If you were diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome — or have been wondering whether you might have Asperger’s — you’ve probably noticed that the term has largely disappeared from clinical conversations. That shift can feel confusing, even unsettling, especially if ‘Asperger’s’ is a word you’ve used to understand yourself for years.
This page is for adults who are navigating that confusion. Whether you received an Asperger’s diagnosis in the past, have always identified with the term, or are encountering it for the first time in your own research, I want to explain what changed and — more importantly — what it means for you personally.
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In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association updated the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) and merged Asperger’s Syndrome into a broader category called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). What was previously considered a separate condition — characterized by average or above-average intelligence, strong verbal skills, and social communication differences — is now understood as part of the autism spectrum.
What didn’t change is the reality of your experience. If you’ve identified with Asperger’s, nothing about your neurology shifted when the terminology did. The traits, the challenges, and the strengths are the same. What’s changed is the clinical language used to describe them.
This is why traditional approaches sometimes fall short. Cognitive-behavioral strategies can help manage surface-level symptoms, but if the underlying cause is an unrecognized neurological difference, the anxiety keeps returning. Understanding whether autism is part of your experience doesn’t eliminate anxiety — but it changes what you do about it. It gives you a framework that actually fits.
If you received an Asperger’s diagnosis years ago, that diagnosis remains valid. It doesn’t need to be ‘upgraded’ or replaced unless doing so would serve a practical purpose — such as accessing updated services, clarifying your current functioning, or simply getting a fresh perspective with the benefit of current clinical understanding.
Many adults arrive at my practice after searching for ‘Asperger’s’ and discovering the terminology has changed. The experiences you’re reading about — difficulty with social communication, preference for routine, intense focused interests, sensory sensitivities, a feeling of being different from peers — are all part of what’s now described under the autism spectrum. The shift in terminology doesn’t invalidate your self-recognition.
Many adults who were diagnosed with Asperger’s continue to use that term for themselves — and that’s a completely valid choice. Identity language is personal, and no diagnostic manual change can dictate how you describe your own experience. In my practice, I use whatever terminology feels right to the adults I work with.
I offer comprehensive autism assessments for adults that reflect current clinical standards while honoring your individual history and identity. Whether you’re revisiting an older Asperger’s diagnosis or exploring autism for the first time, my assessment process is thorough, evidence-based, and conducted entirely via secure telehealth — available anywhere in California.
Telehealth only (no in-office visits)
Licensed in California only
Whether you’re seeking targeted skill-building, help navigating work or relationships, or a space to better understand yourself, therapy can help.
A: While the term was removed from the DSM in 2013, if you received an Asperger’s diagnosis, it remains valid. The clinical understanding of your neurology hasn’t changed — only the terminology.
A: Not necessarily. A new assessment can be helpful if you want an updated understanding using current clinical tools, or if your original assessment was limited.
A: Clinically, there is no longer a distinction — both fall under Autism Spectrum Disorder in the current DSM-5. What was previously called Asperger’s Syndrome described individuals without significant language delay and with average or above-average intellectual ability.
A: Yes. All of my assessments are conducted via secure video and are available to adults anywhere in California.