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Definition

Asperger's disorder, which is also called Asperger's syndrome (AS) or autistic psychopathy, belongs to a group of childhood disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) or autistic spectrum disorders. The essential features of Asperger's disorder are severe social interaction impairment and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and activities. It is similar to autism, but children with Asperger's do not have the same difficulties in acquiring language that children with autism have.

In the mental health professional's diagnostic hand book, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition text revised, or DSM-IV-TR,...