Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a developmental disorder falling within the autistic spectrum affecting two-way social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and a reluctance to accept change, inflexibility of thought and to have all absorbing narrow areas of interest. Individuals are usually extremely good on rote memory skills (facts, figures, dates, times etc.) many excel in math and science. There is a range of severity of symptoms within the syndrome, the very mildly affected youngster often goes undiagnosed and may just appear odd or eccentric. While Aspergers is much more common than Autism it is still a rare condition and few people, including professionals, will know about it much less have experience of it. It seems to affect more boys than girls. In general terms they find making friends difficult, not understanding the subtle clues needed to do so. They often use language in a slightly odd way and take literal meanings from what is read or heard. They ...
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This could not have come at a better time! My 14 year old Aspie son and my husband butt heads quite a bit and my husband is of the old school that you will mind me and you will respect me because I am your father! So I sat down and read out loud your newsletter. I think it made some sense to my husband, hopefully! Thank you! I think as soon as payday comes I will down load your book on Aspie Teens!
G.
bad situation right now. We are desperately trying to find some help
in this area. My daughter lives about 45 minutes west of Boston, MA.
Sean was diagnosed around the 3rd grade. He had all of the usual
symptons, i.e., he was a dinosaur, pokemon - any character that he
was into at the time. Always a very easy going boy, probably until he
hit high school & things started to change. We always felt he was on
the "lighter" end of Aspergers. He did play baseball in jr. high, and
has run track thru high school..
Things have changed and this past year has definitely been the worst.
He first started to sneak out of the house at night (usually because
of a girlfriend) and hang out all night. The lying and attitude
really started. Also got into a lot of smoking pot. It's been on
thing after another.
He now has a different girlfriend and started doing the same things.
Defiant, beligerant, just plain rude. He does not want to follow any
rules, thinks he should be able to do what he wants and come and go as
he pleases. Last week was just brutal.
As of Monday things calmed down a bit and after a phone call with his
mother he came back home. Also said to her," I love you Mom', which
I'm not sure if he's ever said on his own. They talked for several
hours & really felt that they were back on the right track.
Last nite, came home past curfew with a lip piercing and a totally new
attitude, again, that he could do whatever he wanted. They talked and
got nowhere and in the end he told her that he had no respect for her!
My daughter & her husband really feel they are in a desperate
situation. She called his councilor who has still not called them
back. Would you have any advice of what to do or supply us with some
people in this area that really specialize in Aspergers? They really
need some help,