Parents Quick Guide to Asperger Syndrome
You may have heard the term Asperger’s syndrome and may be wondering what it is. If you have a child that is being diagnosed with ADD HD, ADD,HFA,NLD or any other similar diagnosis relating to behavioral problems in children you'll want to read this article.
Originally, brought to the attention of the medical community in 1944 (by a Viennese physician Han Asperger) who had completed a study of young boys, all with a similar behavioral problem. The young boys possessed the normal intelligence, and appeared to have normal language development however, all the test subjects displayed autistic like traits and deficiencies in their social and their communicational skills. In spite of this publication, Asperger's syndrome was not officially recognized until 1994.
As a parent, if your child has been diagnosed with any of the commonly known behavioral disorders or syndromes you should read the following to educate yourself as to the symptoms of Asperger's syndrome.
In many cases, children show symptoms and are often identified by parents or other individuals around the preschool age, this is due to the fact that this is the age when children began to interact in social situations.
Childhood symptoms:
Difficulty in starting and maintaining conversations, lack of or inability to pick up on other individuals body language, constantly interrupting or find it very difficult to finish listening and before speaking.
Consistency in day-to-day routines
Appears to lack compassion
Oftentimes take sarcasm, literally as the sufferer is unable to recognize subtle differences in individual speech tones and pitches. Oftentimes, the child is unable to comprehend or understand jokes that rely heavily on the change in voice or tone. Will often have no accent, as they are unable to understand pitching tone they themselves will not include pitching tone in their everyday communication.
Often times, these are highly intelligent children, and as such, their speech will seem much more developed than their actual age. Many Asperger syndrome children can appear to be little professors as their vocabularies are enormous.
Complete and total lack of eye contact
Exhibits uncommon postures and facial expressions
Preoccupation with a limited number of interests, however their knowledge of their few interests is vast.
Oftentimes they will verbalize their internal thoughts, talk about one subject, may hold a conversation with themselves are all common behaviors.
Oftentimes, children develop motor skills late, and he or she may have a difficult time in learning such things as playing catch, riding a bike, using a fork and spoon, or may even have an awkward walk.
Loud noises, strong tastes or textures, and even lights, may all become over stimulating for the child.
Although, many of these symptoms may seem or resemble autism, children with Asperger syndrome maintain and cultivate advanced language and intellectual developmental skills. Children with Asperger's syndrome unlike those with autism typically engage in an effort to make friends and participate in activities. |