Asperger's syndrome

This code identifies a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Individuals typically exhibit average or above-average intelligence and no clinically significant delay in language development. It represents a specific form of autism spectrum disorder.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, as per diagnostic criteria. This diagnosis is typically made by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or developmental pediatrician based on clinical evaluation and observation. Supporting documentation should detail the specific social communication deficits and restricted/repetitive behaviors observed.

• This code is now largely considered an historical diagnosis within the broader autism spectrum disorder (ASD) framework.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "Asperger's syndrome" for accurate coding; otherwise, a more general ASD code (e.g., F84.0) may be appropriate.
• Do not code this if the patient meets criteria for autism with intellectual disability or significant language delay, as those would fall under different F84 codes.