Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

How does Asperger's disorder differ from autism?

1. It affects non-verbal skills more severely

2. It affects verbal skills less severely

3. It causes less social impairment

4. It is mainly diagnosed in older children

The correct answer is: It affects verbal skills less severely

Asperger's disorder is characterized by relatively intact verbal skills compared to other forms of autism spectrum disorders. Individuals with Asperger's typically exhibit normal to above-average verbal abilities and often do not experience significant delays in language development that are common in other forms of autism. While they may struggle with pragmatic language skills (the use of language in social contexts), their overall verbal communication abilities are generally less impacted. This distinguishes Asperger's from more classic forms of autism, where verbal communication may be significantly affected. It's important to note that while Asperger's disorder is associated with strong verbal abilities, individuals may face challenges in areas such as social interactions and understanding non-verbal cues, but this does not equate to a deficiency in verbal skills themselves.