ABSTRACT
Asperger's syndrome is named after Hans Asperger, who was an Austrian paediatrician. Born in Vienna, Asperger published the first definition of Asperger's syndrome (AS) in 1944. Asperger called children with AS 'little professors' because of their ability to talk about their favourite subject in great detail. He was convinced that many would use their special skills in adulthood. He followed up one child, Fritz Vee, into adulthood. Vee later became a professor of astronomy. Autistic spectrum of disorders (ASD) includes 'classical' autism originally described by Kanner and Asperger's syndrome, but is not limited to the two conditions. The triad of impairments occur in children with all levels of intelligence, from the most learning disabled to those with average and superior cognitive abilities. Children with Asperger's syndrome are responsive to their parents and show normal greeting, comfort-seeking and attachment behaviour. Early diagnosis is dependent on listening carefully to parents' concerns about their child's development and behaviour.
