What is Asperger
A brief history
In 1944, Dr. Hans Asperger, an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician, wrote a thesis. In this thesis, Dr. Asperger talks about "little professors." This is because they have intense interests and very formal language. Contrary to the article Leo Kanner wrote in the same period, the thesis of Dr. Asperger's had little attention for a long time. Only when Lorna Wing in 1981 paited attention the the thesis, his work got known to the general public.
Lorna Wing, a British psychiatrist with an autistic daughter, was involved in the studies to development disorders, especially Pervasive Developmental Disorders (including Autism and Asperger's). Lorna Wing wrote 1981 the article "Asperger syndrome: a clinical account." It was first time the current name of the syndrome was used.
A brief explanation
Asperger's is one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Like other ASD disorders, people with Asperger have awkward motor skills, difficulty to cope with social situations, lack of empathy, change is difficult for them and so on.
The main difference, with for example Classical Autism, is that language and speech are normal developed. Someone with Asperger's talks therefore normal (but usually in very formal language). Also they often have a higher intelligence and a normal need for contact.
To learn which characteristics fall under Aspergers, quickly read the text Aspergers characteristics.
