asperger's
• noun
A neurodevelopmental condition on the autism spectrum characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted or repetitive patterns of interest and behavior, without significant delays in language or cognitive development.
"After being diagnosed with Asperger's in college, he found a supportive community of neurodivergent peers."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although still widely used in everyday speech and by people diagnosed prior to 2013, 'Asperger's' (short for Asperger's syndrome) was officially merged into the broader diagnostic category of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the DSM-5.
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after Hans Asperger (1906–1980), an Austrian pediatrician who first described the neurodevelopmental condition in 1944; the English term 'Asperger's syndrome' was coined and popularized by British psychiatrist Lorna Wing in 1981.