Asperger Syndrome

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. As a milder autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it differs from other ASDs by relatively normal language and intelligence. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and unusual use of language are common. Signs usually begin before two years of age and typically last for a person's entire life.

The exact cause of Asperger's is unknown. While it is probably partly inherited, the underlying genetics have not been determined conclusively. Environmental factors are also believed to play a role. There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.

Asperger Syndrome in "Speaker to Emos"

The majority of humans were prone to punctuality, inflexibility in personal habits, had a limited ability to understand nonverbal cues, were uncomfortable with overt displays of emotionalism, and tended towards scrupulous honesty. They preferred reason and logic to feeling.

Approximately one percent of the human population was diagnosed with von Mellenthin's Syndrome, a syndrome marked by emotionalism, less-detail oriented thinking, and a comparative lack of sincerity. These people, also called "emos", had a difficult time as a minority, and it was only in the last half of the 20th century that their condition was identified, much less understood.