Asperger's syndrome

noun

As·​per·​ger's syndrome ˈä-ˌspər-gərz- 

ˈa-,

-jərz-

variants or Asperger syndrome or less commonly Asperger's disorder or Asperger's

: an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction, by repetitive patterns of behavior and restricted interests, by normal language and cognitive development but poor conversational skills and difficulty with nonverbal communication, and often by above average performance in a narrow field against a general background of impaired functioning

Word History

Etymology

Hans Asperger †1980 Austrian pediatrician

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Asperger's syndrome

noun

As·​per·​ger's syndrome ˈäs-ˌpər-gərz- 

variants or Asperger syndrome

-gər

also Asperger's disorder or Asperger's

: an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction, by repetitive patterns of behavior and restricted interests, by normal language and cognitive development but poor conversational skills and difficulty with nonverbal communication, and often by above average performance in a narrow field against a general background of impaired functioning

… typical of Asperger's syndrome are children or adults who are socially inept but often socially interested, articulate yet strangely ineloquent, markedly gauche and impractical, and specialists in unusual and often narrow fields.

—Ann M. Clarke and A. D. B. Clarke, Nature

The ultimate difference, perhaps, is this: people with Asperger's syndrome can tell us of their experiences, their inner feelings and states, whereas those with classical autism cannot.

—Oliver Sacks, The New Yorker

Individuals with Asperger syndrome do not have a delay in spoken language development, but they can have serious deficits in social and communication skills. People with Asperger syndrome often have obsessive, repetitive routines and preoccupations with a particular subject, such as trains.

—Susan Gaidos, Science News