Asperger's syndrome, or Asperger's disorder, or just Asperger's, is a developmental disease characterized by poor social skills and interactions and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
When describing the highest-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum, this label was once employed. With the publication of the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013, Asperger's syndrome was officially decommissioned as one of the different kinds of autism.
Physicians no longer consider it a valid medical diagnostic. While the DSM-5 revisions have reclassified those formerly diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the mild-to-moderate range, the term is still used in some contexts and by some practitioners.
History
In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician called Hans Asperger reported four very bright kids who struggled to interact with others and were physically ungainly. This description gave rise to the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. But he didn't invent the phrase himself.
Asperger's syndrome was first identified in 1981 by a British psychiatrist named Lorna Wing. In 1994, it was included in the DSM-IV. The DSM-5 did away with the category and other autism spectrum disorders. All individuals with autism are classified as having ASD in the DSM-5. 3
ASD Severity Scale
The diagnostic criteria for autism have broadened such that those who are not severely autistic and who may have been previously classified as having Asperger's are now given the same label as those who are non-verbal, mentally challenged, and socially isolated and in need of significant daily support for basic life skills, which has caused some controversy surrounding the change to the DSM entry for Asperger's.
The DSM-5 classifies ASD into three tiers, each with a different level of severity that determines how much help a person will require.
The new autism classification classifies individuals as having a severity level of either 1, 2, or 3, depending on their degree of care requirements. The first tier is labeled "requiring support," the second "requiring significant assistance," and the third "requiring very substantial support."
Level One
Level one ASD patients can use whole phrases while speaking and communicating with others, although they may have difficulty carrying on a two-way discussion. On top of that, their attempts to socialize may come across as strange and end up failing most of the time. For individuals with ASD of a severe kind, the following characteristics characterize their social communication:
- Social communication difficulties degrade without help.
- The individual has trouble starting conversations and responds oddly to social cues.
- They may seem less enthusiastic in engaging with others.
Level two impairments are noticeable even with aids in place, while level three impairments significantly limit daily activities.
Repetition of the Name
Although Asperger's syndrome was left out of the DSM-5, it is still sometimes used in the US and internationally. People diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome may still choose that name because of the stigma associated with having an ASD diagnosis.
According to a 2017 research that looked at what would happen if Asperger's syndrome was removed from the DSM, the authors concluded that doing so "has the potential to harm the identity of persons affected," with the authors pointing to the stigmatizing nature of the autism diagnosis as the cause.
Furthermore, certain advocacy groups and organizations keep using the term, perhaps partly because some persons persist in identifying as having Asperger's rather than autism. Nonetheless, the Asperger's syndrome diagnosis is becoming less accepted in the medical community.
Asperger's syndrome will now be included under autism spectrum disorder in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases, which will go into effect on January 1, 2022. All countries that are part of the WHO will adopt the ICD-11.
Causes of Reclassification
With the publication of the DSM-5, Asperger syndrome was moved to the autism spectrum disorder category. In the US and elsewhere that utilizes the DSM-5, Asperger is no longer a recognized diagnosis.
the rationale behind the expansion of autism into autism spectrum disorder: However, the criteria for distinguishing these three levels is vague and has not been validated.
Autism vs. Asperger Syndrome
Under the DSM-5's new description of autism as a spectrum disease, Asperger syndrome is no longer distinguished from autism. If you've been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and see yourself in that label, you're free to use that word.
The title "Asperger "should not be used right now," he continued, "but there are many people who identify as who have latched onto it." If someone says, "I have," when they introduce themselves, I won't dare contradict them."
