Introduction This research paper is aimed at analyzing such a disorder as Asperger syndrome. In particular, it is necessary to examine the diagnostic criteria according to which medical workers can identify this illness. Secondly, one should discuss possible causes of this disorder. Furthermore, much attention should be paid to current treatments that can be used by educators and therapists in order to assist children or adolescents. The understanding of this disorder can be valuable to many professionals. It should be noted that Asperger syndrome can usually be diagnosed between the ages of five and ten (Stanford, 2002, p. 28). One should also bear in mind that in the United States, there are more than a million people who can have this disease (Baker & Welkowitz, 2004, p. 7). Thus, this disorder affects a great number of children. Apart from that, the syndrome can significantly impair social and educational development of a child (Baker & Welkowitz, 2004, p. 7). These are some of the reasons why this problem should not be overlooked by medical workers, educators, and parents. On the whole, one can say that the timely diagnosis of this disorder is vital for minimizing its risks. Moreover, it is critical to adopt a set of interventions that help a person develop social and behavioral skills that are adversely impacted by Asperger syndrome. These are the main issues that should be discussed more closely. Diagnostic criteria According to the American Psychiatric Association (1996), there are several attributes of this disorder. One should first mention the problems related to non-verbal behavior of a person. For instance, such children tend to avoid eye contact when communicating with other people (American Psychiatric Association, 1996). Moreover, they practically do not use gestures while communicating with others. Very often, such children find it rather difficult to understand the facial expressions of other people (Stanford, 2002, p. 28). Therefore, they can misinterpret the emotions of others. As a result, they can encounter various communicative problems. It should be noted that these symptoms should be demonstrated consistently; otherwise, one cannot speak about Asperger syndrome (American Psychiatric Association, 1996). The misdiagnosis is also one of the pitfalls that should be avoided because the misapplication of various treatments can significantly impair the development of a child. This is one of the points that should be taken into consideration. In some cases, people diagnosed with this disorder tend to make some repetitive movements. In particular, they can sometimes flick fingers in front of their eyes (Klim, Volkmar, & Sparrow, 2000, p. 403). Additionally, such children do not try to establish relations with their peers. Furthermore, the children cannot easily adjust to any changes in their daily routine. For example, such children always follow the same route while returning from school (Klim et al., 2000). As a rule, they prefer to perform actions according to a specific pattern that they once observed. In turn, a deviation from this pattern can pose significant challenges for them. Sometimes, their academic performance can be impaired significantly. Additionally, they can be pre-occupied with some objects. Very often, they can play with a single toy for many hours. These are the main characteristics of Asperg