| Asperger's Syndrome (AS) has autism-like | | | | others. |
| behaviors such as extreme difficulties with social | | | | Often they have an obsessive interest in a single |
| interaction and with communicating with others. | | | | subject for periods of time. Children with AS |
| Children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome | | | | obsess about routines such as having to dress or |
| have no speech delays unlike children with autism. | | | | eat food in the same order. They often show |
| In fact they typically have a large vocabulary and | | | | physical repetitive movements such as wringing of |
| are advanced for their age in using it. People often | | | | hands or flapping hands. Their gait is often |
| see children who have AS as "little professors" in | | | | awkward and many times people regard them as |
| their ability to command a large vocabulary. Their | | | | clumsy. |
| speech patterns however may be unusual, lack | | | | More boys are diagnosed with Asperger's |
| inflection, and rhythm. They may speak in a too | | | | Syndrome than girls. In the past those who |
| loud or high-pitched voice, thus tended to be or | | | | displayed the symptoms of AS were often |
| interruptive. Children with AS typically have good | | | | diagnosed as having high-functioning autism. In |
| rote memory but have difficulty with abstract | | | | 1994, the American Psychiatric Association added |
| ideas. | | | | Asperger's Syndrome to the Diagnostic and |
| Children with AS want to make friends and have | | | | Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). |
| a normal social position in society but lack the | | | | The DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of Asperger's |
| ability and understanding of how to do so. Children | | | | Syndrome is that children with AS have normal |
| with AS are socially inept, and unable to | | | | language development and normal or high |
| understand the social rules of society. They | | | | intelligence and "severe and sustained impairment |
| cannot tell when someone is kidding, joking or | | | | in social interaction, and the development of |
| teasing. They cannot distinguish humor from | | | | restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, |
| seriousness. They often have trouble reading | | | | interests, and activities that must cause clinically |
| social cues and people's nonverbal communication. | | | | significant impairment in social, occupational or |
| They also find it difficult to have empathy for | | | | other important areas of functioning. |