Abstract

Asperger’s disorder, also known as Asperger’s syndrome, is a pervasive developmental disorder that involves impairment in some basic aspects of communication and relationships. Although Asperger’s was originally a stand-alone diagnosis, the DSM- 5 retired it and now uses the autism spectrum diagnosis. Although people with ASD and social anxiety disorder (SAD) have difficulty in social situations, these disorders are quite different. The exact causes of ASD and social anxiety disorder are not fully understood, but researchers believe that several factors are involved. There is no single cause of autism spectrum disorder. Studies show that autism is hereditary. Research has also shown that people who are described as having Asperger’s, sometimes called “high-functioning autism,” are more likely to have family members with autistic behavioral traits.