Asperger syndrome (
AS), also known as
Asperger's syndrome,
Asperger disorder (
AD) or simply
Asperger's, is an
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in
social interaction and
nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of
linguistic and
cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical (peculiar or odd) use of language are frequently reported. The diagnosis of Asperger's was eliminated in the 2013 fifth edition of the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (
DSM-5) and replaced by a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder on a severity scale.