February 18th brings global attention to Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is marked by difficulties in social, emotional, and communication skills, but without language delays.
Asperger’s Syndrome is named after Hans Asperger, a pediatrician from Vienna who, in 1944, described a set of behavioral patterns in children, many of whom struggled with communication, coordination, and social skills.
On February 18th, the International Asperger Syndrome Day is commemorated with the aim of raising awareness and fostering consensus about the learning and working abilities of people with the disorder, to promote their inclusion in society.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately one in every 160 people worldwide has ASD.
The disorder is usually diagnosed when children reach school age and is more prevalent among men, with estimates suggesting that for every five girls diagnosed, one is a woman.
