Asperger syndrome

This page is about the eponym Asperger syndrome

Meaning

a disorder on the autism spectrum. A person with Asperger syndrome typically has difficulty interacting socially and exhibits repetitive behaviours.

For example

  • Ella's parents wondered if she had Asperger syndrome because, while other children played together, Ella preferred to play alone with twenty plastic hippos.

  • Children with Asperger syndrome typically lack nonverbal communication skills such as empathy.

Origin: Hans Asperger (1906-1980) was an Austrian pediatrician who studied mental disorders in children. He was interested in children who had difficulty with social skills.

Quick Quiz

Which describes a typical child with Asperger syndrome?

a. The child doesn't play with others.

b. The child never eats.

c. The child forgets rules.
a) The child doesn't play with others. b) The child never eats. c) The child forgets rules.

Contributor: Tara Benwell