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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:22 AM
Asperger syndrome is one of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which are a spectrum of psychological conditions that are characterized by abnormalities of social interaction
and communication that pervade the individual's functioning, and by
restricted and repetitive interests and behavior. Like other
psychological development disorders, ASD begins in infancy or
childhood, has a steady course without remission or relapse, and has
impairments that result from maturation-related changes in various
systems of the brain.[8] ASD, in turn, is a subset of the broader autism phenotype (BAP), which describes individuals who may not have ASD but do have autistic-like traits, such as social deficits.[9] Of the other four ASD forms, autism is the most similar to AS in signs and likely causes but its diagnosis requires impaired communication and allows delay in cognitive development, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder share several signs with autism but may have unrelated causes, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is diagnosed when the criteria for a more specific disorder are unmet.[10] The extent of the overlap between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA—autism unaccompanied by mental retardation) is unclear.[5][11][12] The current ASD classification may not reflect the true nature of the spectrum.[13]
A panel session at a 2008 diagnosis-related autism research planning
conference noted problems with the classification of AS as a distinct
subgroup of ASD, and two of three breakout groups recommended
eliminating AS Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire as a separate diagnosis in future versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.[14]
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