Aspergers (AS) is a neurobiological disorder,



which has a profound affect on basic life skills.

Aspergers is attached to the autism spectrum on

the high functioning side. Aspergers is what is

known as a pervasive developmental disorder and

one that can hamper how a child studies, learns

and perceives the environment around them.

Aspergers is characterized by communication

problems, difficulty relating to people,

repetitive body movements, difficulty with

changes in routine, obsessing about certain

topics or items, and unusual play with toys or

other objects.

A child with Asperger's Disorder functions at a

higher level than the typical child with autism.

For example, many children with Asperger's

Disorder have normal intelligence. While most

children with autism fail to develop language or

have language delays, children with Asperger's

Disorder are usually using words by the age of

two, although their speech patterns may be

somewhat odd. Aspergers is more common in boys

than in girls.

Children with Asperger's Disorder are also at

risk for other psychiatric problems including

depression, attention deficit disorder,

schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Social-

Social skills are particularly challenging for

the child with Aspergers. There are two types of

social skill deficits: cognitive deficiencies and

cognitive distortions. Like other forms of autism,

Aspergers includes repetitive behavior patterns

and impairment in social interaction. The most

common and important characteristics of Aspergers

can be divided into several broad categories:

social impairments, narrow but intense interests,

and peculiarities of speech and language.

Although there is no single feature that all

people with Aspergers share, difficulties with

social behavior are nearly universal and are one

of the most important defining criteria.

As children with Aspergers mature, and become

aware of their inability to connect, their fear

of making a social mistake, and their self-

criticism when they do so, can lead to social

phobia. Another important aspect of the social

differences often found in people with Aspergers

is a lack of central coherence. The combination

of social problems and intense interests can lead

to unusual behavior, such as greeting a stranger

by launching in to a lengthy monologue about a

special interest rather than introducing oneself

in the socially accepted way. Children with

Aspergers can learn to manage their differences,

but they may continue to find social situations

and personal relationships challenging.

Symptoms may be seen by obsessional absorption

with inanimate objects, such as watches and

clocks; or a predominant interest in systematic

things like numbers, indices, telephone

directories, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and

measuring scales.

Treatment-

A typical treatment program generally includes:

· social skills training, to teach the skills to

more successfully interact with others;

· cognitive behavioral therapy, to help in better

managing emotions that may be explosive or

anxious, and to cut back on obsessive interests

and repetitive routines;

· medication, for co-existing conditions such as

depression, anxiety, and ADD/ADHD;

· nutrition, related to improvement of Asperger

tendencies, such as magnesium/vitamin B6 tablets

The most effective treatment is using positive

measures accompanied by techniques aimed to

increase the individual's awareness and

understanding of their behaviors and the effects

on those around them. Currently, the most

effective treatment involves a combination of

psychotherapy, special education, behavior

modification, and support for families.

Take advantage of your child's strengths by

encouraging him or her to explore interests at

home and at school. Activity-oriented groups and

focused counseling can also be helpful.

Many children with Asperger's syndrome also have

other coexisting conditions, including attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar

disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),

social anxiety disorder, and depression. These

conditions can place extra demands on parents who

are already dealing with a child with extra needs.

These conditions may require treatment with

medications and other therapies.