Asperger’s Syndrome, first identified by Dr. Hans Asperger in 1944, describes individuals with normal intelligence and language development but significant social and communication challenges. British psychiatrist Dr. Lorna Wing brought Asperger’s work to global attention in the 1980s, emphasizing the unique profiles within the autism spectrum. Asperger’s Syndrome was officially recognized in diagnostic manuals in the 1990s but was merged into Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the DSM-5 in 2013. This consolidation has been controversial, with critics arguing it overlooks the specific needs of those with Asperger’s. Despite this, the legacy of Asperger and Wing continues to influence the understanding and support of autism spectrum conditions.
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