Asperger Syndrome is a form of mild autism that affects both males and females. Someone with Asperger’s is born with the condition and shows signs of being different during infancy or childhood.
Causes
There are studies being done to determine the cause of Asperger’s with mixed results. It is likely a genetic disorder due to the higher likelihood of someone with Asperger’s having children with the disorder. At this time there are no physical tests that can be done to determine conclusively that a child has Asperger’s so being aware of the differences in a child’s development is important in recognizing the symptoms. The earlier it is recognized as being a possibility the sooner services can begin to help the child live a life that is not greatly disrupted by the disorder. Signs of the disorder can be seen as early as 3 months of age but will be more conclusive by the age of 3. Asperger’s is not a diagnosis to fear for you or your child for many reasons. First, it is highly treatable with behavioral therapy interventions and some people with the diagnosis live life with no signs of having the disorder. Secondly, some of the greatest minds in history have been suspected of or diagnosed with Asperger’s.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms are usually recognized in children but it is possible to grow up never being diagnosed or treated for Asperger’s Syndrome. In children you may notice difficulties with eye contact. This may include the inability or unwillingness to make eye contact or unmoving eye contact, intense staring, that is not broken during interactions. A child with Asperger’s will often have great difficulty in dealing with change. This will include a change in schedule, surroundings, unexpected occurrences, surprises, physical changes in themselves or someone they see often, or learning to do a task differently. It could be as simple as having to take a detour to school due to traffic or the dog getting a haircut. Changes to the normal routine in life can be highly aggravating to someone with Asperger’s and they can act out with deep emotional sadness, confusion, or rage. Tantrums can become violent for some but can be managed with proper treatment interventions. Another noticeable trait is self soothing behaviors. This may be seen as tapping the foot, rocking back and forth, humming, or any other repetitive action. Sometimes these actions can be harmful such as scratching an area of skin or chewing on the tongue.
Treatment
Treatments for Asperger’s Syndrome vary for each person based on their individual needs, symptoms, and goals. A combination of behavioral modification, speech and occupational therapy, social interventions, and modified classroom expectations are necessary. It is important for the caretakers of someone with Asperger’s to learn the techniques used in school so those skills translate to life at home. The most important part of behavior modification is to use constant positive reinforcement. Showing frustration or getting angry because of peculiar or unwanted behaviors will only increase the unwanted behavior. The purpose of many behaviors is to self soothe so trying to punish these behaviors creates anxiety. It is important to replace unwanted behaviors with something more appropriate. Giving the client choices of what to do instead is important and then giving excessive praise and reward for choosing the desired behavior. Giving the child many opportunities to be in a position of leadership and decision making will increase social skills, self confidence, and gain natural rewards from feeling in control. Asperger’s is highly treatable and can often offer more advantages than barriers in life.
Note: The diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome is no longer used by mental health practitioners, since 2013 (release of DSM-5) it is included in umbrella diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
