Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
What is Asperger's?
Since this is my 1st blog ever, I'll start with a bit of background. I have a few subjects that I feel compelled to write about. Since my youngest son has Asperger's that is where I am stating.
I recently found a wonderful Facebook page called asperger's awareness page
This page asked "What made you first realise that you or your child had Aspergers?" My answer received a lot agreement so I will begin with posting it: Hyper-active, anxiety, very intelligent however social behavior much younger than peers, difficult time relating to peers (gets along better w/younger kids), getting stuck on topics/inability to change subjects, extremely difficult time with transitions at school, narrow range of topics that he'll talk endlessly about, doesn't seem to understand other's needs for privacy, hates to vary from routine or have a substitute teacher, jumps to irrational conclusions that become "rules" in his mind...that's what comes to my mind right now.
Asperger syndrome or Asperger's syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported. Please note that almost all Aspies appear to have high intelligence and have subjects that they particularly excel in!
Although the condition is in some ways similar to autism, a child with Asperger's syndrome typically has normal language and intellectual development. Also, those with Asperger's syndrome typically make more of an effort than those with autism to make friends and engage in activities with others.
Because the symptoms of AS are often hard to differentiate from other behavioral problems, it's best to let a doctor or other health professional evaluate your child's symptoms. It's not uncommon for a child to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) before a diagnosis of AS is made later. In addition to AS my son was 1st diagnosed with ADHD and that diagnosis still holds in addition to AS and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Please don't take offense, but I've seen many places where people with AS are called Aspie's. My son is an Aspie & does not mind the term, so I will use that from time to time.
Social Interaction
Aspies experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity, and impaired nonverbal behaviors in areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture. Unlike those with autism [note that AS is in the autism spectrum but it is not autism], people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly. My son definitely displays these social challenges. Conversations almost always revolving around self rather than others and their own interests, discussed below. Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject. There also seems to be a lack of respect for "personal space" of others. Many have a hard time "reading" other people or understanding humor.
Activities and Interests
Aspies tend to hyper focus on a narrow group of interests, which can result in one-sided conversations. People with AS often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects. For my son, this includes Anime (Japanese action cartoons), Manga (Japanese graphic novels), Video Games, Stuffed Animals, certain Music Groups, and some Sci. Fict. shows, like Doctor Who. While many might think that these are normal interests, except for maybe the stuffed animals, for a middle school boy, individuals with AS may collect volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic such as weather data or star names, without necessarily having genuine understanding of the broader topic. He will carry around stacks of games, books, videos, etc, related to these subjects everywhere he goes. At the library he will find at least a dozen related media to check out on almost a daily basis. Although these special interests may change from time to time, they typically become more unusual and narrowly focused, and often dominate social interaction so much that the entire family may become immersed. Although these special interests may change from time to time, they typically become more unusual and narrowly focused, and often dominate social interaction so much that the entire family may become immersed or extremely frustrated. Aspies do like to talk a lot about these favorite subjects.
Trouble with Change
Aspies functions well with set schedules that do not involve a lot of transitions. Changes in routine can cause meltdowns. Something as simple as not having a meal at a certain time or a substitute for Art class can be traumatic.
Delayed Motor Development
Many appear awkward in movement and do not do as well at sports or activities requiring coordination; appearing and acting clumsy. Penmanship usually be quite messy, so that even the Aspie has a hard time reading what they have written back (thank goodness for Word Processing).
Well that is my first blog and we will see where it goes from here.
I recently found a wonderful Facebook page called asperger's awareness page
This page asked "What made you first realise that you or your child had Aspergers?" My answer received a lot agreement so I will begin with posting it: Hyper-active, anxiety, very intelligent however social behavior much younger than peers, difficult time relating to peers (gets along better w/younger kids), getting stuck on topics/inability to change subjects, extremely difficult time with transitions at school, narrow range of topics that he'll talk endlessly about, doesn't seem to understand other's needs for privacy, hates to vary from routine or have a substitute teacher, jumps to irrational conclusions that become "rules" in his mind...that's what comes to my mind right now.
Asperger syndrome or Asperger's syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported. Please note that almost all Aspies appear to have high intelligence and have subjects that they particularly excel in!
Although the condition is in some ways similar to autism, a child with Asperger's syndrome typically has normal language and intellectual development. Also, those with Asperger's syndrome typically make more of an effort than those with autism to make friends and engage in activities with others.
Because the symptoms of AS are often hard to differentiate from other behavioral problems, it's best to let a doctor or other health professional evaluate your child's symptoms. It's not uncommon for a child to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) before a diagnosis of AS is made later. In addition to AS my son was 1st diagnosed with ADHD and that diagnosis still holds in addition to AS and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Please don't take offense, but I've seen many places where people with AS are called Aspie's. My son is an Aspie & does not mind the term, so I will use that from time to time.
Social Interaction
Aspies experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity, and impaired nonverbal behaviors in areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture. Unlike those with autism [note that AS is in the autism spectrum but it is not autism], people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly. My son definitely displays these social challenges. Conversations almost always revolving around self rather than others and their own interests, discussed below. Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject. There also seems to be a lack of respect for "personal space" of others. Many have a hard time "reading" other people or understanding humor.
Activities and Interests
Aspies tend to hyper focus on a narrow group of interests, which can result in one-sided conversations. People with AS often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects. For my son, this includes Anime (Japanese action cartoons), Manga (Japanese graphic novels), Video Games, Stuffed Animals, certain Music Groups, and some Sci. Fict. shows, like Doctor Who. While many might think that these are normal interests, except for maybe the stuffed animals, for a middle school boy, individuals with AS may collect volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic such as weather data or star names, without necessarily having genuine understanding of the broader topic. He will carry around stacks of games, books, videos, etc, related to these subjects everywhere he goes. At the library he will find at least a dozen related media to check out on almost a daily basis. Although these special interests may change from time to time, they typically become more unusual and narrowly focused, and often dominate social interaction so much that the entire family may become immersed. Although these special interests may change from time to time, they typically become more unusual and narrowly focused, and often dominate social interaction so much that the entire family may become immersed or extremely frustrated. Aspies do like to talk a lot about these favorite subjects.
Trouble with Change
Aspies functions well with set schedules that do not involve a lot of transitions. Changes in routine can cause meltdowns. Something as simple as not having a meal at a certain time or a substitute for Art class can be traumatic.
Delayed Motor Development
Many appear awkward in movement and do not do as well at sports or activities requiring coordination; appearing and acting clumsy. Penmanship usually be quite messy, so that even the Aspie has a hard time reading what they have written back (thank goodness for Word Processing).
Well that is my first blog and we will see where it goes from here.
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