Many children with Asperger syndrome are not identified prior to school entry, and difficulties associated with the condition may only become evident when a child enters school. Failure to identify children with the syndrome may lead to increased risk for psychopathology, and lack of understanding of the reasons for social and communicative impairments, and the display of atypical behaviours. Therefore, there is a great need for effective screening instruments to be used with at risk children. This article reviews a number of screening instruments for Asperger syndrome and higher functioning autism spectrum disorders, and highlights the need for surveillance for the conditions among professionals who work in educational settings. (Contains 1 table.)