Management guidelines for asthma emphasize a stepwise approach in treating this disease based on daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, and lung function assessed by peak expiratory flow or forced expiratory volume at 1s (FEV₁). Although improvement of lung function is a key goal in managing asthma, clinicians often see patients who may have achieved a normal FEV₁ with guideline-recommended treatment but continue to experience limitations in their daily activities. In such situations, focusing the assessment solely on pulmonary function (e.g. FEV₁) is often inadequate and may lead to undertreatment. Alternate assessment measures are therefore often needed to assess asthma control and achieve a successful treatment outcome. This review will provide practical guidance relevant to the clinical assessment of asthma control.