My Desire to Inspire

1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
-Marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
-Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level.
-A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people).-
A lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

2. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
-Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal in either intensity or focus.
- Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.
- Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting or complex whole-body movements).
- Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

3. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

4. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age two years, communicative phrases used by age three years).

5. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills or adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

6. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

The causes and origins of Asperger syndrome are an area of debate and controversy. Current thought among most stipulates that the causes of Asperger syndrome are the same as those of autism. Some disagree, arguing that Asperger syndrome and autism are caused by different things. All of this happens while the broader debate over whether Asperger's and other conditions (such as ADHD) are part of the so-called autism spectrum continues.

Among many competing models proposed to explain autistic behavior (and thus, as many believe, Asperger syndrome) are the under connectivity theory, developed by cognitive scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh; the extreme male brain theory, by Simon Baron-Cohen; the pre-operational autism theory; and the social construct theory.

Some theories argue more strongly for Asperger syndrome than autism. It is sometimes argued that some particular theories play a bigger role in Asperger syndrome, such as the social construct theory. However, this is a controversial area.

The etiology of Asperger's Syndrome is unknown. However, as with autism, it is known that it is highly heritable. Many researchers speculate that environmental triggers could be involved. Some suspect environmental factors play a more significant role in classic autism.