Table 1

Diagnostic Criteria for 299.80 Asperger’s Disorder2

  • Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at 
 least two of the following:

    1. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors 
 such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and 
 gestures, to regulate social interaction;

    2. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to 
 developmental level;

    3. A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or 
 achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, 
 bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people);

    4. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

  • Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, 
 interests, and activities, as manifested by one of the following:

    1. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped 
 and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal, whether in 
 intensity or focus;

    2. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional 
 routines or rituals;

    3. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or 
 finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body 
 movements);

    4. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

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

  • There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., 
 single words used by age 2 years or communicative phrases 
 used by age 3 years).

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

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