Diagnosis+of+A&A+by+EO

​Because there isn't an actual medical test for autism or asperger's, a diagnosis for this disorder must be based on behavior and communication. There are three different catergories for the diagnosis: social interaction, communicaiton, and repetitive patterns of interests, behaviors, and activities. According to Autism Speaks, "A total of six of more items from each of the three categories with at least two from the first and one from each the second and the third." Because of a lack of better words, the following italicized information comes directly from the webstite //Autism Speaks// and is what they claim to be the DSM-IV criteria from the diagnosis of Autism.

//__Qualitative Impairments in Social Interaction__// //• 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, interests, 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.

__Qualitative impairments in Communication__ • Delay in or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime). • In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others. • Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language. • Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level.

__Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities__ • Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in 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//.

Although children with Asperger's have many of the signs above, certain capabilities would show they have asperger's and not classic autism. Their IQ should fall in normal or superior range, and they should only lesesr amount of speaking delays than someone with classic autism. Sometimes it is referred to as high-functioning autism because someone with this disorder can still funciton well, but they are socially awkward and usually have an obsessive interest in a specific subject.