Asperger's

Aspergers Symptoms





Aspergers Symptoms

Aspergers symptoms are commonly described in children as:

-Problems with eye contact, body postures, facial expressions and other nonverbal communication.
-Often regarded by other children as weird or strange.
-Difficulty in, or inability to develop peer relationships.
-Repetitive body movements such as finger flapping, twisting or awkward body movements.
-Hard time empathizing with or understanding others’ feelings.
-Difficulty in understanding humor or “reading” other people.
-Obsession with one or two subjects such as cars, baseball statistics or weather, and engaging in one-sided, almost continuous conversations about these subjects without regard to the listeners’ responses.
-Has an odd posture or gait, moving clumsily and with poor coordination.
-Speaking in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast.

Asperger Syndrome is considered to be one of the five pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), more often referred to today as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This is one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior.

The autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases as early as 18 months. Asperger Syndrome is named after an Austrian pediatrician, who in 1944, observed several children who had difficulty integrating social activities.

These children lacked nonverbal communications skills, were physically clumsy and had little or no empathy with their peers. They also had an all-absorbing interest in a single topic which dominated their conversations, and their speaking was either disjointed or overly formal.
Asperger described this as a personality disorder marked by social isolation, and termed the condition “autistic psychopathy”.

Researchers still do not understand the cause of of Asperger Syndrome, however there does seem to be a genetic component. There also seems to be structural abnormalities in several regions of the brain in those people with Asperger’s Syndrome. Some doctors refer to Asperger’s Syndrome as High Functioning Autism (HFA), although there is little consensus that there is a direct relation between the two.

The condition appears to be more common in boys than in girls. While some people with Asperger Syndrome have above-average intelligence, they typically have difficulty in social situations. As adults, many are able to have careers in fields like computer programming or science. There does not appear to be a language development delay, although normal social interactions are challenging.

Treatments

Children with Asperger’s symptoms, generally benefit from early specialized interventions focused on behavior management and social skills training. There is no single best treatment package for all children with AS, but most professionals agree that early intervention is best.

Because Asperger’s symptoms vary widely, making a diagnosis can be difficult. If you see signs of symptoms in your child, you should contact your doctor. A comprehensive evaluation by a team of professionals is needed to conclusively determine if your child has Asperger Syndrome.
Typically your child will be observed and you will be asked a number of questions about your child’s social interactions and communications skills. Tests can reliably assess your child’s level of speech, language, emotional and behavioral functioning.

Ideally, treatment for AS will coordinate therapies that focus on the three core symptoms of Asperger’s.
These are: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines and physical clumsiness. Building on the child’s interests and offering a predictable schedule are necessary for effective treatment. Actively engaging the child’s attention in highly structured activities helps reinforce acceptable behavior.

Successful therapy for Asperger Syndrome typically involves:
Social skills training—teaching children skills to interact more successfully.
Cognitive behavioral therapy—to help children to manage their emotions better.
Occupational or physical therapy—to help with poor motor coordination.
Specialized speech or language therapy—to teach normal conversational skills.
Medication—for conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Parent training and support—to teach parents behavioral techniques to use at home.

For more information and resources on Asperger’s symptoms and treatments, contact the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Asperger Syndrome Education Network.