Your child may have
just been diagnosed or he is showing symptoms of an autism spectrum
disorders and you now wonder, What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
With a recent – or anticipated – diagnosis you are wondering where to
turn. Perhaps you are trying to figure out what this will mean for your
child and your family’s future. Here you can find an overview on what Asperger’s Syndrome is and what to expect in the future.
First of all, Asperger’s is an autism spectrum disorder.
Autism is a developmental disorder than affects the way a child…or
adult…interacts with, perceives and interprets the world. A spectrum
means that there are many different forms of autism, ranging from very
severe to very mild. Those on the more high functioning side usually get
a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.
Many children as well as adults may be
misdiagnosed…this is unfortunately all too common. Many are initially
diagnosed with ADHD or OCD or some other condition before a proper
diagnosis is reached. This is unfortunate because it delays the start of
effective training and treatments that can help someone with Asperger’s syndrome.
So what does this mean?
- Social Aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome
Asperger’s Syndrome is primarily a syndrome that has to do with deficits in social functioning.
Someone with Asperger’s will have often have trouble both understanding
language and using language in a proper way. They often have a pedantic
style of talking, and are often referred to as “walking dictionaries.”
People with Asperger’s are often very smart, and can talk about facts
very easily, but have a lot of trouble with small talk or really any
social connections at all, at least when they’re younger.
People with Asperger’s syndrome don’t
tend to understand sarcasm or jokes, and take everything you say very
literally…even when they are adults. They have very concrete thinking, and are very rule oriented.
Those with Asperger’s often depend on routines to get through the day,
and can be very upset if their routines are interrupted; children may
have meltdowns while adults may get angry or autocratic. They are prone
to emotional upset if something does not go right.
Due to their deficits in social skills, children and adults with Asperger’s syndrome often have trouble making friends. When they are kids, they will not understand the concept of playing with others. They will often do something called “parallel play” where they might play next to, but not with, another kid.
They have to be taught to share toys and be flexible enough to play
with another child. Adults can become very isolated after years of not
being able to establish long-lasting friendships.
The interests of children and adults
often deviate from their peers, especially when they are older. Those
with Asperger’s are often obsessive about specific subjects, such as
geology, a particular sports team, or trains, and their peers find this
uninteresting. This constant focus on one topic and lack of interest in topics that others bring up tends to isolate them further.
Obsessive interests are a main fabric of the cloth of Aspergers syndrome.
Most kids with Asperger’s have something that they are very interested
in and talk about it endlessly. One child might be obsessive about cars.
Another “Thomas the Train”. A third with volcanoes. And so forth.
Because they are unable to truly show
interest in a wide range of subjects that are of interest to their
peers, they become social outcasts. This all contributes to the social
isolation that is so common in kids with Asperger’s especially when kids
start school. While their friends are talking about baseball or video
games, the Aspergers child may exclusively talk about volcanoes. It doesn’t take long before his or her peers in school loose interest in both the subject of volcanoes AND in the child.
In an adult, the inability
to show interests in general office politics or to chit-chat about
sports or the latest TV shows can isolate a person from his or her
colleagues. This lack of social integration may make the
person with Asperger’s seem like an “odd duck” or just “not fitting in”
which can lead to lay offs and lack of promotions.
- Sensory Issues Are A Common Symptom Of Asperger’s Syndrome
People with Asperger’s syndrome often have a lot of difficulty with sensory processing.
The typical person can usually tune out extraneous noise, smells and
visual stimuli, among others. They do it without even thinking about it,
because that’s the way their brain is set up.
People with Asperger’s syndrome,
however, lack a “barrier” between their brain and the sensory onslaught
of the world. They are far, far more sensitive to loud noises – or even
soft ones no one else notices; to smells of all kinds…from what comes
from your kitchen to the perfume of a passerby on the sidewalk. They
often have trouble with the feeling and texture of clothing; with how
tight or loose it is, and with the tags on the back. Visual stimuli can
also be quite distracting. These sensory concerns need to be
minimized for a child with Asperger’s to function in his or her
environment, and their concerns need to be taken seriously. Many
adults have difficulty holding a job because of the noise, distractions
and overall sensory overload of a “cubicle farm” in which they must
work. A co-worker tapping a pencil or bright fluorescent lights can
overwhelm an adult with Asperger’s.
- Fixation On Routine Is A Common Symptom Of Asperger’s Syndrome
Aspies (as those with Asperger’s
syndrome are affectionately called) often fixated on a routine.
Following a set routine is extremely common. And any change in routine may cause a meltdown.
Yet stubbornly sticking to routine helps those with Asperger’s feel
safe and grounded. Yet family, friends, and co-workers can feel that
this fixation with routine is extreme. With kids, even small change in routine, like sitting in a different chair around the dinner table, can cause a meltdown.
A lot of children with Aspergers need to know exactly what will happen in order not to feel completely overwhelmed.
A good tip is to ensure that you tell your child, in advance, if there
will be any change in his or her routine (such as an upcoming vacation).
A good strategy is to write down what you will do, where you will go,
who will be there etc. Paint a picture in your loved one’s mind so that
he or she can turn the future vacation into a routine before it occurs. The
more your child understand what will happen and when, the more
accepting he will be of the changes and the easier he will be able to
handle the new experience.
Most adults learn to handle changes in
routine…if for no other reason than the world around them is never
predictable and they must learn in order to survive. Nevertheless, most
adults with Asperger’s still feel much more comfortable following a
routine. This lack of spontaneity can cause challenges in
relationships…how many girlfriends want their boyfriend to always take
them to the same restaurant? And once there to order the same diner time
after time.
- Good Things About Asperger’s Syndrome
While not a comprehensive list, these are the main and most common features of Asperger’s syndrome. Not to fear, though, not everything about having Asperger’s is negative.
- People with Asperger’s are often more likely to be unfailingly honest, loyal, and hard working.
- They are often very intelligent and can make great
contributions…especially in fields that they are passionate about…when
they are older.
- They have a unique way of looking at the world that can benefit all those around them.
Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, and some of the great thinkers of the world are suspected to have or have had Asperger’s.
While many aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome will always remain a
challenge, and while there is no question your child will have a more
difficult path through the world than many others, always remember there
is often benefit to thinking a little bit differently. When
you think about a diagnosis of Asperger’s and its associated symptoms
and wonder “What is Asperger’s” remember you have a choice about the way
you look at it.