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Aspergers
Aspergers (AS) is a neurobiological disorder,which has a profound affect on basic life skills.
Aspergers is attached to the autism spectrum on
the high functioning side. Aspergers is what is
known as a pervasive developmental disorder and
one that can hamper how a child studies, learns
and perceives the environment around them.
Aspergers is characterized by communication
problems, difficulty relating to people,
repetitive body movements, difficulty with
changes in routine, obsessing about certain
topics or items, and unusual play with toys or
other objects.
A child with Asperger's Disorder functions at a
higher level than the typical child with autism.
For example, many children with Asperger's
Disorder have normal intelligence. While most
children with autism fail to develop language or
have language delays, children with Asperger's
Disorder are usually using words by the age of
two, although their speech patterns may be
somewhat odd. Aspergers is more common in boys
than in girls.
Children with Asperger's Disorder are also at
risk for other psychiatric problems including
depression, attention deficit disorder,
schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Social-
Social skills are particularly challenging for
the child with Aspergers. There are two types of
social skill deficits: cognitive deficiencies and
cognitive distortions. Like other forms of autism,
Aspergers includes repetitive behavior patterns
and impairment in social interaction. The most
common and important characteristics of Aspergers
can be divided into several broad categories:
social impairments, narrow but intense interests,
and peculiarities of speech and language.
Although there is no single feature that all
people with Aspergers share, difficulties with
social behavior are nearly universal and are one
of the most important defining criteria.
As children with Aspergers mature, and become
aware of their inability to connect, their fear
of making a social mistake, and their self-
criticism when they do so, can lead to social
phobia. Another important aspect of the social
differences often found in people with Aspergers
is a lack of central coherence. The combination
of social problems and intense interests can lead
to unusual behavior, such as greeting a stranger
by launching in to a lengthy monologue about a
special interest rather than introducing oneself
in the socially accepted way. Children with
Aspergers can learn to manage their differences,
but they may continue to find social situations
and personal relationships challenging.
Symptoms may be seen by obsessional absorption
with inanimate objects, such as watches and
clocks; or a predominant interest in systematic
things like numbers, indices, telephone
directories, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and
measuring scales.
Treatment-
A typical treatment program generally includes:
· social skills training, to teach the skills to
more successfully interact with others;
· cognitive behavioral therapy, to help in better
managing emotions that may be explosive or
anxious, and to cut back on obsessive interests
and repetitive routines;
· medication, for co-existing conditions such as
depression, anxiety, and ADD/ADHD;
· nutrition, related to improvement of Asperger
tendencies, such as magnesium/vitamin B6 tablets
The most effective treatment is using positive
measures accompanied by techniques aimed to
increase the individual's awareness and
understanding of their behaviors and the effects
on those around them. Currently, the most
effective treatment involves a combination of
psychotherapy, special education, behavior
modification, and support for families.
Take advantage of your child's strengths by
encouraging him or her to explore interests at
home and at school. Activity-oriented groups and
focused counseling can also be helpful.
Many children with Asperger's syndrome also have
other coexisting conditions, including attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
social anxiety disorder, and depression. These
conditions can place extra demands on parents who
are already dealing with a child with extra needs.
These conditions may require treatment with
medications and other therapies.