2003 Summer Friendship Club 

DSM-IV DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA for ASPERGER'S DISORDER 

• Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

  • 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

  • failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level

  • 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 to other people)

  • lack of social or emotional reciprocity

• Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

  • encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

  • apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

  • stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)

  • persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

• The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

• There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

• 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.

• Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

So, what does all of this really mean?  This is a tough one to explain.  AS is considered to be on the Autism "Spectrum", which means that every child is different and will display behaviors  in various manners.  

How to learn more:

• Visit our Literature and Links page for relevant reference material.  

• Attend a support group meeting.

• A specialist in child development behavior can help you with your particular case.  Where do you find someone?  Some of the CARES members have worked with Children's Hospital and Western Psych.  

• Do you think you have a child with AS or other Autism Spectrum Disorder and need to talk to someone? All are welcome to attend meetings.

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