Characteristics of Asperger's Disorder

Asperger's Syndrome is a type of psychological condition that is categorized as an autism spectrum disorder. It affects the person's ability to effectively communicate and interact socially. Asperger's Syndrome is comparable to autism in many ways, because of the similar symptoms and causes. However, cognitive development is not a symptom of Asperger's Syndrome. There is a classification called HFA (high functioning autism) in which there is autism without any mental retardation. The difference between HFA and Asperger's is vague and highly debated.

History

• Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger started using the term to describe children with the characteristics in 1944. Asperger's Syndrome became an official diagnosis fifty years later.

Social Interaction

• People with Asperger's Syndrome have problems with social interaction. They are often not able to show empathy, which results in the inability to form functional relationships with others. They often have trouble expressing nonverbal communication. Unlike autism, Asperger's Syndrome doesn't create shyness. Often, the person will be very willing to start conversations with others, but the conversation may seem awkward and one-sided. The person is unable to understand non-verbal cues like disinterest in the topic or taking offense to something.

Repetitive Behavior

• A common symptom of Asperger's is behaving in almost obsessively repetitive ways. This can mean the person is unwilling to stray from a set schedule and routine. They also show very intensely focused interest in a specific topic. They may be able to spout off random facts about a breed of animal or take an obsessive interest in car engines. This is sometimes hard to identify as young kids can become obsessed with certain topics. However, a person with Asperger's may become so preoccupied with the subject that he dominates all conversation with it.

Speech

• Children with Asperger's generally do not exhibit a delay or problem in learning speech. However, there are nuances about their speech that may seem awkward. They can be very verbose, use seemingly incorrect metaphors, speak in tangents and quickly switch topics. Sometimes the conversation seems one-sided, with little attention paid to the listener's reactions.

Causes

• Though a specific gene for Asperger's Syndrome has not yet been identified, it is thought to have a genetic cause. Some theories about environmental and birth defect factors have been tested with no conclusive results.

Treatment

• There is not a single treatment option that is recommended for all people with the disorder. Treatment is usually modified for the individual. Behavioral therapy is used to help improve the specific difficulties of that person. This can include therapy for communication issues, obsessiveness and physical therapy.

Outlook

• With the right therapy and intervention in childhood, people who have Asperger's Syndrome can improve greatly. However, there is not a definitive cure and some problems usually continue into adulthood. This can lead to problems with living independently, maintaining healthy social relationships and communication.