Asperger's
Syndrome
Diagnostic Criteria
A. 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)
4. lack of social or emotional
reciprocity
B. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns
of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least of
one of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or
more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal
either in intensity or 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
C. The disturbance causes clinically
significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important
areas of functioning.
D. There is no clinically significant
delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years,
communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
E. 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.
F. Criteria are not met for another specific
pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia.