-stimulatory behavior,
• sensory problems appear not to be as dramatic as those with other forms
  of autism,
• socially aware but displays inappropriate reciprocal interaction. 

Researchers feel that Asperger's syndrome is probably hereditary in nature because many families report having an "odd" relative or two. In addition, depression and bipolar disorder are often reported in those with Asperger's syndrome as well as in family members.

In adulthood, many lead productive lives, living independently, working effectively at a job (many are college professors, computer programmers, dentists), and raising a family. Sometimes people assume everyone who has autism and is high-functioning has Asperger's syndrome. However, it appears that there are several forms of high-functioning autism, and Asperger's syndrome is one form.

1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
   1. 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
   2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
   3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
   4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity
2. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
   1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity of focus
   2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
   3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
   4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
3. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
4. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
5. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
6. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.