Recent research for treatment of asperger's

Asperger’s syndrome is a disorder that affects a child’s developmental skills primarily in the category of communication and socialization. These children have a great deal of trouble in social settings and they noticeably focus on specific topics of interest and wanting to learn everything about it. It is a psychological disorder that is grouped along with the autism spectrum disorders, which are also known as pervasive developmental disorders. Asperger’s disorder is known as a mild case of the autism spectrum disorders.

Children with Asperger’s disorder may display a lack of eye contact with others, awkward body movements and gestures and little facial expression. They enjoy and do focus on one topic and talk all about it. They have trouble with interpretation of other people. They may be poorly coordinated and their speech may be monotone or fast. The symptoms of Asperger’s can mimic normal childhood development. The key to the difference is when a child has trouble adapting to social settings and the above symptoms interfere with doing so. This is the time when outside intervention should be considered after consulting with your child’s pediatrician.

The cause of Asperger’s syndrome is thought to be in part responsible due to genetics. Although Asperger’s disorder cannot be cured children can learn to cope better with specialized therapies in the areas of communication, socialization, and behavior. Some children benefit with the use of medications, such as those used in the treatment of ADHD, which some Asperger children have characteristics of.

Recent research for treatment of Asperger’s syndrome and autism is in using the hormone, oxytocin, which occurs naturally in people. This hormone is thought to be able to allow people with this disorder better awareness and reaction capabilities when interacting socially and in terms of emotions. The concept of oxytocin is not clear. However, it is thought to encourage bonding in a relationship. It is a hormone that is expelled when a woman has an orgasm or goes through the birthing process. A clinical psychologist, Adam Guastella, is the leader of this study. This study has been done previously in humans and did show significant abilities in understanding the expressions of others. Expectations are high for this study and testing is being accomplished using male subjects in their early to late teen years with the use of a nasal spray made up of oxytocin. This test will be conducted for a year and then follow-up will be done.

Anytime that research is being done on this mysterious psychological illness everyone gets excited and anticipates big dreams in their future. They will cling to just about any type of encouragement to bring normalcy to their lives. As long as there are people trying, there is hope for the future.

Communicating Asperger's Syndrome Idiosyncrasies to Your Child's Teacher

With the new school year just around the corner, parents of children dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome are once again in a quandary about enrolling the youngsters in a regular school setting. Not needing the support that a special education setting has to offer, but needing a bit more assistance than other school kids, children suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome are literally in a class by themselves.

Fortunately there are some effective ways of communicating Asperger’s Syndrome idiosyncrasies to your child’s teacher well ahead of the first day of class.

* Meet with your teacher and explain the basics of Asperger’s Syndrome and also how this condition affects your child individually. Even as a generalized account of the condition may be helpful, a personalized accounting is much more useful to the teacher and to your child. * Help the teacher understand your child’s need for a set routine. Granted, there will always be the unexpected, but teachers have the unique power of controlling much of the classroom and the routines that occur during the day, and if your child’s teacher knows that routine and uninterrupted structure make the youngster perform at his best, she will be more apt to pay attention to the little details. Conversely, this bit of information can help her anticipate any problems your Asperger’s child may encounter during a school day that brought about a lot of change. * Enlist the teacher’s help in keeping you well informed about any events and changes in schedule that might disrupt your child’s need for continuous structure. If you know that something is coming up, you may choose to keep your child at home that day, or begin working with him on the anticipated changes in schedule that are about to take place. * Find ways to make the teacher understand that a child with Asperger’s Syndrome lacks the ability to react to nonverbal communication and clues, and rather than being rude or simply belligerent, your child simply does not know the unwritten rules of social interactions. Being well aware of this fact also makes it easier for your child’s teacher to help him with the other students and foster an environment where he can explore new friendships and relationships on relaxed terms. * Whenever possible, help your child’s teacher to recognize that your child is a unique individual and that it is made up for more than a medical diagnosis. Instead, Asperger’s Syndrome makes up only a small part of your child’s overall personality.

Granted, even the most careful teacher preparation cannot anticipate problems and issues before they appear, but it gives the teaching professional the tools she needs to ensure that your child is well taken care of. Failure to communicate about Asperger’s Syndrome in general and how it affects your child in particular also fails your child’s overall shot at having an enjoyable school year. Since you, as the parent, are in the unique position to make this happen for your child, do not put off this appointment with your child’s teacher!

Treatment for aspergers Syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a neurobiological condition that affects children and adults. Many people feel it's a form of high functioning autism and it falls in the group of conditions of spectrum disorder or pervasive personality disorder. It affects the ability of the person to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Individuals often exhibit social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

At this time doctors and researchers have not found a cause or cure for aspergers syndrome. There has been some research to indicate that individuals who suffer from this condition have had permanent changes to their frontal lobe. These changes make a difference in the ability of the brain to process social activities.

In 1944 Hans Asperger labeled this disorder autistic psychopathy and published a paper describing the symptoms and behaviors. However it wasn't until 1994 that the disability was recognized in the DSM-IV. Throughout those years, and the many different research studies which have been performed, the exact cause of this disorder has never been found.

While there is currently no cure for asperger syndrome there are treatment protocols that help both adults and children to learn how to interact more successfully in social situations. Treatment which will be recommended will depend upon the individual's level of adaptive functioning. Just as with autism there is a range of disability or functionality of individuals who have asperger's.

Resources that are available for children and adults with asperger syndrome are communication and social skills training which help individuals to learn the unwritten rules of socialization and communication. These are often too hot to children in much the same way that students learn to speak a foreign language. This is because for children and adults with asperger syndrome learning these social communication skills is a foreign language.

It is possible for children with asperger syndrome can learn how to speak using a more natural rhythm as well is how to interpret communication such as gestures, I contacts, tone of voice, humor and sarcasm which usually fly right over the top of their heads.

Another behavioral therapy that may be recommended if cognitive behavior therapy. This technique is aimed at its decreasing problem behaviors such as interrupting, obsessions and angry outbursts. They also focused on helping children and adults to recognize a troubled situation, such as a new place or events, and then be able to select a specific strategy to cope.

While there is no medication specifically aimed at treatment of asperger syndrome there are some symptoms that can be controlled, such as anxiety, depression or hyperactivity using medications. Most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics and some stimulants are used to treat these problems.

Treatment outlook for individuals with asperger syndrome is usually heavily correlated with the measured IQ. Those who have a high IQ will fare better and show greater improvements in social function than those who have a below average one.

Children who experience the symptoms of asperger's syndrome will also require a bit of assistance in the school system. Schools who have a communications specialist with an interest in social skills training, opportunities for social interaction and structured settings, a concern for teaching real-life skills and a willingness to individualize the curriculum are best suited to help individuals who have asperger syndrome. Parents should stay informed of what is happening in the child's classroom and maintain frequent communication with the teacher.

Even though a specific pill is not available for treatment for asperger syndrome, and there is no cure, individuals who have this condition have a degree of adaptability to the environment when they are taught coping strategies and have a good support system in their relationships.

Treatment and Interventions for Those With Asperger's Syndrome

The purpose of treatment and interventions for Asperger's Syndrome is to give a child the best chance to improve his or her abilities to interact with others. The treatment will be tailored to the specific child, as each person with Asperger's Syndrome will have differences in the number and the severity of symptoms. The treatment plan will also revolve around the family's available resources. The treatment plan and interventions are designed around the symptoms exhibited by the individual with the syndrome.

Families with children that have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome can secure services by contacting the local school district, or by contacting organizations for Asperger's Syndrome. Federal laws require that public schools provide educational services that are appropriate for individuals with disabilities including those who have Asperger's Syndrome that are between the ages of 3 and 21. There may also be certain state and local laws pertaining to the education of those with special needs. The school personnel will identify goals by initiating and designing an Individualized Education Program known as an IEP. The IEP will be specific to the particular need of the student with special needs such as Asperger's Syndrome. The IEP will be designed based on the evaluation of the level of disability.

Typical school programs that may be set up to meet the needs of those students with Asperger's Syndrome include smaller groups or classrooms, a communication specialist to work on social training, opportunities for structured social interactions, individualized curriculum, and an assigned counselor to help the child cope with emotional issues encountered during school.

Treatment:

The treatment plan will involve therapies to improve communication, social skills, and behavioral management. Activity-oriented groups and focused counseling may also be offered. The treatment plan may also include other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, and depression. These conditions often coexist with Asperger's Syndrome and must also be addressed when treating the individual. These conditions may require therapy or therapy in combination with medications.

Ongoing research continues in an attempt to discover the cause or causes and any preventative measures that may be taken.

Home Treatment:

Those who care for a child with Asperger's Syndrome including parents, other family members, babysitters and other caregivers should seek education regarding Asperger's Syndrome so that they can better understand the individual with Asperger's Syndrome and be better equipped to assist the individual in learning new coping skills. Speak with the individual's physician to locate resources for education about Asperger's Syndrome and also contact organizations for Asperger's Syndrome.

Children with Asperger's Syndrome typically respond better when they have daily routines and rules that are consistent. They are able to respond better to verbal communications rather than to non-verbal communication.

When teaching someone with Asperger's Syndrome it might be beneficial to teach in parts that build up to the big picture instead of trying to present the entire concept at once. They also respond well to visual supports such as schedules, charts and other organizational aids. It is important to be aware of sensory stimuli in the learning environment like ticking clocks, humming machines and fluorescent lighting; all of these things are sensory distractions that make it more difficult for the individual to learn.

Bottles of Pills: Medication Options for Autistic Patients

As with any illness, disease, or disorder, there are a number of medicine options available to help control these symptoms. It is important to remember that none of these medications will "cure" autism; they simply help control some of the effects of the disorder. There are advantages and disadvantages to each drug, as they all have side effects as well as benefits. When choosing medicines to effectively treat autism, your doctor can make recommendations, but since autism is a disorder which varies from person to person, you should use drugs very carefully, watching to see how the body reacts to the treatments.

First, consider the safety of the drug. Some cannot be used in children or in people under a certain weight. Make sure the dosage is easy to understand and before you choose one medicine or another find out how it is administered (pills, injections, liquid, etc). This is important if you are not comfortable with certain methods, such as injecting yourself or your child. Also find out how safe the drug is to individuals who do not suffer from autism. If you have small children in the house, you'll want to be sure that the drug is not lethal if it gets into the wrong hands. Find out what to do in case this happens, just to be on the safe side.

Also consider the side effects of the drugs you are considering. While they may be very good at controlling aggression, responsiveness, hyperactivity, or other autistic tendencies, they may also cause sedation or other side effects such as nausea or dizziness. Weigh your options carefully before beginning one of these treatments, or you could find yourself with ten bottles of pills, each taken to counteract the side effects of another. Also remember that medications may have long-term effects. Will you or your child become dependent on the drug? Will you be tolerant? How else will it affect the body over time? These are all important questions to ask your doctor before beginning any medication.

You can research the many studies on these drugs at your local library or on the Internet. Publications such as journals and healthcare magazines are probably most current and most reliable, whereas you may get some altered information on the World Wide Web, so be careful about following advice you find without first consulting your doctor. He or she may also be able to provide you with literature about the medication options available for autistic patients. Do your researching on the many choices before making any decisions, and you'll be able to better control your health.