Current surveys place the average age of clinical diagnosis around age 10. However, most parents observe unusual behaviors much earlier in the child's development. Rarely do AS symptoms go unnoticed. Unfortunately, parents and professionals may be unaware of the syndrome and engage in a long and often frustrating search for answers. It should be noted that the author has observed several cases in which adolescence appears to have played a dramatic role in increasing the symptoms of AS with negligible prior symptomatology or pre-adolescent history.
Several authors note the possibility of increased adjustment difficulties during the adolescence.
Children diagnosed with AS have varied intellectual abilities. The initial population that was so articulately described by Asperger comprised of boys with average to superior skills in measured intelligence. Many individuals with AS move into successful careers, although social adjustment may remain an obstacle in their lives. One of the most challenging realities in diagnosing Asperger syndrome is the varied social presentation of many of the children. To comprehend this diversity, one has to appreciate that similar primary deficits can be filtered in various ways through the unique configuration of each child.