Asperger Syndrome London
- What is Asperger Syndrome?
- Life at School of Affected Children
- Age of Diagnosis
- Who can be affected by Asperger Syndrome?
- History of Asperger Syndrome
- Symptoms
- Complications caused by the Syndrome
- Multiple Conditions leading to the wrong Diagnosis
- Autism VS Asperger Syndrome
- What Causes Asperger’s Syndrome?
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Best Treatment for Asperger
- Support Groups for Asperger Syndrome
- Living With Asperger Syndrome
- Recommended Books
- FAQ’s
- Related Articles
What is Asperger Syndrome?
Asperger Syndrome is usually described as a condition that makes social contact uncomfortable, and the features seen most often are clumsy and unusual movements, unusual behaviour with intense interests, and real difficulty with non-verbal communication. People who have it struggle to read humour and sarcasm.
Life at School of Affected Children
Children and teens who have Asperger Syndrome normally do well at school. Social situations trip them up, and so does communication: simple humour, sarcasm and body language rarely come easily.
One topic, or one area of interest, occupies most of their thinking. Over time that interest grows so intense it starts to crowd out ordinary life and they become obsessive about it, with boys affected more often than girls and the condition also going by HFA (High Functioning Autism) or ASC (Autism Spectrum Condition).
Age of Diagnosis
Most children are diagnosed at five or nine years old. A few are picked up at three.
Who can be affected by Asperger Syndrome?
It can affect anyone, whatever their background, culture, gender or age, and no group is spared.
History of Asperger Syndrome
The Viennese paediatrician Hans Asperger first identified the condition, fifty years back.
Symptoms
Social interactions are hard for these children. Speech patterns come out poorly. Facial expressions look odd. Manners seem strange. They are unusually sensitive to sensory stimuli, too. Every child differs, of course, but the core of it lies in peculiar social behaviour and an obsession with their own interests.
The most common symptoms of these children are
- Less Social Interaction
- The conversation focussed on their personality and their interests
- Inability to comprehend the emotions
- Minimal Facial Expression
- Unable to understand nonverbal communication
- Clumsy movements of the body
- Difficulty while writing
- Being upset about very small changes
- Learning easily anything related to their interests
- Self-harming behaviour
- Not being able to understand the feelings of other people
- Being hypersensitive to lights, textures, and some sounds
Language development is not delayed in these children. Grammar comes well. So do vocabulary and a literal turn of mind. Intelligence sits in the average range, though attention span and organisational skills cause trouble.
In boys, a particular pattern was identified: less empathy, less interaction, little friendliness, problematic motor coordination, and an intense level of interest in special interests.
Complications caused by the Syndrome
When symptoms are severe, people end up isolated. Misunderstanding follows, because communication breaks down. Frustration, anger, anxiety and low self-esteem are the result.
Multiple Conditions leading to the wrong Diagnosis
Asperger Syndrome often comes alongside autistic spectrum Condition or dyslexia, and because so many symptoms overlap, a wrong diagnosis is possible.
The name has changed officially, but people still use the old one when they describe their condition. The Symptoms now sit under another diagnosis, known as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Autism VS Asperger Syndrome
| Asperger | Autism |
| The symptoms of Asperger’s are not the same as the learning level is normal, and there are no delays in linguistic abilities. | Delayed in speaking, motor, and cognitive skills. |
| They have good speech and language skills but poor social skills and poor pragmatic skills. | They have hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive behaviour |
| They perform brilliantly in their area of interest but poor social skills and poor pragmatic skills. | They have issues in learning new things. |
| They have problems with understanding Humor, Sympathy, and Sarcasm. | Unusual mood, reactions |
What Causes Asperger’s Syndrome?
The real cause of Asperger Syndrome is not known, and parenting or a poor upbringing plays no part in it at all, though it could also be called neurobiological order.
Chromosomal abnormality and fragile X syndrome can also contribute to the cause of the disorder.
Diagnosis
Suppose you find that your child has trouble with social development, behaviour, or language. You must take your child to a specialized paediatrician who is aware of ASD.
Testing and assessment usually begin with questions put to parents by a team of medical and Psychological professionals, who then assess linguistic and intellectual ability by interacting with the child. Doctors might also prescribe medical tests in order to analyse the medical concerns of the child.
Diagnosis is difficult sometimes, as the condition can be confused with disorders such as ADHD, OCD or ODD.
Treatment
Every case is different, so different treatment plans are needed to address the different needs of children, and plans can change over time. Asperger Syndrome is usually treated with the help of
- Training of Social Skill
- Support for Behaviours
- Language and Speech Therapy
- Training and education of parents
- Special Education
- Occupational Therapy
- Behavioural Therapy
- Medication
- CBT
There is no cure. But when a person with the condition learns to cope with the challenges, improvement does show.
Best Treatment for Asperger
People of every age with Asperger syndrome benefit from social skill groups, and these behaviour interventions are offered by the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). Therapy of this kind helps people learn positive behaviour in their daily lives.
Support Groups for Asperger Syndrome
- The National Autistic Society
- The Disabilities Trust
- Autism Independent UK
- Brain and Spine Foundation
- Neurological Alliance
- NHS Inform
- David Mulhall Centre
- Centre for ADHD and Autism Support
- Harrow Association for Disabled People
- Harrow Mencap
Living With Asperger Syndrome
Many people with Asperger Syndrome do well in their lives, and some need support with work, housing and social arrangements, while routine life tends to suit them as long as the environment stays predictable.
Recommended Books
Author : Tony Attwood
The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome explains the guidelines in detail. The Author draws on case studies from his career, and the book works as a full guide to the Syndrome.
If you need Counselling or Psychotherapy in London for Asperger’s Syndrome , we at Seekapsych are here to help. Do not wait. Contact us.
