Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a developmental disability that is defined by impairments in social relationships and verbal and nonverbal communication and by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Although Hans Asperger of Austria recognized this syndrome in 1944 (Asperger, 1944/1991), it was not brought to the attention of the English-speaking world until the 1980s when Wing (1981) published a paper discussing the syndrome in 35 men and women ranging in age from 5 to 35 years. Further, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) did not recognize AS as a specific pervasive developmental disorder until 1994. Given this recent official recognition of AS, it is not surprising to find a lack of research on men and women with this disorder. It is known, for example, that AS "profoundly limits a child's participation in the process of growing up" (Szatmari, 1991, p. 91) and that these men and women seem to always be "out of context" (Szatmari, 1991, p. 83). Although AS is considered to be on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum (Frith, 1991; Wing, 1998) and a milder form of autism (Tantam, 1991), reported prevalence rates have increased and are estimated to be as high as 48 per 10,000 children (Kadesjo, Gillberg, & Nagberg, 1999).

Men and women with AS lack appropriate social skills, have a limited ability to take part in reciprocal communication, and do not seem to understand the unwritten rules of communication and conduct. They "perceive the world differently from everyone else" (Attwood, 1998, p. 9). Robinson and Trower (1988) argued that social behavior is the most central and important characteristic of human beings. Given this assertion, men and women with AS are at a clear disadvantage in coping with their social world. Asperger Syndrome may cause the greatest disability in adolescence and young adulthood when social relationships are the key to almost every achievement (Tantam, 1991). Not surprisingly, it is at this time that clinically diagnosable depression and anxiety occur, which may be related to a painful awareness of social differences (Wing, 1981).

Asperger Syndrome appears to have a later onset than autism or to be diagnosed later. Part of the reason may be that difficulties in social interaction become more evident in the context of school. During this time, particular idiosyncratic interests may also be recognized (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). In addition, data indicate that approximately half of the population of men and women with AS are not referred to doctors or psychologists during the school years, despite the problems recognized by teachers (Ehlers & Gillberg, 1993). For these reasons, AS may remain completely undiagnosed well into adulthood (Gillberg & Ehlers, 1998). Adults with this condition may experience difficulty with empathy or modulation of social interaction (APA, 1994).

The prevalence of Asperger Syndrome appears to be increasing, yet many individuals are still not being diagnosed during their school years. It is imperative to disseminate knowledge regarding the characteristics of Asperger Syndrome to parents and educational, mental health, and medical professionals so that ...