Asperger's syndrome is a poorly understood developmental disorder on the autism spectrum that affects a person's ability to perceive the world and function normally in it. People with Asperger's, who are more likely to be male than female, generally have normal or above-average intelligence, but their limited social skills, poor communication, repetitive behaviors and intense interests make them difficult to interact with. Symptoms of Asperger's overlap to some degree with those of autism but are generally less severe.
Social Skills
Social skills are sorely lacking in most people with Asperger's. They talk too much, missing another person's cues that they're uncomfortable or eager to get away, and don't notice other people's feelings. Lack of empathy for others is a common symptom of Asperger's. People with Asperger's have great difficulty making friends because of their lack of social skills and inability to read other people.
Communication
People with Asperger's have unusual speech patterns; they may speak too quickly, have an odd rhythm or cadence to their speech, or put emphasis on the wrong part of a word or sentence. Their speech may be flat or monotonous. Non-verbal communication is limited; people with Asperger's may not make eye contact or may not be aware of verbal cues from other people. Facial expressions are dull, with little animation when they speak. Because people with Asperger's use language in a concrete way, humor and jokes may be difficult for them to grasp. They take what they're told literally, which makes it hard for them to understand instructions.
Physical Issues
Many people with Asperger's are clumsy, as if they don't recognize the borders of their own bodies. Many have an odd gait or walk on tiptoe. Many have extreme sensitivity to fabrics or tags on clothing or other physical sensations. They may dislike having their faces touched or be bothered by sounds and sights not noticed by other people. The textures of certain foods may bother them.
Preoccupations
People with Asperger's tend to have intense, narrow and often unusual interests. They may become fixated on obscure subjects, such as train schedules or a rare type of animal, and talk about them or study them extensively. Although they may learn a great deal about a single subject, people with Asperger's don't truly grasp all the nuances of a topic and tend to focus on rote facts and figures pertaining to a topic, Ami Klin, Ph.D., and Fred R. Volkmar, M.D., of the Yale Child Study Center report.
Repetitive Behaviors
Repetitive behaviors are common symptoms of Asperger's. Spinning in place or twirling, playing only with the wheels of cars, finger tapping and hand flapping are all characteristic of Asperger's.
