Asperger's syndrome is one of several psychiatric disorders categorized as pervasive developmental disorders of childhood. As with all of these disorders, the child with Asperger's has significant to profound functional impairment in the areas of communication and social skills and does not engage in usual childhood behaviors or activities; however intellectual functioning is not affected by the disorder. Although Asperger's is often considered a childhood disorder, it is a lifelong condition which is first diagnosed in childhood due to the early onset of noticeable impairment.
Cause and Symptoms
Research is ongoing as to the cause of Asperger's, ongoing research points to functional impairments that arise from structural abnormalities in more than one region of the brain. Research is also investigating a possible genetic link, though results are uncertain. Symptoms revolve around impairment in social and communication skills, such as atypical nonverbal messages, poor eye contact, limited facial expressions and seeming to lack understanding or empathy.
Language and Cognitive Skills
Although Asperger's has many of the same features as other pervasive developmental disorders such as autism, Asperger's is unique as children have no impairment, or in many cases have superior functioning, in language and cognitive skills. These children sometimes perform well in school with a keen focus on specific topics. Often they learn and retain vast amounts of knowledge on one or several limited topics of choice.
Peer Relationships
Children with Asperger's frequently become targets of ridicule in school and other peer-settings as impaired communication and social skills draw attention and judgments as "odd." With the gift of often superior verbal, memory and cognitive skills, children sometimes attempt to compensate. These efforts are sometimes successful, but most frequently the child's peer relationships remain poor, leading to isolation and loneliness.
Relationships with Adults
The child's relationships with parents, teachers and other adults also suffer when these adults begin to read the lack of social and communication skills as resistance, apathy or rebellion. These children are often labeled stubborn, self-centered or uncaring. Without an understanding of the functional impairments which accompany this disorder, these children sometimes come to be seen as a source of frustration and difficulty, leaving the child further isolated and misunderstood.
Treatment
A combination of play therapy and, in some cases, medications have been shown to help improve quality of life. In therapy the child can process feelings such as sadness, anger and disappointment associated with isolation and frustration. Social skills training and education are also helpful in finding the child's potential in social and communication skills. Depending upon the severity level, medications are sometimes used to assist with associated symptoms such as depression, anxiety or obsessions.
Parenting
Frequently treatment is combined with the development of self-coping skills, facilitated through the parents using specialized parenting skills which aim the child in the direction of personal success. These skills are discussed in several publications on the topic such as "The Everything Parent's Guide To Children With Asperger's Syndrome: Help, Hope and Guidance." The focus of these manuals is to take advantage of the child's cognitive and verbal skills to effectively compensate for the impairment in social and communication skills.
References
- American Psychological Association; The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; 2000.
- James Hansell & Lisa Damour; Abnormal Psychology; 2005.
- William Stillman; The Everything Parent's Guide To Children With Asperger's Syndrome: Help, Hope and Guidance.
