Syndrome Aspergers

Syndrome Asperger is a disorder that affects the growth of children making it hard for them to possess traditional interactions with different people. Almost like autism, kids with Syndrome Asperger might be obsessed with routines. Also, they have trouble expressing themselves in social situations. However, in contrast to autism, children with Aspergers syndrome will usually begin to speak before the age of 2, the age when speech normally begins to develop. They may become old with perfectly normal grammar skills.There is no apparent cause of aspergers syndrome and thus, no preventative measures that can be taken.

Asperger syndrome is often considered a high functioning form of autism. People with this syndrome have difficulty interacting socially, repeat behaviors, and often are clumsy. Motor milestones may be delayed.

Asperger syndrome might be diagnosed by teachers as ADHD and some parents might get confused since Autism and ADHD symptoms might have a closer definition to the physical symptoms the kid would be exhibiting. If you notice unusual habits and tendencies that your kid has when they’re still in their early childhood, it’d be best to seek help as early as possible. Getting to know the condition of your child gives you the advantage of learning tips on how to handle them.  A child experiencing the syndrome asperger might seem withdrawn today and then have a complete turnaround the other day. Children with this syndrome have another way of perceiving reality, they will still mingle with other children of their age but necessary precautions should be undertaken to avoid unnecessary incidents. As a parent you should understand the child’s behavior, and most important – have paitence.

Whereas Asperger Syndrome  may be a condition that a person can have forever, the symptoms will improve with time. By adulthood, people with this condition may learn where their strengths and weaknesses are and learn to cope better in addition to improve the way they communicate in social environments.

Awareness is definitely necessary! Ensure that you continue your education through looking at additional info about Aspergers Syndrome.

Although people with Asperger syndrome often have difficulty socially, many have above-average intelligence. They may excel in fields such as computer programming and science. There is no delay in their cognitive development, ability to take care of themselves, or curiosity about their environment.

Symptoms

• People with Asperger syndrome become over-focused or obsessed on a single object or topic, ignoring all others. They want to know everything about this topic, and often talk about little else.
• Children with Asperger syndrome will present many facts about their subject of interest, but there will seem to be no point or conclusion.
• They often do not recognize that the other person has lost interest in the topic.
• Areas of interest may be quite narrow, such as an obsession with train schedules, phone books, a vacuum cleaner, or collections of objects.
• People with Asperger do not withdraw from the world in the way that people with autism withdraw. They will often approach other people. However, their problems with speech and language in a social setting often lead to isolation.
• Their body language may be off.
• They may speak in a monotone, and may not respond to other people’s comments or emotions.
• They may not understand sarcasm or humor, or they may take a figure of speech literally.
• They do not recognize the need to change the volume of their voice in different settings.
• They have problems with eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, or gestures (nonverbal communication).
• They may be singled out by other children as “weird” or “strange.”
• People with Asperger syndrome have trouble forming relationships with children their own age or other adults, because they:
• Are unable to respond emotionally in normal social interactions
• Are not flexible about routines or rituals
• Have difficulty showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people
• Do not express pleasure at other people’s happiness
• Children with Asperger syndrome may show delays in motor development, and unusual physical behaviors, such as:
• Delays in being able to ride a bicycle, catch a ball, or climb play equipment
• Clumsiness when walking or doing other activities
• Repetitive behaviors, in which they sometimes injure themselves
• Repetitive finger flapping, twisting, or whole body movements

Many children with Asperger syndrome are very active, and may also be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Anxiety or depression may develop during adolescence and young adulthood. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and a tic disorder such as Symptoms may be noticeable in the first few months of life. Problems should be obvious by age 3 years.

Signs and tests

There is not a standardized (used and accepted by almost everyone) test used to diagnose Asperger syndrome.

Most doctors look for a core group of behaviors to help them diagnose Asperger syndrome. These behaviors include:

• Abnormal eye contact
• Aloofness
• Failure to turn when called by name
• Failure to use gestures to point or show
• Lack of interactive play
• Lack of interest in peers

Physical, emotional, and mental tests are done to rule out other causes and look more closely for signs of this syndrome.

The team that will see your child includes a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and other professionals who are experts in diagnosing children with Asperger syndrome.

Types of therapy programs may include:

Cognitive behavior or talk therapy, to help children manage their emotions, repetitive behaviors, and obsessions
Parent training, to teach techniques that can be used at home
Physical or occupational therapy, to help with motor skills and sensory problems
Social skills training, often taught in a group
Speech and language therapy, to help with the skill of everyday conversation

Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, and stimulants may be used to treat problems such as anxiety, depression, and aggression.
Expectations (prognosis)

With treatment, many children and their families can learn to cope with the problems of Asperger syndrome. Social interaction and personal relationships may still be problems. However, many adults work successfully in mainstream jobs and are able to have an independent life, if they have the right kind of support available.
Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if your child:

• Does not respond to people
• Has odd or peculiar speech
• Has behavior that may lead to self-harm

Programs for children with Asperger syndrome teach skills by building on a series of simple steps, using highly structured activities. Important tasks or points are repeated over time to help reinforce certain behaviors.

References:
Bostic JQ, Prince JB. Child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 69.Shah PE, Dalton R, Boris NW. Pervasive developmental disorders and childhood psychosis. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 29.
Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet. NINDS. January 2005. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NIH Publication No. 05-5624. Last updated October 19, 2009.

What does it mean to have Asperger’s Disorder?

Do they have severe AD/HD, mild autism, learning disabilities, or are they just “nerds“?

The Young Child: A preschool aged child might show difficulty understanding the basics of social interaction. He or she may have difficulty picking up social cues. He may want friends but be unable to make or keep any friends.

Elementary School Aged Child: One often hears the phrase, “poor pragmatic language skills.” This means that the individual cannot use the right tone and volume of speech. He may stand too close or make poor eye contact. He may have trouble understanding age-appropriate humor and slang expressions. Many are clumsy and have visual-perceptual difficulties. Learning difficulties, subtle or severe, are common. The child may become fixated on a particular topic and bore others with frequent or repetitive talk even when the other children have given clear signals that they are no longer interested in the topic. Some have difficulties tolerating changes in their daily routine. Change must be introduced gradually.

The Adolescent: This may be the most difficult time for an individual with Asperger’s Disorder. Those with milder forms of the disorder may first come to treatment when they are in middle school. In adolescence, social demands become more complex. Subtle social nuances become important. Some may show an increase in oppositional or aggressive behavior. Individuals with Asperger’s have difficulty understanding which of their peers might want to be a friend. A socially marginal boy might try to date the most popular girl in his class. He will probably experience rejection. He is unaware that some other girl might accept his invitation. He can be especially vulnerable to manipulation and peer pressure.

Adulthood: There is less information on Asperger’s Disorder in adulthood. Some individuals with mild Asperger’s Disorder are able to learn to compensate. They become indistinguishable form everyone else. They marry, hold a job and have children. Other individuals live an isolated existence with continuing severe difficulties in social and occupational functioning. Individuals with Asperger’s often do well in jobs that require technical skill but little social finesse. Some do well with predictable repetitive work. Others relish the challenge of intricate technical problem solving. I knew a man, now deceased, who had many of the characteristics of Asperger’s Disorder. He lived with his mother and had few social contacts. When he visited relatives, he did not seem to understand how to integrate himself into their household routine. When the relatives would explain the situation to him, he was able to accept it. However, he was unable to generalize this to similar situations. Associated Difficulties: Asperger’s Disorder may be associated with learning difficulties and attention deficit disorder. Indeed, many children and adolescents with Asperger’s have previously been diagnosed with AD/HD instead of Asperger’s. Individuals with AD/HD may have difficulty with social interaction, but the primary difficulties are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In individuals with Asperger’s, the social awkwardness is a greater concern. As individuals with Asperger’s enter adolescence, they become acutely aware of their differences. This may lead to depression and anxiety. The depression, if not treated, may persist into adulthood.

Treatment for Asperger’s Disorder :
Medications: There is no one specific medication for Asperger’s syndrome. Some are on no medication. In other cases, we treat specific target symptoms. One might use a stimulant for inattention and hyperactivity. An SSRI such as Paxil, Prozac or Zoloft might help with obsessions or perseveration. The SSRIs can also help associated depression and anxiety. In individuals with stereotyped movements, agitation and idiosyncratic thinking, we may use a low dose antipsychotic such as risperidone. Social Skills Training: This is one of the most important facets of treatment for all age groups. I often tell parents and teachers that the individual needs to learn body language as an adult learns a foreign language. The individual with Asperger’s must learn concrete rules for eye contact, social distance and the use of slang. Global empathy is difficult, but they can learn to look for specific signs that indicate another individual’s emotional state. Social skills are often best practiced in a small group setting. Such groups serve more than one function. They give people a chance to learn and practice concrete rules of interpersonal engagement. They may also be a way for the participant to meet others like himself. Individuals with Asperger’s do best in groups with similar individuals. If the group consists of street-wise, antisocial peers, the Asperger’s individual may retreat into himself or be dominated by the other members.

Educational Interventions: Because Asperger’s covers a wide range of ability levels the school must individualize programming for each student with Asperger’s Disorder. Teachers need to be aware that the student may mumble or refuse to look him in the eye. Teachers should notify the student in advance about changers in the school routine. The student may need to have a safe place where he can retreat if he becomes over stimulated. It may be difficult to program for a very bright student with greater deficits. In one case, a student attended gifted classes but also had an aide to help her with interpersonal issues. That student is now in college. Children with Asperger’s are often socially naive. They may not do well in an Emotionally Disturbed class if most of the other students are aggressive, street-wise and manipulative. I have seen some do well when placed with other students with pervasive developmental disorders. Some do well in a regular classroom with extra support. This extra help might include an instructional assistant, resource room or extra training for the primary teacher.

Psychotherapy: Individuals with Asperger’s Disorder may have trouble with a therapist who insists that they make an early intense emotional contact. The therapist may need to proceed slowly and avoid more emotional intensity than the patient can handle. Concrete, behavioral techniques often work best. Play can be helpful in a limited way if the therapist uses it to teach way of interaction of the therapist uses play as a break form an emotionally tense if it is used to lower emotional tension. Adults and children may also do well in group therapy. Support groups can also be helpful. Parents play an important role in helping their child or adolescent. This child or adolescent will require time and extra nurturance. It is important to distinguish between willful disobedience and misunderstanding of social cues. It is also important to sense when the child is entering emotional overload so that one can reduce tension. They may need to prepare the child for changes in the daily routine. One must choose babysitters carefully. Parents may have to take an active role in arranging appropriate play dates for the younger child. Some parents seek out families with similar children. Children with Asperger’s often get along with similar playmates. Parents should help teachers understand the world from the child’s unique point of view. Parenting an adolescent with Asperger’s can be a great challenge. The socially naive adolescent may not be ready for the same degree of freedom as his peers. Often parents can find a slightly older adolescent who can be a mentor. This person can help the adolescent understand how to dress, and how to use the current slang. If the mentor attends the same school, he can often give clues about the cliques in that particular setting. Adults may benefit from group therapy or individual behavioral therapy. Some speech therapists have experience working with adults on pragmatic language skills. Behavioral coaching, a relatively new type of intervention, can help the adult with Asperger’s Disorder organize and prioritize his daily activities. Adults may need medication for associated problems such as depression or anxiety. It is important to understand the needs and desires of that particular adult. Some adults do not need treatment. They may find jobs that fit their areas of strength. They may have smaller social circles  but they may still be productive and fulfilled.

References:
OAISIS: Online Asperger’s Syndrome Information and Support. Diagnostic information and resources for treatment. Support areas for families affected by Asperger’s Syndrome. Liane Holliday-Willey An adult who is self-identified as having Asperger’s Syndrome writes about coping with the disorder in family, work and social situations.