Your Child and Asperger's Syndrome
You may have been told that your child has Asperger's Syndrome
(AS), a neurobiological disorder this is part of a group of similar
conditions called "autism spectrum disorders". These similar
conditions can have different combinations and different degrees of
severity of similar symptoms. Any two children who receive the same
diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome may have similar behavior patterns
and different skills and abilities. These children with the same
diagnosis of AS may have different terms used to describe them such
as low-functioning, or high-functioning, or autistic tendencies,
and pervasive developmental disorder. Kids who have been diagnosed
as having high-functioning autism often share the same symptoms as
kids diagnosed with AS.
Asperger's Syndrome is often difficult to diagnosis and treat.
Your child may have been misdiagnosed along the way to the
diagnosis of AS.
A Viennese Pediatrician first described the set of behaviors in
1940 that later became known as Asperger's Syndrome, his name was
Hans Asperger. He noticed that children had the following
behaviors: normal to high intelligence and language development,
severely impaired social skills, an inability to effectively
communicate with others, and had poor movement coordination.
Those with Asperger Syndrome typically have onset of symptoms
later than kids with autism. Usually the diagnosis of Asperger
Syndrome is made after age 3, with the majority of kids being
diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 9.
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Your child may show the following signs and have some or all of these symptoms:
Minimal social interactions with others, inappropriate interactions with others, repetitive speech that may seem robotic or scripted, a lack of common sense, difficulty when it comes to reading, math, or writing skills, an obsession with complex topics such as music and patterns, average to below-average nonverbal cognitive abilities, with average to high verbal cognitive abilities, awkward physical movements, and odd behaviors or mannerisms.
Where a child with autism usually shows a delay in language development, kids with AS have good grammatical skills and usually have an advanced level of vocabulary early on in childhood. Kids with AS show appropriate age development when it comes to feeding, dressing and other self-help skills but have difficulty with attention span, and organizational skills.
Aspergers Diagnosis
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A child with Asperger's Syndrome usually exhibits poor social
interactions with others, exhibit obsessions, have odd speech
patterns, and other peculiar mannerisms. They usually show very few
facial expressions and have difficulty interpreting or noticing
body language expressed by others. They also have an unusually high
sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as to light, sound and touch.
Though individuals with AS can function in society, they generally
are socially immature are seen by others to be eccentric, odd, and
clumsy. Children with AS are usually picked on by bullies at school
because of these behaviors that set them apart from other kids.
As the child grows he or she may show trouble having empathy for
others, and have difficulty dealing with social situations. AS is a
lifetime disorder that with early intervention and treatment can
have a positive outcome.
Your child may show the following signs and have some or all of
these symptoms:
Minimal social interactions with others, inappropriate
interactions with others, repetitive speech that may seem robotic
or scripted, a lack of common sense, difficulty when it comes to
reading, math, or writing skills, an obsession with complex topics
such as music and patterns, average to below-average nonverbal
cognitive abilities, with average to high verbal cognitive
abilities, awkward physical movements, and odd behaviors or
mannerisms.
Where a child with autism usually shows a delay in language
development, kids with AS have good grammatical skills and usually
have an advanced level of vocabulary early on in childhood. Kids
with AS show appropriate age development when it comes to feeding,
dressing and other self-help skills but have difficulty with
attention span, and organizational skills. Kids with AS typically
have normal to high IQs.
Asperger's Syndrome
02/01/2012
Family: Boy, 15, shot to death after threatening, cutting police had autism disorder
Police in Calumet City shot and killed a 15-year-old boy with an autism disorder in his home after his family called police and he threatened officers and cut one with a knife, police and the boy's family said.Stephon Watts, 15, suffered from Asperger's syndrome, and family called police this morning after he became upset and did not want to go to school, said his mother, Danelene Powell-Watts ...
Family: Boy, 15, shot to death after threatening, cutting police had autism disorder
02/05/2012
Proposed autism diagnostic criteria roils medical community
A proposal to use new diagnostic criteria for autism has roiled the US medical community, with many experts concerned that the move could exclude children affected by some forms of the disorder.
Proposed autism diagnostic criteria roils medical community
02/02/2012
Aspiring Saugus comedienne with Asperger’s to take stage at festival
SAUGUS — A 23-year-old Saugus resident will be taking the stage alongside dozens of female comedians and performers next month at Improv Boston’s fourth annual Women in Comedy Festival.
Aspiring Saugus comedienne with Asperger’s to take stage at festival
02/03/2012
'Best Practices': Learning To Live With Asperger's
David Finch was 30-years-old when he discovered that he was on the autism spectrum. In Journal of Best Practices, he describes how he learned to manage the disorder — and become a better husband and father in the process.
'Best Practices': Learning To Live With Asperger's
01/20/2012
Proposed changes to autism definition may mean new diagnoses for people with Asperger's
Proposed changes to American Psychological Association's diagnostic manual may stop skyrocketing autism rates, experts said
Proposed changes to autism definition may mean new diagnoses for people with Asperger's
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