What is Asperger Syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects many children and adults across the globe. This disorder was discovered in 1943 which was the very same year that autistic disorder was discovered. Asperger’s syndrome is a form of autism and it falls within the autism spectrum of disorders.

Many of us are familiar with autistic disorder but not many of us really know Asperger syndrome. This developmental problem is usually diagnosed within the first three years of life and the primary symptom is severe delays in social development. Common symptoms include lack of eye contact and a strong need for order and routine.

These symptoms are quite subtle and the children who have the disorder often go undiagnosed for awhile. Children who have Asperger syndrome are very high functioning. They are very bright and they have decent communication skills.

The ability to communicate effectively makes Asperger’s syndrome unique in the pervasive developmental disorders. Most children who have a disorder that falls within the autism spectrum have a great deal of trouble with communication and many never develop speech. Those who do are very limited in their ability to use language.

Asperger syndrome is mostly identified by lack of social skills. Part of the social dysfunction may be due to the individual’s inability to show empathy for others. This is not to suggest that a person with Asperger’s syndrome is uncaring. The individual just does not seem to realize that other people feel differently than he does.

The Theory of Mind postulates that individuals who have autism think that their thoughts, interests and feelings are shared by those around them. They have difficulty understanding that one person can be happy when another person is sad. This makes social interaction a little difficult for an individual who has Asperger syndrome.

When I worked as a therapist I had a client who was a very bright little boy. He developed language skills and he loved to talk. However, he loved to talk about specific topics that appealed to him. He could not understand that others were not as interested in the topics.

The little boy also had trouble with emotions. He could not tell the difference between a frightened expression and a surprised or happy one. These expressions had to be systematically introduced in drills.

If you think that your child has Asperger syndrome you want to contact his or her pediatrician. Early intervention is crucial to your child’s development.