Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome was an official DSM-IV (1994-2013) diagnosis for people with autistic traits but no significant delay in language development or general cognition. In the DSM-5 (2013), it was folded into ASD as "ASD level 1" — a change that sparked significant debate within the autistic community.

Many people diagnosed with Asperger's before 2013 keep the "Aspie" identity — particularly because ASD level 1 doesn't fully capture the specifics that an Asperger's diagnosis conveyed. Others prefer the broader autistic identity.

Traits commonly associated with it (now under ASD level 1): intense interest in specific topics, difficulty with social reciprocity and non-literal language, sensory hyper- or hyposensitivity, a preference for routine, and often strong verbal and cognitive ability.