| Aspergers (AS) is a neurobiological disorder, | | | | a special interest rather than introducing |
| which has a profound affect on basic life | | | | oneself in the socially accepted way. |
| skills. Aspergers is attached to the autism | | | | Children with Aspergers can learn to manage |
| spectrum on the high functioning side. | | | | their differences, but they may continue to |
| Aspergers is what is known as a pervasive | | | | find social situations and personal |
| developmental disorder and one that can | | | | relationships challenging. |
| hamper how a child studies, learns and | | | | |
| perceives the environment around them. | | | | Symptoms may be seen by obsessional |
| Aspergers is characterized by communication | | | | absorption with inanimate objects, such as |
| problems, difficulty relating to people, | | | | watches and clocks; or a predominant interest |
| repetitive body movements, difficulty with | | | | in systematic things like numbers, indices, |
| changes in routine, obsessing about certain | | | | telephone directories, encyclopedias, |
| topics or items, and unusual play with toys | | | | dictionaries, and measuring scales. |
| or other objects. | | | | |
| | | | Treatment-- |
| A child with Asperger's Disorder functions at | | | | |
| a higher level than the typical child with | | | | A typical treatment program generally |
| autism. For example, many children with | | | | includes: |
| Asperger's Disorder have normal intelligence. | | | | |
| While most children with autism fail to | | | | · social skills training, to teach the |
| develop language or have language delays, | | | | skills to more successfully interact with |
| children with Asperger's Disorder are usually | | | | others; |
| using words by the age of two, although their | | | | |
| speech patterns may be somewhat odd. | | | | · cognitive behavioral therapy, to help in |
| Aspergers is more common in boys than in | | | | better managing emotions that may be |
| girls. | | | | explosive or anxious, and to cut back on |
| | | | obsessive interests and repetitive routines; |
| Children with Asperger's Disorder are also at | | | | |
| risk for other psychiatric problems including | | | | · medication, for co-existing conditions |
| depression, attention deficit disorder, | | | | such as depression, anxiety, and ADD/ADHD; |
| schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive | | | | |
| disorder. | | | | · nutrition, related to improvement of |
| | | | Asperger tendencies, such as magnesium |
| Social-- | | | | vitamin B6 tablets |
| | | | |
| Social skills are particularly challenging | | | | The most effective treatment is using |
| for the child with Aspergers. There are two | | | | positive measures accompanied by techniques |
| types of social skill deficits: cognitive | | | | aimed to increase the individual's awareness |
| deficiencies and cognitive distortions. Like | | | | and understanding of their behaviors and the |
| other forms of autism, Aspergers includes | | | | effects on those around them. Currently, the |
| repetitive behavior patterns and impairment | | | | most effective treatment involves a |
| in social interaction. The most common and | | | | combination of psychotherapy, special |
| important characteristics of Aspergers can be | | | | education, behavior modification, and support |
| divided into several broad categories: social | | | | for families. |
| impairments, narrow but intense interests, | | | | |
| and peculiarities of speech and language. | | | | Take advantage of your child's strengths by |
| Although there is no single feature that all | | | | encouraging him or her to explore interests |
| people with Aspergers share, difficulties | | | | at home and at school. Activity-oriented |
| with social behavior are nearly universal and | | | | groups and focused counseling can also be |
| are one of the most important defining | | | | helpful. |
| criteria. | | | | |
| | | | Many children with Asperger's syndrome also |
| As children with Aspergers mature, and become | | | | have other coexisting conditions, including |
| aware of their inability to connect, their | | | | attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| fear of making a social mistake, and their | | | | (ADHD), bipolar disorder, |
| self-criticism when they do so, can lead to | | | | obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social |
| social phobia. Another important aspect of | | | | anxiety disorder, and depression. These |
| the social differences often found in people | | | | conditions can place extra demands on parents |
| with Aspergers is a lack of central | | | | who are already dealing with a child with |
| coherence. The combination of social | | | | extra needs. These conditions may require |
| problems and intense interests can lead to | | | | treatment with medications and other |
| unusual behavior, such as greeting a stranger | | | | therapies. |
| by launching in to a lengthy monologue about | | | | |