Asperger Syndrome

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a developmental disorder in the Autism spectrum that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you have Asperger syndrome, you have it for life – it is not an illness or disease and cannot be ‘cured’. Often people feel that Asperger syndrome is a fundamental aspect of their identity.

Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some people with Asperger syndrome also have mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels and types of support.

People with Asperger syndrome are of average or above average intelligence. They don't have the learning disabilities that many autistic people have, but they may have specific learning difficulties. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

We have three diagnosed cases of Asperger's in the family, and a forth case that, while not officially diagnosed, is believed to exist.

Raising children with Apserger's is tough, and growing up with Apserger's is even tougher.

What is Asperger's

Asperger Syndrome

The following was created by someone with AS to help people understand what AS is. Since it was so well done, I figured I'd just use it instead of trying to explain it myself.

Dude, I’m an Aspie!
Thoughts and illustrations on living with Asperger’s syndrome

My name is greenturtle74 and I have Asperger’s syndrome. What’s that mean, you ask? Well, you’re in luck, cause I’ve made this helpful guide!

Asperger’s is part of the autism spectrum. It has many characteristics, but generally we have difficulty knowing what someone is thinking, explaining our thoughts verbally, and interacting socially with our peers. It is sometimes described as having “a dash of autism.”

Asperger’s is not a disease, it is a genetic variation and a neurological condition. Though I’ve just recently discovered I have it, I always have and always will. Some say it is a gift, and even vital to human evolution.

Asperger’s is sometimes called Wrong Planet syndrome. This is because we feel like we come from a different culture and have a different way of perceiving the world - (Tony Attwood)

While Asperger’s can be diagnosed professionally, many adults like me are self-diagnosed. Once I learned what Asperger’s is, I knew it described me. It answered a lot of questions and explained why I am the way I am. So it was kind of good news! Like finding a box I fit in.

Now for some myths and facts: First, I will not look you in the eye for long periods or when I’m talking to you. This is not to be rude. It’s because it is the only way I can concentrate on what you’re saying.

In social situations, I don’t process information as fast as you. Facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice all convey subtle information to our brain. The more people who are present, the more info there is to process.

Likewise, I don’t like crowds and noisy places. This is too much information to take in and causes sensory overload.

Sometimes we have super-senses. This makes us easily distractable to background noise, a sudden loud noise, or unpleasant odors.

If I run into you somewhere I don’t expect to, I probably won’t recognize you right away. This is called faceblindness. Even though I know what you look like, my mental picture of you is strongly tied to context, your voice, and how other people interact with you.

Sometimes I interpret things literally, or I can’t tell when you’re being sarcastic. This is a neurological delay in reading your tone of voice.

For neurotypical people (that’s you), socializing with others relieves your stress or makes you feel energized. We Aspies are the opposite way. Conversation can wear us out, and we often need alone time to “recharge our batteries.”

We usually have special topics or hobbies that we like to pursue with intense concentration and on our own. Examples include trains, foreign cultures, and washing machines.

Are there advantages to being as Aspie? Yes! We are honest, detail-oriented, good listeners, and have a unique view of things. Often, we achieve high levels of success in our special interest area.

So that is a glimpse into my world. I hope it has helped you better understand me and others like me. We are all different, and with all differences, knowledge brings understanding. If we understand each other, then there won't be any need for a right planet or a wrong planet.

20 Facts about Asperger's Syndrome in Children

Asperger Syndrome

Understanding the Signs that Accompany Asperger's Syndrome

Children with Asperger's Syndrome often struggle to fit in at school and other social settings. While there is no cure for their condition, they can be trained to cope.

Understanding the implication of Asperger’s Syndrome can bring a greater level of tolerance and acceptance for those with the condition. Here are some traits and behavior patterns commonly seen in the syndrome.

Most people with Asperger’s Syndrome are of average or above average intelligence.
They have excellent thinking skills where things are concerned but are extremely poor at interpreting human relationships.
Intense preoccupations often centre on certain toys or areas of interest. Common obsessions are dinosaurs and forms of transport and how they work.
They will often seek out other people to talk to about their interests. The conversation is usually one-sided - more like a lecture where they talk about their knowledge and aren't interested in feedback.
Older children may enjoy a club that is focused on their interest - for example, coin or stamp collecting.
Eye contact is not understood or made use of.
The child may appear cold and uncaring but it is not deliberate. He does not think about others and cannot understand the social graces that keep society functioning.
It is possible to teach social skills but it is a long slow process and often requires parental intervention to repair social damage when they act inappropriately.
Short stories can be useful in teaching social skills. Use one page visual aids that teach about listening to others and keeping quiet and still while they talk.
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome prefer routine and structure and can become irritable and distressed if the unexpected happens.
Gross and fine motor skills are often underdeveloped, causing problems in sports and balance.
Asperger’s Syndrome is often detected when a child starts preschool. He will generally interact better with his teacher than his peers and may display silly, loud, aggressive or socially withdrawn behaviour.
Things are interpreted very literally, meaning that sarcasm, playful teasing and figures of speech are not understood.
Rules are very important and a child may become angry if a game is not played fairly or his peers break school rules.
On a positive note, this aversion to rule-breaking means the Asperger’s Syndrome child is less likely to experiment with smoking, drinking, drugs, and sex as he matures.
Many children are perfectionists and struggle if they fail to produce perfect schoolwork. Encourage them to move on, and create distractions if necessary to get them to continue working.
They find it hard to generalize. If taught that they shouldn’t hit a child at school, they do not automatically make the connection that they shouldn’t hit a child in the mall.
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome express their feelings in unpredictable ways. Sometimes they may seem emotionless and other times they may display extreme emotion that is not appropriate to the situation.
Interrupting conversations is a common problem as the child does not understand the social signals that allow conversation to move from one to another.
A child can be helped if parents consistently work with him and highlight his strengths and work consistently on his weaknesses

There is hope for children who have Asperger’s Syndrome and with training and support from their family and health professionals, they can live meaningful, productive lives.