Vysoce funkcni autismus a Aspergeruuv syndrom: Problematika koncepce a diferencialni diagnostiky

The authors demonstrate on a case-record the complexity of the differential diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders. In the introduction they describe the diagnostic criteria for child autism and Asperger syndrome. They discuss the differences between highly functional autism and Asperger syndrome which have very similar symptoms. On the case- history of a 17-year-old boy they demonstrate the complexity of the differential diagnosis. The case-history contains detailed anamnestic data, dynamics of the development of typical symptoms. The authors describe also standard diagnostic procedures incl. results of psychological tests (Prague child Wechsler, Sally-Ann test, smarties test, Stanford Binet intelligence test, Raven's test, Rorschach's test, Szondi test) and rating scales (Childhood Autism Rating Scale). In the discussion the authors emphasize the necessity of early diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders: in highly functional autism latest by the age of 3-5 years, in Asperger syndrome by the age of 5-7 years.