Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Qualitative or Quantitative Differences Between Asperger’s Disorder and Autism? Historical Considerations

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The histories of autism and Asperger’s Disorder (AD), based on original contributions by Kanner and Asperger, are reviewed in relation to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Their original articles appear to have influenced the distinction between AD and autism made in the DSM-IV. Based on up-to-date empirical research, however, it appears that AD and autism are not qualitatively distinct disorders, but are different quantitative manifestations of the same disorder. The differences between AD and autism may be a function of individual variability in these areas, not the manifestation of qualitatively distinct disorders. The DSM-IV criteria for AD and autism need to be considered with their historical developments, and based on empirical evidence, the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria may be subject to critical review.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1952). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1968). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

  • Barbaro, J., & Dissanayake, C. (2007). A comparative study of the use and understanding of self-presentational display rules in children with high functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), 1235–1246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, T., Szatmari, P., Bryson, S., Volden, J., Zwaigenbaum, L., Vaccarella, L., et al. (2008). Differentiating autism and Asperger syndrome on the basis of language delay or impairment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(4), 616–625.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U. (1991). Autism and Asperger syndrome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U. (2004). Emanuel Miller lecture: Confusions and controversies about Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(4), 672–686.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaziuddin, M. (2008). Defining the behavioral phenotype of Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(1), 138–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaziuddin, M., & MountainKimchi, K. (2004). Defining the intellectual profile of Asperger syndrome: Comparison with high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(3), 279–284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howlin, P. (2003). Outcome in high-functioning adults with autism with and without early language delays: Implications for the differentiation between autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33(1), 3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iwanaga, R., Kawasaki, C., & Tsuchida, R. (2000). Brief report: Comparison of sensory-motor and cognitive function between autism and asperger syndrome in preschool children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(2), 169–174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous Child, 2, 217–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klin, A., Pauls, D., Schultz, R., & Volkmar, F. (2005). Three diagnostic approaches to asperger syndrome: Implications for research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(2), 221–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, T., Tachimori, H., Osada, H., Takeda, T., & Kurita, H. (2007). Cognitive and symptom profiles in Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 61(1), 99–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, V., & Fitzgerald, M. (2007). Asperger (1906–1980) and Kanner (1894–1981), the two pioneers of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(10), 2022–2023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macintosh, K. E., & Dissanayake, C. (2004). The similarities and differences between autistic disorder and Asperger’s disorder: A review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 45(3), 421–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macintosh, K., & Dissanayake, C. (2006a). A comparative study of the spontaneous social interactions of children with high-functioning autism and children with Asperger’s disorder. Autism, 10(2), 199–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macintosh, K., & Dissanayake, C. (2006b). Social skills and problem behaviours in school aged children with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(8), 1065–1076.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maestro, S., Muratori, F., Cesari, A., Pecini, C., Apicella, F., & Stern, D. (2006). A view to regressive autism through home movies: Is early development really normal? Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 113(1), 68–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Wilkins, J. (2008). Nosology and diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2, 288–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayes, S. D., & Calhoun, S. L. (2004). Influence of IQ and age in childhood autism: Lack of support for DSM-IV Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 16(3), 257–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Rogers, S. J., & Pennington, B. F. (1991). Asperger’s syndrome: Evidence of an empirical distinction from high-functioning autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 32(7), 1107–1122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1978). Diagnosis and definition of childhood autism. Journal of Autism & Childhood Schizophrenia, 8(2), 139–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., & Schopler, E. (1987). Autism and pervasive developmental disorders: Concepts and diagnostic issues. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17(2), 159–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shriberg, L. D., Paul, R., McSweeny, J. L., Klin, A. M., Cohen, D. J., & Volkmar, F. R. (2001). Speech and prosody characteristics of adolescents and adults with high-functioning autism and asperger syndrome. Journal of Speech Language & Hearing Research, 44(5), 1097–1115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szatmari, P., Bryson, S. E., Boyle, M. H., Streiner, D. L., & Duku, E. (2003). Predictors of outcome among high functioning children with autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 44(4), 520–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szatmari, P., Bryson, S. E., Streiner, D. L., Wilson, F., Archer, L., & Ryerse, C. (2000). Two-year outcome of preschool children with autism or Asperger’s syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(12), 1980–1987.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1981). Asperger’s syndrome: A clinical account. Psychological Medicine, 11, 115–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (2000). Past and future of research on Asperger syndrome. In A. Klin, F. K. Volkmar, & S. S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 418–432). New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodbury-Smith, M., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2005). Asperger’s syndrome: A comparison of clinical diagnoses and those made according to the ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(2), 235–240.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2G5

    James Ladell Sanders

Authors
  1. James Ladell Sanders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James Ladell Sanders.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sanders, J.L. Qualitative or Quantitative Differences Between Asperger’s Disorder and Autism? Historical Considerations. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 1560–1567 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0798-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0798-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation