INFORMATION ON ASPERGER'S SYNDROME

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.

CAUSES OF ASPERGER'S SYNDROME

The factor which are responsible for the development of Asperger’ s syndrome are:-

1. Genetic disorder.

SYMPTOMS OF ASPERGER’S SYNDROME

1. Obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other.
2. Repetitive routines.
3. Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully.

DIAGNOSIS OF ASPERGER’S 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 (ADHD) 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’S 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.