Asperger syndrome is a form of autism.
While there are similarities with autism, people with Asperger syndrome have fewer problems with speaking and are often of average, or above average, intelligence.

Asperger syndrome is often a 'hidden disability'. This means that you can't tell that someone has the condition from their outward appearance.  They may just appear a little ‘odd’.

People with Asperger syndrome can find it harder to read the signals that most of us take for granted. This means they find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others, which can lead to much anxiety and confusion for them.

Being on the autism spectrum, a person with Asperger’s will show characteristics within Lorna Wing’s Triad of Impairments.  (Wing, 1981, cited in www.davisautism.com).
These include challenges with:
  • Social interaction 
  • Social communication 
  • Social imagination

These Triad of impairments will manifest in different ways and to varying degrees for each individual.  However there are some general observable features, listed below.
Social Interaction
People with Asperger’s have difficulty picking up social cues, and difficulty in knowing what to do when I get things wrong in social situations
Many want to be sociable but have difficulty with social relationships, including: 
  • Struggling to make and maintain friendships
  • Not understanding the unwritten 'social rules' that most of us inherently know. For example – standing within another’s personal space
  • Finding other people unpredictable and confusing
  • Withdrawing in social situations; appearing uninterested in other people; appearing almost aloof
  • Behaving in what may seem an inappropriate manner
Social Communication

People with Asperger’s often find it difficult to express themselves.  This may include:
  • Having difficulty understanding gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice
  • Having difficulty knowing when to start or end a conversation and choosing topics to talk about
  • Using complex words and phrases but may not fully understand what they mean
  • Being very literal in what they say and can have difficulty understanding jokes, metaphor and sarcasm 

Social Imagination
People with Asperger’s can be imaginative.  But they often have trouble guessing what others are thinking and feeling.  This can include:
  • Difficulty in imagining alternative outcomes to situations 
  • Finding it difficult to predict what will happen next
  • Having trouble understanding or interpreting other people's thoughts, feelings or actions. 
  • Missing the subtle messages from facial expression and body language

Other common observable behaviours of people with Aspergers include things such as:
  • The love of / need to stick to routines
  • Having areas of special, often intense interest
  • Over or under sensitivity to sensory stimuli (such as sounds, tastes, textures etc)


Source: The National Autistic Society