What is Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder on the “high functioning” end of the autism spectrum. Although people with Asperger’s tend to have similar problems and complications to those with Autism, they tend to have fewer verbal problems than those with classic autism and are usually of above average or average intelligence. Some even tend to demonstrate precocious vocabulary particularly in a highly specialized area of interest.

However, affected children and adults struggle with social cues such as tone of voice, gestures and facial expressions. People with Asperger’s may also exhibit repetitive behaviors, restricted range of interests, and delayed motor development leading to uncoordinated motor movements or clumsiness. On the other hand, an individual’s signs and symptoms can range from severe to mild. Some individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome join the mainstream education system, but most need special education.

Those with Asperger’s Syndrome desire to have friends and fit in socially, but have difficulty making real social connections. In addition, many of them at a higher risk of developing various mood disorders such as depression or anxiety, especially in adolescence.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome?

Parents and caregivers often first notice the signs and symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) when their kids start preschool and begin to interact with other kids. However, each person is different and an individual might some or even all of the described characteristics and behaviors to be diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Asperger’s Symptoms During Childhood

• Impairment in the use of nonverbal cues such as body posture, gestures, facial expressions and eye gaze to regulate social interaction.
• Superior rote memory
• Inflexible/strict adherence to routines.
• Fascination with routes, globes and maps.
• Preoccupation with a specific topic/subject and collects many related facts to the exclusion of all other subjects.
• Motor clumsiness and difficulty judging personal space.
• Heightened sensitivity and overstimulation by loud noises, odors, food textures, clothing and the environment in general.
• Difficulty understanding other’s moods and feelings.
• Language and speech impairment in the area of pragmatics, semantics and prosody (rhythm, inflection, intonation, and volume). So your child may take sarcastic comments literally or may not understand some jokes. Their speech may be hard to understand because it lacks tone, accent, and pitch.
• Formal style of speaking (little professor verbose).
• Difficulty reading and interpreting social cues.
• Emotionally and socially inappropriate responses.
• Difficulty interpreting implied meanings/literal interpretation of language.
• Hyperlexia/extensive vocabulary because reading commences at a very early age.
• Repetitive or stereotyped motor mannerisms.
• Delayed motor development. They may be late in learning to ride a bike, catch a ball, or use a spoon or fork.
• Difficulty maintaining conversation.
• They may verbalize internal thoughts.
• Stare at others or avoid eye contact.

Asperger’s Symptoms in Adolescents and Teenagers

Adolescents and teenagers with Asperger’s syndrome have deficits in three main areas: physical coordination, communication and development of various interests.

• Clumsiness: Teenagers with Asperger’s may seem rather clumsy and often tend to drop things, fall easily, walk swiftly or have odd, repetitious movements. They also try to avoid most physical games that their peers are playing.
• Lack of Empathy: Youngsters with asperger’s are neither mean nor cruel, but they may seem oblivious or disinterested in other’s feelings.
• Poor math skills: Although youngsters with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have inadequate math skills, they may do very well in vocabulary. However, learning abilities vary from one individual to another.
• Limited non-verbal communication: Few facial expressions, a lack of eye contact or looking into space when communication may be a sign of Asperger’s. A teenager with Asperger’s may not pick on humor or indirect speech such as the use of figures of speech or sarcasm.
• Unusual speech: Older children with Asperger’s may have a monotone , robotic speech or speak rapidly without noticing that others are speaking more slowly.
• Obsessive interests: Obsessive interests can also be a sign of Asperger’s in adolescents and teenagers. They may develop keen interest in one or two subjects and devote and devote a lot of time to taking about them, looking at them, or studying them.

Asperger’s Symptoms in Adulthood

It is particularly important to understand that Asperger’s is a lifelong condition. However, it may stabilize over time and significant improvements may be seen. Most individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome are able to learn and interpret a range of social skills and many are able to live normal lives. In fact, some typical traits of Asperger’s Syndrome such as focused interests and attention to detail can increase chances of career success. Many adults are usually diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when seeking help for other related issues such as depression and anxiety. However, diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome should be made by a medical professional to rule out other related conditions and discuss proper interventions.

Read more about Developmental Disabilities of Asperger’s syndrome in children