What Is Asperger Syndrome, And How Does It Differ From Autistic Disorder?

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Question: What is Asperger syndrome, and how does it differ from autistic disorder?

Answer: Asperger disorder is one of the five subtypes of the autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with Asperger disorder may have difficulty with making eye contact with others. They may have problems in terms of taking the perspective of other people or showing empathy. They may be overly interested in amassing facts about a particular topic, such as the solar system or weather -- and in general, have some difficulty with abstract thought or abstract reasoning.