Asperger's Syndrome

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Asperger (or Asperger’s) Syndrome is a form of autism. Asperger's Syndrome makes it hard to read signals from others, signals that many people understand without a second thought. This can include facial expressions, tone of voice and general social conventions that most people instinctively adhere to.

This makes it difficult for those with Asperger’s to communicate and interact with others, leading to anxiety, confusion and frustration for them and their loved ones.

Those with Asperger’s also struggle with unpredictable situations, favouring having routine and structure in their life, which may also be reflected in their actions, such as a need to have things arranged in a certain order, or a compulsive need to collect something.

Asperger’s is a lifelong condition, and there is not a cure. However, there has recently been a shift towards looking at Asperger’s as a ‘difference’ rather than a ‘disability’, as something which cannot be cured to treated, but managed.

Asperger’s is part of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder, a range of different disorders relating to communication, imagination, creativity and social interaction.

It affects people in different ways, and to varying degrees. There are three main areas of difficulties for those with Asperger’s:

  • social communication
  • social integration
  • social imagination

Asperger’s is similar to autism, but those with Asperger’s have fewer problems with speech. Unlike autism, those with Asperger’s have an average of above average intelligence, and do not normally have the learning difficulties associated with autism. However, they may have specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, or other conditions such as ADHD or epilepsy.

Most symptoms of Asperger’s improve over time, but difficulties with communication, social adjustment and independent living can continue into adulthood.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the three main areas of Asperger’s Syndrome are:

Difficulty with social communication

  • difficulty understanding gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice
  • difficulty with the start and end of conversations, and picking appropriate topics of conversation
  • using complex words and phrases, but not understanding them
  • very literal use of words, difficulty with sarcasm, jokes, metaphors

Difficulty with social interaction

  • struggling to make and maintain friendships
  • not understanding unwritten social rules, such as personal space, what is and isn’t appropriate to say in front of others
  • finding others unpredictable and confusing
  • seem uninterested in other people
  • behaving inappropriately
  • unlike those with autism, those with Asperger’s do not become withdrawn, and are happy to approach people, albeit somewhat awkwardly
  • happy to discuss at great length a hobby or interest, but not recognising or understanding the listener’s responses or reactions

Difficulty with social imagination

Those with Asperger’s can often be highly creative and imaginative. However, their imagination may be restricted in other ways.

  • may find it hard to see alternative outcomes to situations
  • dislike changing plans, uncertainty
  • struggle to understand other people’s thoughts, feelings or actions
  • a limited range of imaginative activities – children with Asperger’s may often play by lining up toys in a certain order, collecting things
  • difficulty playing ‘let’s pretend’ games
  • very narrow or specific interests, e.g. remembered camera model numbers but not having an interest in photography

Other symptoms of Asperger’s include

  • a love of routines
  • special and specific interests, sometimes to the point of obsession
  • sensory difficulties – the senses may either be intensified or under-developed, bright lights and loud noises can cause anxiety and pain
  • difficulty with body awareness – knowing where they are and how to navigate around a room, problems with fine motor skills, making activities like tying shoelaces difficult
  • needing order, structure, wanting to work from timetables
  • may develop an intense or obsessive interest in a hobby

When is the right time to seek help?

Diagnosis of Asperger’s can be difficult. It is often diagnosed later in life than Autism, and sometimes a diagnosis may not be made until adulthood.

Possible signs of autism in the first few years of life can include the child not being able to make eye contact, a lack of interest in other children and people, making repetitive movements, a sensitivity to light, touch, smell and taste.

In older children signs of autism may include having few close friends, a lack of communication skills, difficulties with conversation and not enjoying social situations.

If parents suspect their child is displaying any of these symptoms, the first point of contact is a GP.

Causes

It is thought that the cause of Asperger’s is a combination of factors – both genetic and environmental. It can also run in families.

Treatment

There is no specific course of treatment, but there are different approaches that can be used to help manage Asperger’s. The focus of the treatment is on management and behavioural therapy, to address specific issues of Asperger’s.

Therapies

  • training of social skills
  • medication for coexisting problems, eg depression or anxiety
  • occupational/physical therapy for motor coordination
  • social communication implementation

Counselling

It has been found that a cognitive and behavioural approach is most useful when it comes to counselling those with Asperger’s. This approach tries to change the way the individual thinks about themselves and other people, and how thoughts and feelings alter mood.

Music Therapy

Music therapy helps with communication, as well as self-awareness and reciprocal play.

Speech and Language Therapy

A child with Asperger’s may not see any reason to communicate with others, and therefore their speech skills do not develop as quickly as others. This then in turn limits their opportunities for many different forms of communication.

Speech therapy maximises communication, not just through speech but through play, symbols, social skills and listening.

Statistics

  • half a million people in the UK have Asperger’s – 1 in 100 people
  • it is more common in males than females
  • 1 in 5 children with autism have been excluded from school
  • only 15% of adults in the UK with autism are in full-time paid employment
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