DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger's Disorder
Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
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Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
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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, or adaptive behavior (other than social interaction and curiosity about the environment in childhood). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Criteria are not met for another specific pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia. |
These are the three “bell-ringer traits” that clinicians should look for when considering a diagnosis of Asperger's disorder, according to Daniel Hoover, Ph.D., of Baylor College of Medicine:
Impaired social interactions, especially difficulty with social reciprocity. | |||||
Idiosyncratic interests or activities. | |||||
Odd, mechanical, or socially inappropriate speech patterns. |