ABSTRACT
Classic autism and Asperger syndrome both share three core diagnostic features: (a) difficulties in social development, (b) the development of communication, and (c) unusually strong, narrow interests and repetitive behavior (APA, 1994). Since communication is always social, it might be more fruitful to think of autism and Asperger syndrome as sharing features in two broad areas: social communication and narrow interests/repetitive actions. As for distinguishing features, a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome requires that the child spoke on time and has an average IQ or above.
