INFORMATION ON ASPERGER SYNDROME

Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder. It is an autism spectrum disorder, one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior. Asperger's syndrome is a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior. Asperger syndrome was named in honor of Hans Asperger, an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician, by researcher Lorna Wing, who first used the eponym in a 1981 paper. In 1994, Asperger syndrome was recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as Asperger's Disorder.

SYNONYMS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME

Synonyms and related keywords:
1. Asperger syndrome.
2. Asperger disorder.
3. Autistic psychopathy.
4. High-functioning autism.
5. Nonverbal learning disorder.
6. Semantic pragmatic disorder.
7. Sensory integration disorder .
8. Persistent impairment in social interactions.

CAUSES OF ASPERGER SYNDROME

The cause of Asperger syndrome is unknown. There may be a genetic component to this syndrome.

SYMPTOMS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME

Main Symptoms of Asperger syndrome are as under:
1. Socially inappropriate behavior.
2. Lack of understanding social cues.
3. Difficulty judging personal space.
4. Difficulty understanding others’ feelings.
5. Rigid social behavior due to an inability to spontaneously adapt to variations in social situations.
6. Obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other.
7. Repetitive routines.
8. Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully.

DIAGNOSIS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME

Because Asperger's syndrome varies widely in severity and signs, making a diagnosis may be difficult. If child shows some signs of Asperger's syndrome, then doctor may suggest a comprehensive assessment. This evaluation will likely include observing your child and talking to you about your child's development. You may be asked about your child's social interaction, communication skills and friendships. Your child may also undergo a number of tests to determine his or her level of intellect and academic abilities. Tests may assess child's abilities in the areas of speech, language and visual-motor problem solving. Tests can also identify other emotional, behavioral and psychological issues. A complete evaluation can help rule out other conditions. Or it can identify additional problems. Many children with Asperger's syndrome have a nonverbal learning disability, attention deficits, hyperactivity, anxiety or depression. Early diagnosis and treatment leads to the best results, but many children with Asperger's syndrome enter kindergarten without being identified. In fact, the average age of diagnosis is around age 11. Unfortunately, some kids with Asperger's syndrome are first misdiagnosed with another problem, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or an emotional-behavior disorder. Even worse, some children with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome are labeled as willful or malicious troublemakers. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor if your child is having difficulties at school.

TREATMENT OF ASPERGER SYNDROME

Asperger's syndrome can present patterns of behaviors and problems that differ widely from child to child, so there is no particular prescribed treatment available. However, suffering child may benefit from the following forms of treatment:-

1 Parent education and training.
2 Specialized educational interventions for the child.
3 Social skills training.
4 Language therapy.
5 Psychotherapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy for older children.
6 Medications.

However, your child may benefit from the following forms of treatment:

1 Parent Education And Training.
2 Specialized Educational Interventions For The Child .
3 Social Skills Training.
4 Language Therapy.
5 Sensory Integration Training For Younger Children, Usually Performed By An Occupational Therapist, In Which A Child Is Desensitized To Stimuli To Which He Is Overly Sensitive.
6 Psychotherapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy for older children medications.