الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 223 |  |  |
| | | from | 223 | | |
Abstract
Asperger syndrome is one of the pervasive developmental disorders, commonly referred to as a (high functioning) autism and falls under the umbrella of autistic spectrum disorders which include: autistic disorder, Rett`s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and Asperger syndrome. In 1944, Asperger syndrome was first described in a group of children by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger.
The results of many studies indicate the following contributing factors in the genesis of autism spectrum disorders: genetic factors, brain damage, biochemical anomalies, associated physical pathologies, neuropsychological deficits and interaction between these factors.
Diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is a clinical one, based on a set of symptoms and signs emphasizing development and behavior in childhood, and the definite diagnosis is based on the ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria.
The classification of autism spectrum disorders is a topic of debate among clinicians and researchers with many questioning the validity of the distinction among subtypes. However, classification and diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and its related syndromes are mostly the result of accumulated clinical observations and lack a uniform nosology.