Why Asperger's Syndrome Is No Longer an Official Diagnosis

Asperger's syndrome (also known as Asperger's disorder or simply Asperger's) was retired as an official diagnosis in 2013. Asperger's syndrome now is diagnosed as level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism with low support needs.

Autism with low support needs is a developmental disorder. People with the diagnosis have typical language and cognitive development when compared with their peers, but experience challenges with social interactions and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

This article discusses the change in Asperger's diagnosis, and traits associated with ASD and levels of ASD. It offers information on where to find online resources and support.

Why Did Asperger’s Stop Being a Diagnosis?

Asperger's syndrome was named after an Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 described four children who were highly intelligent but socially awkward and physically clumsy. However, he did not coin the term.

It was a British psychiatrist, Lorna Wing, who in 1981 grouped together the traits under the diagnosis, naming it Asperger's syndrome. It was added to the DSM-IV in 1994.

Asperger's syndrome was retired in 2013 with the publication of the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

One reason it was retired is that DSM authors wanted to avoid the misconception that Asperger’s was a different condition from autism. A second reason is that Hans Asperger was a Nazi and collaborated in the murder of children with disabilities under the Third Reich. Researchers and clinicians wanted to distance themselves from this horrible history and legacy.

All autistic people now receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) per DSM-5.

Asperger's gained some notoriety in 2001 thanks to an article in Wired magazine titled "The Geek Syndrome,” where it was described as the "milder cousin" of autism. At the time, people with Asperger's often were regarded as being quirky, creative, anxious, and socially challenged.

Asperger’s and Autism Traits

Autistic people previously diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome often have a narrow or intense focus on select fields of interest and may want to know everything about a particular topic. Other traits can include:

Difficulty with speech and language
Social and emotional behavior that may be deemed "inappropriate"
Difficulty interacting with peers
Challenges with nonverbal communication (eye contact, facial expression, body postures)
Above-average performance within specific fields of interest
Repetitive routines
Clumsiness

An illustration of a child and instructor touching their faces with their fingers. — Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health

What Is the New Name for Asperger’s?

The change to the DSM entry for Asperger's is controversial to some, as people who do not experience intense autism traits and who may have been previously diagnosed as having Asperger's now receive the same diagnosis as those who are non-verbal, intellectually challenged, and in need of significant daily support for basic life skills.

For clarity and to alleviate confusion, the DSM-5 describes three distinct levels of ASD based on the amount of support a person needs. The new definition of autism describes people as having an intensity level of 1, 2, or 3:

Level 1 ASD: "Requiring support"
Level 2 ASD: "Requiring substantial support"
Level 3 ASD: "Requiring very substantial support"

Nearly every autistic person with a prior Asperger's syndrome diagnosis has low support needs (a level 1 diagnosis). People with new traits of mild autism receive the same diagnosis, though this may be reassessed over time.

Requires Support (Level 1)

Autistic people who require support (level 1) can speak in full sentences and engage in communication but they may struggle with back-and-forth conversation. In addition, their attempts to make friends may appear odd and are typically unsuccessful.

Social communication is categorized as follows for those with low support needs:

Without support in place, social communication is affected
Has difficulty initiating social interactions
Shows atypical or unsuccessful responses to social cues
May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions

Specific, fixed, and repetitive behaviors in those with low support needs include:

Inflexible behavior that interferes with functioning in one or more contexts
Difficulty switching between activities
Problems of organization and planning that hamper independence

Levels 2 and 3

For autistic people with more intense traits and support needs (levels 2 and 3), their challenges are apparent even with support in place. Repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be noticeable and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts.

Autistic people with high support needs experience intense challenges, with functional impairments and behaviors that interfere with daily life in all contexts.

People with low support needs (formerly diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome) do not exhibit these levels of impairment in their functioning.

Continued Use of the Name

Despite being excluded from the DSM-5, Asperger's syndrome is still used sometimes in the United States and other countries. A common reason for this is that an autism diagnosis can carry stigma, and people who were previously diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome may still identify with the term and prefer it.

A 2017 study analyzing the effect of removing Asperger's syndrome from the DSM found the change "has the potential to threaten the identity of those affected," citing autism as a stigmatizing diagnostic label. Some advocacy groups and organizations continue to use the term as well, at least in part because some people continue to identify as having Asperger's, not autism.

Medical consensus continues to move away from the Asperger's syndrome diagnosis. Following the DSM's lead, the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which took effect on January 1, 2022, has moved Asperger's syndrome under the autism spectrum disorder umbrella. The ICD-11 will be used by all World Health Organization member states.

Summary

Asperger's syndrome was once the diagnosis for autistic people with low support needs and mild autism traits. It was retired as an official diagnosis in 2013 with the new American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Asperger's syndrome is now diagnosed as level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism with low support needs. If you or an autistic loved one with low support needs have been diagnosed, your physician may still call it Asperger's syndrome. So do some autistic people who prefer the name.

There are many supportive therapies and services for autistic people with low support needs, such as social skills trainings and cognitive behavioral therapy. You may also want to join a support group, such as the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity's online support groups and discussion forums, to connect with other people and share experiences and resources.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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By Lisa Jo Rudy
Rudy is a writer, consultant, author, and advocate who specializes in autism. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and Autism Parenting Magazine.

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