My ASD Child

Asperger syndrome (AS) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and restricted interests and behaviors as seen in autism, but its early developmental course is marked by a lack of any clinically significant delay in spoken or receptive language, cognitive development, self-help skills, and curiosity about the environment. All-absorbing and intense circumscribed interests and one-sided verbosity as well motor clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for diagnosis. 1. History and nosology— In 1944, Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician with interest in special education, described four kids who had difficulty integrating socially into groups.19 Unaware of Kanner's description of early infantile autism published just the year before, Asperger called the condition he described "autistic psychopathy", indicating a stable personality disorder marked by social isolation. Despite preserved intellectual skills, the kids showed marked paucit

The diagnostic criteria for Aspergers as outlined in DSM IV TR [1] includes in criterion a description of some of the qualitative impairments in social interaction. The list of characteristics includes: •Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level •Lack of social or emotional reciprocity •Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction Clinical experience and autobiographies confirm that such individuals have considerable difficulty with the understanding and expression of nonverbal behaviors and social reciprocity. Regarding peer relationships, when we observe and assess the social play and friendship skills of kids with Aspergers, we recognize a delay in the conceptualization of friendship. The youngster may have an overall intellectual ability within the normal range, but their understanding of friendship skills resembles a much you

The following post was written by Myla, a 17-year-old middle school student with Asperger Syndrome [good advice for all]: Aspergers information for middle school teachers is essential as the youngster suffering with the disorder will face social as well as behavioral problems as he grows up and enters middle school, especially because he will need to adjust with the more mature environments. The unfortunate part is that these kids are often not properly classified as having Aspergers at all because of several reasons, for example, if the youngster is good in studies or is not very prominently different compared to the others, he may not be noticed at all, until and unless the Aspergers youngster suddenly bursts in an extremely inappropriate manner due to the pressure that has built up in him over time. They are thus misunderstood by their peers, educators and even moms & dads and their peculiar habits are blamed on emotional and motivational issues. The social environme

There is no official medication or treatment which can cure Aspergers but as there are many other disorders often seen to reside along with Aspergers medication is used to treat them or at least to bring these secondary disorders in control. Disorders like ADHD, Torrette’s Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder and Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD and many others are commonly found in a youngster or an adult suffering from Aspergers. Certain drugs like clonidine, naltrexone, antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs have been used over the year to try and reduce the various effects of Aspergers. These drugs help to treat the repetitive behaviors but a lot is to be tested before one starts with these medicines as many children in the past have complained about having to face abnormalities regarding metabolism and cardiac transference time as well as long term neurological problems. Risperidone is one drug which is supposed to help out the child in dealing