Asperger Syndrome

When people use the term autism, it can mean more than one thing. The term is frequently misunderstood; most often, they may be referring to autistic disorder, or classical autism. However, autism is often used in a more general sense to refer to all autism spectrum disorders.

The autism spectrum is a whole continuum of symptoms and signs which start from very high functioning individuals who show minimal autistic traits to people who need constant and very structured daily care from a dedicated care giver.

The common thread with all autism spectrum disorders is the lack of understanding behind the neuronal mechanisms which cause the symptoms in the first place. In other words, we know how to spot and classify autism, but we are not very good at explaining why it occurs in the first place. There are many theories and correlations which point towards its causes. For instance, there seems to be a genetic component to the development of autism. Advanced age of the mother and father has been associated with the increased risk of autism. The use of certain psychiatric drugs during pregnancy, thyroid disease and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) have all been implicated as possible captive agents.

There are other theories that have fallen by the wayside. There was a time when people feared that certain childhood vaccinations would cause autism. Studies have conclusively shown that you can’t get autism from a vaccine.

Asperger syndrome (also known as Asperger's Syndrome) is a disorder that falls on the high functioning end of the spectrum. People with this disability are known to be aloof or emotionally crippled due to sheer ignorance.

They process emotions very differently from the way we do and are unable to explain the situation to the rest of us.

Its symptoms include things like:

• Difficulty or fear in establishing one on one social contact
• A very restricted set of interests or hobbies
• Engaging in repetitive behaviors
• Delayed motor development in children
• Robotic or repetitive speech
• Challenges with non-verbal communication (gestures, facial expression, etc.) coupled with average to above average verbal skills
• Tendency to discuss with self rather than others
• Inability to understand social issues, emotional issues and non-literal phrases
• Lack of eye contact or reciprocal conversation
• Obsession with specific, often unusual topics
• One-sided conversations
• Awkward movements and/or mannerisms

You have to remember though that all these symptoms don’t necessarily manifest in every patient and different combinations of these symptoms can exist.

The saving grace about Asperger syndrome, when compared to other autism spectrum disorders, is that cognitive and speech impediments are minimal or absent all together. Being able to express oneself clearly and being able to carry out routine daily mental tasks are extremely important tools for a person to function independently in today’s society.

This saving grace can have a slight downside as well. Patients with Asperger syndrome fall through the cracks quite often. They are functional enough for the general public and specialists alike so the diagnosis can be missed altogether. Frequently, the fundamental issue in a person with Asperger syndrome is the inability to put themselves in another person's shoes. Another way to put it is that they have difficulty in seeing things from a different perspective or the way another person would see things.

It’s an unfortunate fact that most people with Asperger are diagnosed only when they seek help for the crippling anxiety they suffer from due to their inability to navigate the hurly burly world of social behaviors that most people take for granted. They know that there is something different about them and people have a tendency to treat them differently, but they don’t know what is wrong.

There are some very unique gifts that a person with Asperger may have as well. The uncommonly strong ability to focus or concentrate on a task or issue can be a blessing in certain pursuits. This is one of the reasons why you see such high functioning individuals in academia where the ability to display laser like focus on a single issue is a much valued trait.

When it comes to its treatment, there is no standard therapy. There are no medications. Psychotherapy helps manage possible anxiety issues and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) seems helpful in helping the patient learn social skills, control emotions, obsessions and repetitive behaviors.