| If your child has recently been diagnosed
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| | age-appropriate self-care skills
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| with Aspergers Syndrome, then you likely
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| | If your child meets one or more of the
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| have more questions than answers about
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| | above criteria, then your doctor may
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| this little-known diagnosis.
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| | suspect Aspergers.
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| This article presents answers to some of
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| | Is my child crazy or mentally ill?
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| parents' most common questions about
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| | Aspergers Syndrome in and of itself is
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| Aspergers Syndrome.
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| | not a mental illness; it is a
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| What IS Aspergers Syndrome?
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| | developmental disorder. However, it is
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| Aspergers Syndrome, named for Hans
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| | fairly commonly associated with the
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| Asperger, an Austrian physician, is a
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| | following conditions:
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| milder form of autistic disorder. Both
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| | * Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
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| conditions are part of a larger group of
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| | Disorder (ADHD)
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| neurological disorders known in the US as
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| | * Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
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| Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD
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| | * Depression
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| for short. The 2 most common symptoms are
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| | * Bipolar Disorder
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| eccentric behavior and self-imposed
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| | * Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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| social isolation. Sometimes speech is
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| | * Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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| affected as well as gait and motor
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| | How is Aspergers Syndrome treated?
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| skills. Your child may also be
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| | There aren't any treatments for Aspergers
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| exclusively focused on a particular area
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| | that will make it "go away." However, by
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| of interest, such as cars or astronomy.
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| | using a combination of approaches that
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| The social isolation comes from the child
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| | address the three core symptoms of the
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| wanting to know everything about his or
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| | disorder (poor communication skills,
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| her area of interest and little else.
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| | obsessive or repetitive routines and
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| Conversations are usually focused only on
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| | physical clumsiness); you can help your
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| that area as well.
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| | child live a fairly normal life. It's
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| What causes Aspergers Syndrome?
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| | also important to start treatment as
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| Experts believe that Aspergers and autism
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| | early as possible. The treatment
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| have underlying biological causes, but
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| | approaches your doctor recommends may
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| are not clear yet on what those causes
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| | include:
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| are. They do know that there are certain
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| | * Psychotherapy
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| brain structure abnormalities, but do not
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| | * Parent education & training
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| know why they occur.
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| | * Behavior modification
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| How are Aspergers Syndrome and autism
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| | * Social skills training
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| different?
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| | * Educational interventions
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| Aspergers usually begins later in
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| | * Medications, such as stimulants, mood
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| childhood and has a more hopeful outlook.
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| | stabilizers, antidepressants, and SSRIs
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| The child tends to function at a higher
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| | Is there any cure for Aspergers Syndrome?
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| level with Aspergers too. Aspergers
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| | Unfortunately, there is no cure for this
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| children tend to be clumsy, but overall
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| | condition, and children do not "grow out"
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| have less neurological deficits than
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| | of it either. It is likely that your
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| autistic children.
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| | child will always find social situations
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| How does the doctor know for sure that my
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| | and personal relationships to be
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| child has Aspergers Syndrome?
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| | challenging. But many adults with
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| Diagnosis of most any mental/emotional
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| | Aspergers are able to live healthy,
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| disorder tends to be one of ruling out
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| | productive lives, although they may
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| other conditions and noting certain
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| | always need support to do so.
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| patterns of behavior. There is no
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| | What do I need to do as a parent of a
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| definitive test for Aspergers, but there
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| | child with Aspergers Syndrome?
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| are certain patterns, including:
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| | The most important thing you can do is to
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| * Significant impairment in social
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| | get your child into a treatment regime
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| interaction, as demonstrated by:
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| | early and then stick with it, even during
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| - impaired nonverbal communication
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| | the tough times. It will be worth it in
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| - failure to develop age-appropriate peer
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| | the long run if you take steps to support
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| relationships
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| | your child's progress and help him or her
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| - lack of shared enjoyment of activities
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| | adjust and adapt. You can serve as case
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| surroundings with others
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| | manager or coordinator, and try to
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| - unable to reciprocate socially and/or
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| | involve all of your child's caregivers in
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| emotionally
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| | treatment as much as you can. You should
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| * Repeated patterns of behavior or
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| | teach your child self-help skills as he
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| interest, such as:
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| | she grows and develops. Look for
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| - abnormal intensity of interest in one
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| | treatment and educational programs that
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| or two specific areas
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| | address your child's problem areas. Get
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| - rigid rituals that serve no functional
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| | support for yourself too. You won't be at
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| purpose
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| | your best with your child if you're
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| - repetitive mannerisms, such as hand or
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| | exhausted and frustrated.
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| finger flapping
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| | Hopefully, these answers have addressed
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| - persistently preoccupied with parts of
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| | some of your most pressing questions. To
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| objects
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| | learn more, search for information on the
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| * Significant impairment in developmental
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| | Web at reputable sites or look for a book
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| areas of functioning (social,
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| | at your local bookstore. Also, talk with
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| occupational and other areas)
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| | your pediatrician and never be afraid to
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| * No significant delay in language
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| | keep asking questions until you get
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| * No significant delay in cognitive
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| | answers you can understand.
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| development or learning of
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