Asperger's to be eliminated as a diagnosis

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The social disorder, Asperger's, will soon be recategorized.

The American Psychiatric Association will incorporate Asperger's disorder into the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

A person with Aspergers has trouble with normal social interactions and ability to ready emotions.
This diagnosis could make some school services easier for them, but it could also have the opposite effect.

This has been a 14-year revision process that some doctors think will simplify the diagnostic process.

“The experts that have created this and modified this over the years, my guess would be that they felt that those symptoms were so closely aligned with something that already existed, that it just made sense to have it under one category,” said pediatrician Dr. Susan Harp.

Asperger's Disorder as a diagnosis will be eliminated in May.