Introduction
Yes. The traits once described as Asperger's syndrome are now considered part of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since 2013, Asperger's has not been a standalone clinical diagnosis in the United States. Anyone diagnosed today with the profile that used to fall under "Asperger's" receives an ASD diagnosis, typically at the lower support-needs end of the spectrum.
If you or your child were diagnosed with Asperger's before 2013, that diagnosis is still valid as a historical record, but new evaluations no longer use the term.
What Changed in the DSM-5
Until 2013, the DSM-IV (the diagnostic manual used by clinicians in the U.S.) listed several separate conditions, including autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Researchers and clinicians found that the lines between these categories were inconsistent in practice, and that people with similar profiles were being given different labels depending on the evaluator.
The DSM-5 consolidated all of these into a single category, autism spectrum disorder, and replaced the older subcategories with a system of three support levels:
- Level 1: requiring support
- Level 2: requiring substantial support
- Level 3: requiring very substantial support
The profile previously called Asperger's most often maps onto Level 1 ASD today. The change reflects the understanding that autism is a spectrum rather than a set of separate conditions.
What "Asperger's" Used to Describe
Historically, an Asperger's diagnosis was generally given to people who:
- Showed early language development on a typical timeline
- Had average or above-average measured cognitive ability
- Experienced challenges with social communication, flexibility, and sensory processing
- Often had deep, focused interests
Many of these traits are still recognized as part of the autism spectrum. What changed is the label and the framework, not the lived experience of the people described.
Why Many People No Longer Use the Term
There are two main reasons the term has fallen out of clinical use beyond the DSM change.
First, research has shown that separating "Asperger's" from the rest of the spectrum created inconsistent diagnoses and contributed to functioning labels (such as "high-functioning" and "low-functioning") that many autistic self-advocates consider inaccurate and reductive. A verbally fluent person may still need significant support with sensory regulation, executive function, or daily living, and a person with higher support needs may have rich inner experiences that functioning labels obscure.
Second, historical research published in 2018 documented that Hans Asperger, the Austrian pediatrician the syndrome was named after, was involved in the Nazi-era child euthanasia program in Vienna. After this came to light, many autistic adults who had previously identified with the term moved away from it. Some still use "Aspie" or "Asperger's" as personal identity terms, and that's a personal choice; clinically, though, the diagnosis is ASD.
What This Means for Support
Whether someone is diagnosed with Level 1 ASD today or was diagnosed with Asperger's decades ago, the support needs are individual. Common areas where structured support can help include:
- Social communication and relationship-building
- Flexibility around routine and unexpected change
- Sensory regulation
- Executive function (planning, organization, transitions)
- Self-advocacy in
school or work settings
Not every autistic person wants or needs ABA, and that's a legitimate choice. For families who are looking at ABA, modern programs at the Level 1 end of the spectrum tend to focus on collaboration, self-advocacy skills, and goals chosen with the autistic person rather than around them. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and peer support groups are often part of the picture as well.
A Note on Language
You may still see "Asperger's" used in older medical records, in some communities outside the U.S., and in personal identity. Inside a clinical setting today, though, the formal diagnosis is autism spectrum disorder. Both can be true at once, and respecting how a person describes themselves is the right starting point.
Conclusion
The shift from “Asperger’s syndrome” to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) reflects a deeper understanding of autism as a broad, diverse spectrum rather than separate categories. While the term Asperger’s may still hold personal meaning for some, clinically it is now part of ASD, usually at the lower support-needs end.
What matters most is not the label itself but the supports and strategies that help each individual thrive. Whether diagnosed before or after 2013, the focus should remain on building communication, flexibility, sensory regulation, and self-advocacy in ways that respect identity and autonomy.
Families, professionals, and autistic individuals can move forward by honoring historical diagnoses while embracing today’s spectrum-based framework. Respecting how someone chooses to describe themselves, while ensuring access to individualized supports, is the most ethical and empowering path.
Working with Steady Strides ABA
At Steady Strides ABA, we provide individualized ABA therapy programs in Texas for autistic children and teens across the spectrum, including those with Level 1 support needs. We work with each family to set goals that matter for their child's daily life and to collaborate with other providers when that serves the child best.
Contact us today to schedule a no-commitment conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asperger's syndrome the same as autism?
The profile once called Asperger's is part of autism spectrum disorder. Since the DSM-5 was published in 2013, clinicians in the United States no longer give a separate Asperger's diagnosis. Instead, the same traits are now diagnosed as ASD, most often at Level 1 support needs.
If I were diagnosed with Asperger's before 2013, is that diagnosis still valid?
Yes, as a historical record. A pre-2013 Asperger's diagnosis remains a legitimate diagnosis of an autism-spectrum condition, and many people who received that diagnosis still identify with the term personally. For new evaluations, insurance, and services today, clinicians use the current ASD framework.
What is Level 1 autism?
Level 1 ASD describes autism with the lowest level of support needs as defined in the DSM-5. Someone at Level 1 may have noticeable social-communication differences, focused interests, and sensory sensitivities, while generally being able to function with less day-to-day assistance than someone at Level 2 or Level 3. Support needs can shift over time and across settings.
Why did the DSM-5 stop using the term Asperger's?
The DSM-5 grouped Asperger's, autistic disorder, and related conditions into one category (ASD) because research showed the lines between them were applied inconsistently in practice. Separating Asperger's from autism also contributed to functioning labels that many autistic people consider inaccurate. The unified ASD framework allows for a more individualized picture of support needs.
SOURCES:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder
https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/autism
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd
