Asperger Syndrome
Natural Steps Toward
A Better Life
for You or Your Child
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Asperger Syndrome |
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A Basic and Brief Overview
of Asperger Syndrome |
| Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a neurological
condition most frequently characterized by 1) poor social skills, 2) intense
interest in a limited number of subjects (monomania), 3) rigidity of thought
and behavior, 4) pronounced anxiety, and 5) a tendency to overact to certain
stimuli. It may affect between 1 in 400 to 500 people, though this number
doesn't reflect the numbers of undiagnosed cases. Originally, it was thought
to affect males more than females. This is being challenged, as it can look
different in the female and may not be diagnosed due to different social
conditioning between girls and boys. It can run in the family. Most people
with AS can look at their immediate and extended family members and see
a parent or aunt or uncle who has similar, though less pronounced traits.
Children with AS can look different than adults with AS because the adults
have frequently learned to adapt their behavior. How this translates into daily life is that the child or adult with AS will be socially isolated with few if any friends. They will appear naïve and serious, have difficulty understanding when people are joking with them, and will take comments literally. They are not adept at small talk and tend to follow the dictum "say what you mean and mean what you say". In a child this might be interpreted as extreme rudeness. For example, if a grandmother wearing strong perfume asks her AS grandchild to "give her a hug", the child may respond by saying "no, you smell really badly." The AS child understands honesty but not how the comment can hurt grandmother's feelings. In the adult, this behavior appears socially awkward and quirky. Many, but not all people with AS can't "read" others and therefore will frequently act or talk inappropriately as they don't seem to pick up standard social clues. For example, they may continue to talk to a person who is giving signs such as looking at their watch or trying to interject to indicate they have to leave. Often they will have poor eye contact. You see poor eye contact less in adults as they are often trained out of this. Nevertheless, for many adults with AS, prolonged eye contact can be very distracting and uncomfortable. There are frequently sensory issues with those with AS. That means that they can have a heightened or diminished sense of smell, taste, or sound. Their senses can be hyper-acute resulting in an overreaction to ordinary sounds such as fluorescent lights, fans, and other electrical appliances. If the person is tired or hungry, it will increase the response even more. Things that might be annoying to the average person, can be amplified and disconcerting to the person with AS. For example, the child/adult with AS can be often very uncomfortable in places such as malls/airports/supermarkets in which tend to be noisy and crowded with large numbers of people coming and going. They can experience severe anxiety and either withdraw or become very loud in these situations. Conversely, a few will enjoy this sensory experience. Overreaction to situations is another hallmark of AS. If provoked, the person with Asperger Syndrome may overreact in passive or aggressive ways. They may cry upon provocation even as older children or they may use strong language to the person who has provoked them. It can take a while for both the adult or child to "settle down". This is not to suggest that people with AS are the aggressors. Much to the contrary, especially as children, they tend to be victims of bullying. Though they often prefer less social contact, their unusual mannerisms and speech make them targets of bullies. All of this frustrated effort to communicate with a world that perceives things very differently can lead to depression - an unfortunately somewhat common problem among those with AS. If this is the case, you may see the AS person as extremely withdrawn and quiet. This withdrawn and depressed behavior isn't the same as the need to be alone. Solitary time is a necessary part of life for both children and adults with AS. They will need more time by themselves than people without AS. This solitary time seems to help re-ground them. Despite social characteristics which the average person may deem negative, the person with Asperger Syndrome has many positive attributes. Their intelligence levels are generally average or above. They tend to be extremely conscientious once a task is undertaken. They are loyal and steadfast. They like rules and routines. If their profession coincides with one of their special interests, they will work much harder than their coworkers as they have a driving interest in the end product. Some of those with AS can be found among the ranks of college professors, engineers and NASA scientists. It has been suggested that there are more Nobel prize winners with AS characteristics than without. In fact, if nurtured and allowed to be different, people with AS can lead happy and productive, though not quite normal lives. |