What is Asperger’s syndrome?
Asperger’s syndrome (also known as Asperger’s) is a developmental disorder. This is a diagnostic form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It causes impaired language and communication skills as well as repetitive or limited thinking and behavior.
People who are diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome usually have high intelligence and do not have speech delays. However, they tend to play, learn, speak and act differently from others.
Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome
Children may show signs of Asperger’s syndrome at an early age. Signs your child may have Asperger’s syndrome include:
- Obsessed with a single hobby.
- Craving repetition and routine (and not responding well to change).
- Lack of social cues when playing and chatting.
- Do not make eye contact with friends and adults.
- Don’t understand abstract thinking.
Your child may also have trouble with pretend play, not wanting to be held or touched, or have unusual reactions to sounds, smells, or tastes. Your child’s doctor, teacher, and even you as a parent may notice these things. See your doctor if you suspect your child’s social and communication skills are not developing appropriately. Your doctor may refer you to a developmental specialist.
What Causes Asperger’s Syndrome?
There is nothing that causes Asperger’s syndrome. However, research suggests that certain factors during pregnancy and after birth may put a child at a higher risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder. Those factors include:
- A chromosomal abnormality (such as fragile X syndrome).
- Maternal use of prescription medications during pregnancy (such as valproic acid to treat seizures or mood disorders, or thalidomide to treat anxiety).
- Born to elderly parents.
This type of autism spectrum disorder seems to be diagnosed more often in boys than in girls.
How is Asperger’s syndrome diagnosed?
Doctors can diagnose this Asperger syndrome in children as young as 18 months old. There are no blood tests or medical imaging scans to diagnose the condition. Doctors compare children’s behavior and development with an important checklist against peers.
Can Asperger’s Syndrome Be Prevented or Avoided?
Since the cause of autism spectrum disorder is unknown, there is no way to prevent or avoid it.
Treatment of Asperger’s syndrome
Early and regular treatment can help your child cope with the symptoms associated with Asperger’s syndrome. It can prepare him or her for adult life. Treatment usually includes a combination of speech, physical, occupational, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The therapy team will decide how often to work with your child. Therapy sessions might look like this:
- Social skills and speech therapy:Your child can speak well. However, the person may need to learn important conversation skills. Those skills include learning to take turns when talking, making eye contact with another person, showing interest in what the person has to say, and learning how to talk about a variety of topics, not obsessing over a topic. The therapist can also teach appropriate play skills, such as taking turns, following rules, and learning how to deal with one’s emotions around others.
- Physical therapy:Some people diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome may appear clumsy. A physical therapist works to develop a person’s core body strength. This will help with running, jumping, cycling, going up and down stairs, and other physical activities.
- Occupational therapy:Occupational therapists help people with Asperger’s syndrome work on fine motor skills (anything that requires the use of hands). They also help your child deal with sensory problems. A person diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome may be sensitive to a number of sensory experiences. This may include noise, touch, smell, or visual stimuli. It may include certain materials, such as clay, chalk, sand, and water. It can include sensory problems associated with eating different foods and textures. Your child’s therapist will also help with hand-eye coordination and teach your child to feed himself appropriately. Before your child starts school, an occupational therapist will develop hand strength before writing to your child. After your child goes to school, the therapist will help the child develop handwriting skills.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches people with Asperger’s syndrome how to act socially and deal with their emotions. It teaches important skills such as managing impulses, fear, anxiety, obsessions, interruptions, and anger. It is different for each person, based on their needs.
- Medicine:There is no cure for Asperger’s syndrome. Most medications treat anxiety, depression, or inattention associated with Asperger’s syndrome. Medications commonly prescribed for anxiety and depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, and stimulants.
Don’t ignore your child’s early social and communication delays. Asperger syndrome behaviors will not improve on their own without treatment. As your child progresses in school, therapy may change to reflect your child’s needs at the time. More importantly, ask your therapists how to apply the therapy at home. Children do best when therapy is the same at school and at home.
Therapy is not a one-time treatment. Repetitive therapy helps your child develop appropriate behavior. Children should not be punished for inappropriate behavior. Instead, therapists use incentives and rewards (giving your child extra free time, a healthy snack, or something important to them) to encourage appropriate behavior. fit.
Living with Asperger’s Syndrome
If your child is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome or ASD, developing relationships for your child will take practice and effort. A person diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome may not express appropriate emotions (or any emotions at all), may not understand irony in a joke, vague concepts, or simple points. simplicity of a conversation. Co-workers may feel like their behavior is eccentric.
Although Asperger syndrome or ASD cannot be cured, therapy can help. Your child can be successful in school and in their adult life. Many employers say that the focus and attention that someone with Asperger’s syndrome or ASD gives to their job is a good thing. Adults diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or ASD may continue to need therapy or counseling to teach appropriate personal and workplace behavior.