Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that usually becomes evident in childhood. Children with Asperger's have deficits in three areas: communication, physical coordination and development of a range of interests. The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes Asperger's syndrome as an autism spectrum disorder, meaning that it is on a continuum of development disorders that includes classic autism. Most people with Asperger's syndrome are able to function in society with less difficulty than most people with classic autism. A set of classic symptoms define Asperger's syndrome. A child with Asperger's may or may not display all of the symptoms.
Limited Non-Verbal Communication
Mayo Clinic describes a lack of eye contact when communicating as a sign of Asperger's syndrome. The child may have few facial expressions and may stare into space while speaking. He may make few gestures while speaking and adopt an odd body posture. He may not watch the facial expressions or body posture of the person who is speaking with him. The child with Asperger's may not seem to pick up on humor or any speech that is not direct, such as sarcasm or the use of figures of speech.
Unusual Speech
A child with Asperger's may have an unusual speech pattern, as though he is reading what he is saying. His voice may remind you of a robot, or he may have a monotone, as if he is depressed. His speech may seem overly formal or well thought out, instead of spontaneous. Alternatively, he may speak rapidly, without noticing that others speak more slowly.
Clumsiness
A child with Asperger's may seem clumsy and drop things. She may fall easily and try to avoid physical games that her peers are playing. She may have odd, repetitious movements or walk stiffly, as though she is in pain.
Obsessive Interests
One cardinal sign of Asperger's syndrome in a child is obsessive interests. He may hone in on one or two topics and devote an extraordinary amount of time to studying them, looking at them or talking about them. This topic may vary, with some examples including an object, a musical score, an animal, the weather, sports history or visual patterns. He may seem uninterested in any other subjects, and most of the conversations he begins may be about his topic of interest.
Lack of Empathy
Although a child with Asperger's is not mean, she may seem to be oblivious to the feelings of others. If someone's dog dies, she may not show sympathy as other children might. She may seem to be interested in herself only but does not purposefully do cruel things. She may seem emotionally immature for her age.
Inadequate Math Skills
According to KidsHealth, the child with Asperger's may have inadequate math skills but will do well in vocabulary. He may have noted deficits in his ability to learn some subjects but will speak like an expert about another. Learning abilities may vary greatly from child to child.
