Asperger Syndrome is a brain developmental disorder that appears in childhood and continues without remission. Asperger Syndrome was a separate disorder, apart from autism, until DSM-5 was released back in 2013 when it was now considered part of the autism spectrum. Because Asperger syndrome is classified as a form of "high-functioning" verbal autism (unlike Kanner syndrome or classic autism being classified as a form of "low-functioning" non-verbal autism), it has some of the same symptoms and people who were formerly diagnosed as having Asperger syndrome are now classified as being autistic. Although, people with Asperger syndrome (or "Aspies") are not aloof and not emotionless, they don't have a language delay, they desire to have friends, they are diagnosed much later in life or not even at all, and in adulthood, they are very independent to live on their own without a legal guardian. In other words, people with Asperger syndrome are very good at masking their behavior to appear normal with some quirks, making them covert autistic people.
Symptoms[]
Being a pervasive developmental disorder, Asperger syndrome is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by qualitative impairment in social interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests, and by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in language. Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject, one-sided verbosity, restricted prosody, and physical clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for diagnosis.
Management[]
There is no cure for Asperger syndrome, but there are supportive therapy options available, most of which focus on lessening associated deficits and family distress. Some children with Asperger syndrome participate in behavioral therapy programs to improve functioning and decrease symptom severity, but most other children are never placed in special education classes or even in IEP, due to how they perform well in regular classes without problems comprehending the ability to be educated by their teachers.
Notes[]
House was once suspected of having Asperger syndrome. Wilson assumed that his antisocial personality, and his refusal to go back to his office until his old, blood stained carpet was put back, even when new carpet that was exactly the same type was used, were symptoms. He also believed his emotional connection to an autistic boy were proof of it. Cuddy then tells Wilson that House doesn't have Asperger syndrome, but he's just a jerk.