For many years, the term Asperger’s syndrome was commonly used to describe a form of autism where individuals typically had strong language skills and average or above-average intelligence. It helped people understand that autism exists on a wide spectrum, with different strengths and challenges.
However, the term is no longer officially used in diagnosis today.
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of its diagnostic manual (DSM-5), which brought an important change: instead of separate diagnoses like Asperger’s syndrome, autistic disorder, and PDD-NOS, everything was brought together under one umbrella—Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This shift was made to create more clarity and consistency. Autism is a spectrum, and dividing it into separate labels often caused confusion and uneven diagnosis. By using ASD, professionals can better describe each person’s individual needs and strengths, rather than fitting them into narrow categories.
There’s also another important reason the term has fallen out of use. It was named after Hans Asperger, whose work has since been linked to troubling ethical concerns during the Nazi era. While research continues to explore the extent of his involvement, this history has led many in the autism community to move away from using his name altogether.
Today, many people who were previously diagnosed with Asperger’s may still identify with the term—it can feel like part of their identity. And that’s okay. But clinically and increasingly socially, Autism Spectrum Disorder is the term that reflects a more inclusive and respectful understanding of neurodiversity.
At its heart, this change is about one simple idea:
Autism isn’t a set of separate boxes—it’s a spectrum of human experience.
