Individuals with Asperger's syndrome (AS) have a developmental disorder characterized by limited interests, or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject while excluding other activities. Known as a neurobiological disorder, AS belongs in a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders. AS symptoms appear in different combinations and in varying degrees of severity.
Repetitive Routines or Rituals
KidsHealth.org estimates that more than 400,000 families are affected by AS. Individuals with AS, though they may share certain patterns of behavior, can exhibit a wide range of skills and abilities. As a result, general terms such as "low-functioning," "high-functioning," "autistic tendencies" and "pervasive developmental disorder" are used when describing the behaviors that fall within the autism spectrum. Individuals with AS share many of the same symptoms as others with "high-functioning autism" and include restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior such as hand or finger flapping, twisting or complex whole-body movements, interests and activities such as a persistent preoccupation with parts of objects, reports the Cleveland Clinic.
Peculiarities In Speech and Language
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), two out of every 10,000 children have AS. The NINDS reports that peculiarities in speech and language are often observed in AS sufferers, marked by a lack of rhythm, an odd inflection or a monotone pitch.
Inappropriate Behavior
Individuals with AS often have a significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. They may not interact successfully with peers, making normal conversation impossible by exhibiting inappropriate or eccentric behavior, conversing solely about their singular interests, or showing a lack of emotional reciprocity.
Problems With Communication
AS sufferers are often isolated because of their poor social skills and narrow interests. They often have difficulty reading the body language of others, and display a marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures that regulate social interaction.
Developmental Delays
A history of developmental delays are often observed in individuals with AS. The motor skills can be affected, causing problems that include, pedaling a bike, catching a ball, or poor coordination, often displaying a walk that appears as either stilted or bouncy.
