Aspergers Disorder and How It’s Different from Autism

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Sometimes the key to living and working with disabled individuals is understanding the condition they deal with on a day to day basis. People with Asperger’s Disorder can fulfill a needed role in society, but more understanding is needed.

What is Asperger’s Disorder?

Asperger’s Disorder is a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). People with Asperger’s Disorder tend to be socially isolated. They also exhibit eccentric behavior as children. They tend to have circumscribed interests, which are interests that focus on one area, and in that area they are highly intelligent, but they rarely have interests in other areas. Abnormalities in speech make it difficult to understand people with this impairment, and they may be clumsy.

What is the epidemiology of Asperger’s Disorder?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes , the number of cases of Asperger’s is not well established. Estimates indicate that between two to four out of every 10,000 children suffer from the condition.

What are the differences between Asperger’s Disorder and ‘High Functioning’ (i.e. IQ > 70) Autism?

With individuals with Asperger’s Disorder, the condition hits later in childhood. They tend to have a higher verbal IQ than high functioning autistic individuals. They also have more ability to communicate and interact socially. The circumscribed interests are more prominent with Asperger’s patients. It is more frequently associated with a family history of the condition, and it is less common for an Asperger’s patient to have other neurological conditions. The overall outcome for Asperger’s patients is more positive than high functioning autistic patients.

What is the biology of Asperger’s Disorder?

Current research is pointing to brain abnormalities that cause Asperger’s syndrome, but a biological cause has not yet been fully determined. It is believed that the abnormal migration of cells during an embryo’s development causes the neural circuits in the brain to be formed improperly. However, how and why this happens has not yet been determined.

How is Asperger’s Disorder diagnosed?

Doctors look for certain behaviors to determine whether or not a child has Asperger’s

Disorder versus classic autism.

These include:

1. Not turning when called

2. Not using gestures in communication

3. Aloofness

4. Not playing interactively

5. Not interested in peers

6. Not making normal eye contact

When all of these are present, it is typically diagnosed as Asperger’s. Diagnosis begins with the developmental screening during a normal checkup at the pediatrician or family doctor. If these conditions are present, a comprehensive evaluation is done with a team of specialists to determine whether or not Asperger’s is the cause.

How is Asperger’s Disorder treated?

Treatment focuses on helping the child with communication problems and physical clumsiness, as well as the discouragement of repetition or obsessive behavior.

This can be done through the following treatment options:

1. Social skills training (group therapy)

2. Medication

3. Physical therapy

4. Cognitive behavioral therapy

5. Speech therapy

6. Training for parents

Books related to Asperger’s Disorder

These resources will help families who are dealing with a child that has Asperger’s Disorder:

- Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Social Difficulties by Scott Bellini.

Of Mice and Aliens, An Asperger’s Adventure by Kathy Hoopmann.

Asperger Syndrome, A Guide for Educators and Parents by Brenda Smith Myles, Richard L. Simpson.

What is the best way to educate children with this condition?

First, consult with your child’s doctors and therapists. Then, check this guide:

Asperger Syndrome (A Guide for Educators and Parents) by Brenda Smith Myles, Richard L. SimpsonPro-Ed, Inc. 1998

What is the potential outcome for my child? Will she live a normal life?

With proper therapy and behavioral training, children with Asperger’s can fill a needed role in society. They often struggle with social situations, but they can learn to live and function with their disability. Many even find work in mainstream society.

What research is underway?

Numerous colleges and government agencies are researching the cause and potential treatments for Asperger’s and other autistic disorders. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is researching the condition currently at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

Resource by E.Trio

I am an online writer and soon to be published author. I grew up in Southern California, but I currently live in the Bay Area while I work on my books. I enjoy camping and hiking with my dog Max or just relaxing on the back porch while I write. Stay tuned for my first children’s book to be released about Max.

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