Asperger’s syndrome is a milder form of autism. Children with asperger’s syndrome do not show any marked delay in the development as is shown by typical autistic children. Read further to know more about asperger’s syndrome.
Characteristic features of asperger’s syndrome
Children with asperger’s syndrome exhibit large number of different characteristics. Some of the important characteristics exhibited by children with asperger’s syndrome are discussed below:
1) The most important characteristic feature of asperger’s syndrome is that the child lacks in social interaction. The child fears to interact with people. Language development is normal in asperger’s syndrome but how to use it properly during conversation is a big problem for children with asperger’s syndrome. The child is unable to understand other’s body language. Children with asperger’s syndrome are more interested in unusual non-verbal communication. They fear eye gaze, make unusual facial expressions and awkward gestures while communicating. They fail to establish good relationship with their peers. They do not like to share feelings and interests with others.
2) Individuals with asperger’s syndrome are obsessive with particular routines and objects. They regret any change in their normal routine. They are restricted to have interest in particular subject. They have a limited scope of vision to a specific area of subject. They like to play with a particular part of a toy rather than with the whole toy. Any change in their routine or distraction from usual routine disturbs them.
3) Another characteristic of individuals with asperger’s syndrome is repetitive behavior. Development of motor functions is delayed. Child has difficulty in learning to hold a spoon, catch a ball, walking and other motor functions. Continuous flapping of fingers, to and fro movement of chair are some of the repetitive behaviors expressed by children with asperger’s syndrome.
Assessment of asperger’s syndrome
Assessment of asperger’s syndrome is best done by information obtained from parents, teachers and other care givers. Diagnosis of asperger’s syndrome may be difficult as it varies in severity and expression of symptoms. But a team of professionals may help in the comprehensive assessment of asperger’s syndrome in a child.
To assess asperger’s syndrome in a child it is important to take medical history from parents regarding child’s development, language development, motor abilities and social behavior. Intellectual function of a child is evaluated by performing IQ (intelligent quotient) tests.
Speech therapist will help to evaluate the language development of a child. Doctor will test the child to find out how well a child understands and makes use of the language while communicating with others.
Psychiatrists will help to examine the child for relationships, ability to communicate, reaction to new things and expression of feelings.
References:
1. Fombonne E (2005). Epidemiology of autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66(Suppl 10): 3–8.
2. Volkmar FR, Schultz RT (2005). Asperger's syndrome section of Pervasive development disorders. In BJ Sadock, VA Sadock, eds., Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp. 3177–3181. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
3. Popper CW, et al. (2003). Disorders usually diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. In RE Hales, SC Yudofsky, eds., Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, 4th ed., pp. 833–974. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.