| Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder that belongs | | | | most children. |
| to a wider group of disorders called pervasive | | | | The fifth sign is no major delay in cognitive |
| developmental disorders. People with Asperger's | | | | development in the child, as well as no delay in |
| syndrome have difficulty interacting socially and | | | | self-help skills and adaptive behaviors. |
| can display some symptoms of autism such as | | | | The sixth and final qualification is simply states |
| being very routine driven. However, they have | | | | that the child's behavior and condition cannot be |
| normal or above-normal levels of intelligence and | | | | explained or better accounted for by any other |
| speech develops at a normal rate. | | | | disorder or form of autism. |
| Asperger's syndrome was discovered and written | | | | So, if a child meets all of these qualifications, then |
| about by Hans Asperger. He was an Austrian | | | | it is likely that they have Asperger's syndrome. |
| doctor who wrote about the disorder but it | | | | Hans Asperger stumbled upon the syndrome that |
| wasn't until a year after his death in 1981 when a | | | | would later bear his name in 1944. The doctor |
| researcher named Lorna Wong coined the term | | | | was observing a group of children and noticed a |
| Asperger's Syndrome. | | | | few who seemed to have difficulty integrating |
| Asperger's syndrome is classified by six known | | | | socially with the rest of the kids. |
| criteria. The first is impairment in social interaction. | | | | When they did try to interact, their mannerisms |
| The second qualification is repetitive, restricted | | | | were either inappropriate or too formal for that |
| and what are considered stereotyped behaviors. | | | | particular situation. The children also showed a |
| The third qualification is a bit vague, but it is | | | | bizarre fixation on a particular topic and the child |
| described as a significant and measured | | | | would only want to talk about that particular topic. |
| impairment in what is considered important areas | | | | These fascinations can range from the simple, like |
| of functioning. | | | | a doorknob or a shiny piece of metal, to |
| The final three qualifications work towards | | | | something more esoteric, like the history of the |
| separating Asperger's syndrome from other | | | | can opener or how tissues are made. |
| types of autism. So the fourth qualification is no | | | | For more information about symptoms and the |
| delay in language development. As having a delay | | | | various treatments for Asperger's Syndrome sign |
| can be a sign of more severe types of autism in | | | | up for the free newsletter below. |