Learning Characteristics of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

Non-Significance of Early Speech Delay in Children with Autism and Normal Intelligence and Implications for DSM-IV Asperger’s Disorder

“…Current proponents of Asperger syndrome disagree with the DSM-IV definition and state that individuals with Asperger syndrome do have language abnormalities (Ghaziuddin et al, 1998;Gillberg and Ehlers, 1998;Klin and Volkmar, 1995;Siegel, 1996), have less severe symptoms and better social and language skills than individuals with autism (Eisenmajer et al, 1996;Myhr, 1998;Siegel, 1996;Szatmari et al, 1995), may have IQs in the mentally retarded range (Klin and Volkmar, 1995;Siegel, 1996), and may have delayed speech milestones (Eisenmajer et al, 1996;Manjiviona and Prior, 1995;Siegel, 1996;Twachtman-Cullen, 1998). Researchers and clinicians continue to disagree about the definition of Asperger syndrome (Eisenmajer et al, 1996;Hooper and Bundy, 1998;Manjiviona and Prior, 1995;Myhr, 1998;Schopler, 1998;Szatmari et al, 1995;Volkmar and Klin, 1998). Schopler recently stated, 'it becomes increasingly difficult to arrive at a usable classification system as increasing numbers of authors introduce their own variations in criteria ' (1998, p. 389).…”