What are the symptoms of aspergers, and can it be treated?
Answer:
The symptoms include:
# Qualitative impairment in social interaction;
# The presence of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and interests;
# Significant impairment in important areas of functioning;
# No significant delay in language;
# During the first three years of life, there can be no clinically significant delay in cognitive development such as curiosity about the existing environment or the acquisition of age appropriate learning skills, self-help skills, or adaptive behaviors (other than social interaction); and,
# The symptoms must not be better accounted for by another specific pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia.
Treatment in the traditional sense (i.e a cure) is not possible, but treatment coordinates therapies that address three core symptoms of Asperger's syndrome: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness to help the person deal with the disorder.
These therapies will include behavioural interventions, medications, speech therapy and diet.
Aspergers is a form of Autism.
My son has Atypical Autism which has traits of Aspergers.
It cannot be 'treated' as it is not an illness.
Have a look at:
http://www.aspergerfoundation.org.uk/...
for more information.
aspergers appears on a spectrum ie very mild or severe.
People with this condition really like routine and hate getting out of it. they may appear a lot less spontaneous and have a great desire to point out the obvious you to you. they cant help themselves. They are often very literal. ie if you say something like - Im so hungry I could eat a horse, they think you actually mean it.
Cant be treated. people learn to live with it and others around them learn to live with them. Sometimes the least likely people have it. Even professors etc. Doesnt mean your son cant live a full and happy life. get him professionally diagnosed.
For one you should be asking your sons LSW about this, not a bunch of Amatuers on FunQA.com. One thing I would consider before considering any treatment for your son is to ask yourself, "Is his potential Aspergers Syndrome significantly affexting his life in a negative way?" A lot of people with diagnosed Aspergers are happy with who they are yet it is other people you say they need to change, a lot like autistic children, by the way whose illness is similar to Aspergers. But again ask your professional, not the Yahoo community.
I would check out Autism Society. They have usefull information about Asperger's including:
-Characteristics
-Diagnosis
-Working with an Individual with Aspergers
-Educational Issues (IDEA & IEP)
-Adults with Aspergers
-Helpful Resources
here's what they have listed for characteristics:
The essential features of Asperger's Disorder are severe and sustained impairment in social interaction and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and activity. The disturbance must clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. In contrast to Autistic Disorder, there are no clinically significant delays in language. In addition there are no clinically significant delays in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
-Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
-Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
-A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
-Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
-Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
-Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, non-functional routines or rituals
-Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
-Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)
E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
The ideal Asperger treatment coordinates therapies that address the three core symptoms of the disorder:
-Poor communication skills
-Obsessive or repetitive routines
-Physical clumsiness.
There is no single best Asperger treatment program for all children with Asperger syndrome, but most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
Asperger treatment may include:
-Social skills training
-Cognitive behavioral therapy
-Medication for coexisting conditions
-Other measures
An effective Asperger treatment program:
-Teaches tasks as a series of simple steps
-Builds on the child's interests
-Offers a predictable schedule
-Actively engages the child's attention in highly structured activities
-Provides regular reinforcement of behavior.
With the exception of dyslexia, which is a common co-syndrome, most aspies do not have learning difficulties. If he is a slow learner, he's probably not an aspie. However, it could still be another variant of high functioning autism. The simplest definition of aspergers syndrome is: Intellectually advanced while socially retarded.
I have to disagree with Jay's answer. No one here diagnosed her son but have typical symptoms associated with Aspergers disorder. In addition, many offered web links to Autistic based organizations and help groups.
The FunQA.com community can be a helpful source of web links. No one here presumes to diagnose on their own.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
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