The term "Asperger syndrome" also just called Asperger's is not a term used by doctors anymore
Some people might still choose to use the term Asperger's or Asperger Syndrome if they have been diagnosed as this in the past. This is a personal choice
Asperger's and Asperger syndrome
In the past, Asperger's identified autistic people without learning disabilities. Today, it's understood that this falls under the broader umbrella of
Autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
It's considered controversial because of who it was named after, Hans Asperger, whose history with the Nazi party has been discovered.
Some people diagnosed with Asperger's still use that term. This might be due to personal preference or because the diagnosis is no longer officially recognised. Other people may choose a different term due to the negative aspects of Hans Asperger's past.
When did the Diagnosis change?
In the early 1990s, Asperger syndrome gained recognition as a formal diagnosis with its inclusion in major medical manuals. However, this term was later retired between 2013 - 2019 and folded into the broader category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
What is Autism
Autism, often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), isn't a one-size-fits-all term. It's a spectrum, meaning experiences can vary greatly. Hear from Jack about what it means to him in this video.
Autism
Like a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
, autism is a lifelong condition. Autism is sometimes referred to as a spectrum, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Questions and answers about Asperger syndrome
In the past, Asperger's identified autistic people without learning disabilities. Today, it's understood that this falls under the broader umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
No, Asperger syndrome (Asperger's) is no longer something that medical professionals give as a diagnosis
The term was later retired between 2013 - 2019 and folded into the broader category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This is a personal choice. Some people diagnosed with Asperger's still use that term. This might be due to personal preference or because the diagnosis is no longer officially recognised. Other people may choose a different term due to the negative aspects of Hans Asperger's past.
In the 1980s, Dr. Lorna Wing, a co-founder of the National Autistic Society (NAS) and a longtime consultant to their Lorna Wing Centre, introduced the term "Asperger syndrome" to autism
research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think.
.
Dr. Wing championed the idea of autism as a spectrum condition, drawing on the earlier work of Hans Asperger.
While Hans Asperger's observations of autistic differences were used in this work, his association with the Nazi regime during World War II makes referencing his work problematic today.