By Asperger’s syndrome is a disorder that is also known as one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This disorder is related to the development of the brain that impacts socialization and perceptions of a person. Generally, this disorder causes a person to have issues in social communication and interaction.
A person diagnosed with Asperger’s can develop a wide range of symptoms. Along with socializing and communication issues, they also show repetitive behavior patterns. Many people who have ASDs are average or above-average intelligent. Based on their condition, some of them can also hold their jobs and continue to study mainstream.
Unfortunately, Asperger’s syndrome can’t be cured. Although early diagnosis and treatment can help them reach their maximum potential, improve social communications and social connections, and lead a normal and productive life. This condition develops from early childhood and causes problems eventually in socialization.
They start to develop symptoms very early as well. So, it is crucial to detect the symptoms and treat them as early as possible.
What is Asperger’s syndrome?
A form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, this is a developmental disorder that is detected in young individuals. They may face difficulty in managing the symptoms and relating to others. It usually affects their ability to mingle in the social settings with particular hindrance to behavior and thinking patterns.
The difference in the behavior and thinking patterns is due to the affected individual’s inability to have flexibility in these areas. In addition, the repetitive pattern is another hindrance for them to mingle in social settings.
Asperger’s Symptoms
Now that you know what is Asperger’s, you need to learn about the symptoms as well. The symptoms of this condition are different from person to person. However, children with this condition tend to develop a lot of symptoms at an early age. As a result, the children with this condition often find it hard to socialize.
It is because they have a very narrow focus, like trains or dinosaurs. They will have a one-sided conversation with the other person based on their interest. These children are unaware of the fact that the other person is trying to change the topic. Most of the people with AS are also unable to read body language and facial expressions.
They also have a hard time understanding the feelings of other people. However, there are many different symptoms of Asperger’s that you need to know. Here are some of the most common ones given below.
Physical Symptoms
- Clumsiness
- Poor coordination
- Overstimulation and heightened sensitivity to loud noises along with unusual textures, bright light, strong tastes
- Bad handwriting skills
- Difficulties when using gross motor skills
- Bad fine motor skills
- Uncommon body gestures and postures
Behavioral Symptoms
- Lacks empathy
- Not being able to understand someone’s feeling
- Lacks pitch in speaking style
- Unable to fully understand the social norms
- Difficulties making eye contact
- Lack of instincts and relationship skills
- Do not understand about personal space
- Verbalize internal thoughts
- Keep making one-sided conversations
- Excessive talking on one topic
Psychological Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Moodiness
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Tends to get shy
- Low self-esteem
Cognitive Symptoms
- Lack social skills
- Difficulties in accepting upsets and changes in routine
- Difficulty understanding jokes and sarcasm
- Low organizational skills
- Limited interests and high knowledge about them
- Problem with the subtle changes of pitch, tone, and voice
- Absence of social skills
Now that you know all Asperger’s symptoms, you need to find out the causes that develop this condition.
Asperger’s Causes
Most symptoms are developed in Asperger’s due to changes in the brain. Doctors are still looking for the causes of these changes. There are many different things that can be responsible for the changes. Compared to girls, boys have a higher chance of developing this condition. Some of the most common ones include:
Genetic: According to research, there are many genes that are involved in this disorder. Some of the things that can create the presence of autism spectrum disorder in children include Fragile X syndrome or Rett syndrome.
Genetic changes can make a child more vulnerable to this disorder. Also, it can increase the environmental risk. It can also affect the brain cells that communicate or interrupt development.
Physical: People diagnosed with Asperger’s might have functional and structural differences in particular areas of the brain from an average person. It might have happened due to an abnormal migration during fetal development. It can lead to making changes in neural circuits, which are responsible for behavior and thoughts.
Environmental: Last but not least, Researchers are exploring that some environmental factors might make an impact. Some of them include prenatal compilations, viral infections, air pollutants, and others. It can play a significant role in developing disorders like Asperger’s.
You can find out the underlying cause of this condition with the help of an Asperger’s test.
Asperger’s Effects
Asperger’s symptoms are best to treat at the earliest to get positive results. However, if the symptoms are left unaddressed or untreated, it can cause many problems and effects. Some of these effects are given below.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Isolation
- Low self-confidence
- Complicated romantic relationships
- Social interaction difficulties
- Difficulty maintaining steady employment
- Difficulty keeping and making friends
Apart from the effects listed above, you might get some other complications with Asperger’s, such as sensory difficulties, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), OCF, depression, and others.
Asperger’s Treatments
There is no specific treatment for Asperger’s, and the condition cannot be cured. However, there are some treatments that can help you to get rid of the symptoms of this condition. In addition, these treatments help to maximize the potential of the children with Asperger’s and improve their social skills.
However, these treatments are only effective if applied at an early age. Early diagnosis and treatment by detecting Asperger’s symptoms is the best way to treat them. Here are some of the treatments that can help people with this disorder.
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Educational Therapies
This is a treatment method for children with autism disorder. Compared to all the other treatments, they tend to respond well to educational therapies. However, to make a program successful, it needs to include a specialist team with lots of activities to improve communication, social skills, and behavior.
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Family Therapies
Members of the family and parents can learn to interact and play with the children to improve their social skills and interactions. It will help them to construct their behavior, improve lifestyle skills and communication. These therapies can help the children improve even in their free time.
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Communication And Behavior Therapies
There are many different programs that try to address the range of language, behavioral, and social difficulties associated with Asperger’s. On the other hand, some programs help decrease behavior issues and teach a lot of new skills.
ABS (Applied Behavior Analysis) can help children generalize and learn new skills Through a motivational reward-based system.
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Medications
There are no medications available that can cure Asperger’s condition. However, there are some specific medicines that can provide relief from the symptoms. In addition, the doctor might prescribe some drugs that can help treat the behavioral problems, reduce depression, anxiety, and others.
Conclusion
Asperger’s is a condition that causes behavior, social interaction, and other problems. The chance of developing this condition is very high in males and children. The condition is not curable, but you can treat the symptoms if treated early. You will need to diagnose and treat from an early stage. It will help the children to improve their social and behavioral skills.
FAQs
1. Can A Person With Asperger’s Live Normally?
Despite the condition being a developmental disability, a person diagnosed with it can be supported to live a healthy life. Despite it being the milder forms of the condition, the person may face language development difficulties and may have normal or high IQ.
There is no restriction to the lives of a child diagnosed with the condition.
2. Is Asperger’s Different From Autism?
Both Asperger’s and autism fall under the autism spectrum disorder ASD category. The characteristic difference between the two is that Asperger’s does not restrict the language and thinking of the child as much as Autism.
3. What Are The Characteristics Of Asperger’s?
An individual with Asperger’s can be seen standing close to others while they engage in a conversation without catching on to the social cues of someone listening or not listening. Someone with Asperger’s may also not make eye contact when they are speaking to someone.
4. How Can I Support Someone With Asperger’s?
You can be an advocate for people with Asperger’s or you may choose to support someone in carrying out their daily activities. If you come across someone or are living with a person with Asperger’s you can support them by not making them feel different.
Treating them as equals helps them gain confidence in carrying out their activities independently without feeling different. In addition, use simple language without speaking too fast and allowing them the time to understand the information.
If you are a teacher who does not have specialization in working with children with Asperger’s, you can start by enrolling in a course. Additionally, you can provide them with a structure that gives them predictability.
5. Is Asperger’s Syndrome Serious?
Asperger’s syndrome does not have a cure, however, it is described by experts to be a milder condition than other kinds of autism spectrum disorders. The condition is manageable and children can be supported to live “normal” lives. The high functioning classification of the disorder may hinder the person from experiencing social and emotional events, however, it does not cause any hindrances in intellectual or verbal development.
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