1. Monitor Your Child at Home
Asperger's syndrome often manifests itself in a strong reliance on routine and an intense interest in just one or two subjects or activities. A child with Asperger's may talk endlessly on the topics that interest him, but be relatively silent at other times. He may also become agitated if his routine is interrupted or if he is interrupted while engaging in his favorite activities. Language development is usually not delayed in these children, and their intelligence is typically very high. However, a telling feature in Asperger's syndrome is the use of very large, formal words at a very young age, such as "beckon" instead of "call" and "immaculate" instead of "clean." Most parents simply think their child is eccentric, which makes this condition difficult to diagnose.
2. Observe How Your Child Behaves in Social Situations
Children who have Asperger's have a hard time in social situations. This is mainly due to their lack of understanding of verbal and non-verbal cues when interacting with others. They may not pick up on the moods and feelings conveyed by their peers through body language and tone of voice, and often do not understand humor. This can lead to a child with Asperger's not knowing how to give and take in a conversation. He may also stare at the people with whom he interacts and not pick up on clues that this makes other people uncomfortable. As a result, he may not have many friends and may consequently prefer to be solitary.
3. Have Your Child Evaluated by a Psychologist
A professional child psychologist can evaluate your child against the Childhood Autism Rating Scale in order to make a definitive diagnosis of Asperger's. The psychologist will likely ask further questions of you regarding your child's development and whether he is solitary or social. Some common questions include asking about the degree of your child's reliance on routine, whether he uses unusually large words for his age and whether he prefers the company of other children or adults. The psychologist will also ask at what age your child began to talk, whether he is intensely interested in just one or two subjects and how your child spends his free time.
