1. Adults With Asperger's Struggle With Social Skills
The biggest challenge for adults with Asperger's is to learn to correctly perceive social situations if they did not have early intervention. They can find themselves lost in a maze of social structure that is not intuitive, and feel uncomfortable when others understand something they don't grasp. Their communication abilities can be lacking if they did not undergo speech therapy. In the workforce, these adults can succeed in the area that they are passionate about. They may find it frustrating, however, to listen to others who are not as intense or precise about their field.
2. An Intense Interest or Hobby Is Common in Asperger's Syndrome in Adults
Although many adults with Asperger's have high IQs, their interest in a particular topic or subject can be too intense for others. They fail to recognize when they are talking endlessly about their favorite topic or boring others. Adults with Asperger's often display an unusual memory for details. They tend to be very precise in their area of expertise. The challenge they face is using this intense passion to excel and not turn others away.
3. Adults With Asperger's Exhibit Limited Communication Ability
People with this syndrome can find small talk challenging. Some adults with Asperger's struggle to understand humor, sarcasm and subtleties in conversation. They often do not pick up on gestures or facial expressions that come naturally to others. Adults with Asperger's can benefit from social skills training to understand pragmatic language.
4. Navigating Social Situations is Extremely Difficult
Adults with Asperger's, unlike autistics, crave social acceptance and often can't develop the relationships they desire. They can often say things that are rude or offensive, without realizing the impact. People with Asperger's can appear unkind, when in reality they lack the intuition to know their words were inappropriate. It's common for an individual with Asperger's to lack emotional empathy. Social cues or norms are not intuitive. Some adults with Asperger's also have a strong desire to be right, despite its impact on other's feelings.
5. Depression Is Common
While many children with Asperger's are hyperactive, the adults often struggle with depression, especially if they did not undergo adequate therapy as children. They have struggled alone for their whole life, feeling different from others, unless they have an understanding of their disorder. If they have not had social training, they have had to struggle with being called rude or odd for much of their life.
