Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger Syndrome according to Gillberg

In order to be able to get a diagnosisfor Asperger Syndrome, all the six criteria must be met


1. Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction at least two of the following:

a) inability to interact with peers

b) lack of desire to interact with peers

c) lack of appreciation of social cues

d) socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior

2. All-absorbing narrow interest at least one of the following:

a) exclusion of other activities

b) repetitive adherence

c) more rote than meaning



3. Imposition of routines and interests at least one of the following:

a) on self, in aspects of life

b) on others



4. Speech and language problems at least three of the following:

a) delayed development

b) superficially perfect expressive language

c) formal, pedantic language

d) odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics

e) impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings

5. Non-verbal communication problems at least one of the following:

a) limited use of gestures

b) clumsy/gauche body language

c) limited facial expression

d) inappropriate expression

e) peculiar, stiff gaze

6. Motor clumsiness: poor performance on neurodevelopment examination


Previous Page

Back to Asperger-Advice.com Homepage