AS 是autism spectrum 中的一种，是属于highly functioning, 患者语言和其他认 知方面毛没有自闭症典型的问题，但在与人交往方面有严重障碍，比如多次重复同 样的问题或者词语，不注意别人的一些subtle clues比如肢体语言等等。我对此了 解不多，但从书面的定义来看和这个孩子有些相符。当然也可能是因为home school 的缘故，但从我知道的一些home school 的孩子来看，多数有或多或少的peculiar behavior or characteristics，要么是天份太高，要么是社交方面有些困难，但有 很多人认为home school 本身就会对孩子的社交能力有负面的作用。所以到底什么 是因什么是果真的很难说。
Asperger syndrome 我还是第一次听说。 我在wiki上搜到的信息 Asperger syndrome (pronounced /ˈasˌpərgɘr ˌsɪndrəʊm/ in the U.S., /ˈasˌpəːgɘ/ in Britain; also called Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's or AS) is one of several autism spectrum disorders (ASD) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. AS is distinguished from the other ASDs in having no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, motor clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.
Asperger syndrome is named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Fifty years later, AS was standardized as a diagnosis, but questions about many aspects of AS remain. For example, there is lingering doubt about the distinction between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA);[4] partly due to this, the prevalence of AS is not firmly established. The exact cause of AS is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.
