Six Reasons Why Asperger's Syndrome Is Not a Disability

There has been a buzz to change the terminology that governs the topic of Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). For a long time there has been a movement underfoot to reclassify Asperger’s Syndrome as a condition of being differently able rather than disabled, and although parents and advocates of AS children may beg to differ, those in favor of changing the classification do make some compelling points.

The top six reasons why Asperger’s Syndrome is not a disability gives an inside glimpse at the workings of the condition and also the struggles individuals facing it have to endure on a daily basis.

1. The mere fact that children are seen paying attention to those things for which they have a general interest, as opposed to those that teachers and behaviorists believe they should notice, does not make Asperger’s Syndrome a disability. Instead, it may be viewed as a tacit nod to absolute honesty in one’s desires and therefore is simply an ability to overcome social conditioning. 2. What has been referred to as latent anti social behavior so often exhibited in young children diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome – characterized by their inability or unwillingness to interact with parents or caregivers extensively – is found to be an expression of their desires to pay more attention to the world of objects as opposed to subjects. This may be attributed to a simply matter of preference, not a disability. 3. What earned children the description of little professors during the experiments that convinced Dr. Asperger of his theories, may not be a disability but could be much more aptly described as a strong interest in a given field of study. This causes the individual to notice nuances others do not and thus renders her or him differently able and perhaps even superior in perception. 4. The systematic organization of things and items may be of unique interest in a child diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. It does not really matter if this is the means of taking a picture with a camera by holding down a button, turning on and off a light, or delving into the intricacies of a physics equation. The problem arises when the system in which the child shows interest is simple, and soon has some clamoring at needing to be outgrown. 5. Routines are another symptom of Asperger’s Syndrome and it has been documented that children have the hardest time functioning in a classroom setting where such order is frequently interrupted or even missing. This may be seen as a disability to some, but others simply believe it to be a sign that the child has a very serious affection for that which it can control versus the unknown. 6. Perhaps the most convincing fact used by those suggesting that Asperger’s Syndrome is not a disability rests in the fact that the mere decision to value one trait or situation more than another is one of personal preference, not one born from a lack of ability. Therefore, a person who does not interact well with others but instead finds it far more important to invest time in physics and other subjects she deems important, may be considered eccentric, but it does not render her disabled.

The Early Differentiation between Asperger's Syndrome and Infantile Autism

Dr. Hans Asperger was adamant that the condition bearing his name and the one considered infantile autism should not be considered one and the same. Although later physicians are actually questioning this logic, at the time of the initial discovery in 1944 it made a lot of sense to draw a severe and dividing line between the two conditions. At the heart of the matter is Dr. Asperger’s suggestion that the syndrome was a trait of a developing personality that made it stable. In the 1940s, autism was regarded as a psychotic illness that began in infancy and worsened over the life of the patient.

Later physicians recognized that Dr. Asperger felt way too many children were randomly grouped into a niche with a distinct label, no matter the severity or lack of symptoms. Much like the recent rush to medicate children who would not sit still, back in the 1940s those diagnosed with autism would be routinely shunned and even given up to care homes by their families, even if they could have been cared for perfectly well within a loving home under the supervision of a skilled doctor.

In the same way, later on there was a brief period in the 1960s when the term “refrigerator mother” was coined in an effort to lay the blame for an autistic child on the shoulders of women deemed not affectionate enough with their children. This led to an avoidance of parents seeking out medical help for their children or counseling for their families, and as a result there was a time period when diagnosis and treatment was virtually at a stand still. Making up for this failure was the use of the phrase Asperger’s Syndrome which was sufficiently like autism to make diagnosis possible while insufficiently similar to attach the same societal stigmas.

At this time, Asperger’s Syndrome is the agreed upon terminology to use for those individuals who display signs of autism but which may be considered to be either less affected or functioning more independently than other patients. Of course, there are noted differences between both conditions and thus a distinct differentiation of both ailments is still warranted. Case in point is the obvious clumsiness displayed by Asperger’s’ patients while autistic children will have little of that and instead climb, run and jump earlier and with more dexterity.

At the same time, the social withdrawal that marks both autism and Asperger’s patients is a point of contention, although those suffering with Asperger’s Syndrome are usually quickly identified because of the inappropriate comments they make while regularly autistic children will prefer quiet. There is little doubt that the lines between both conditions are fluid and as social mores change, and also the understanding of the psychiatric and medical communities, there is little doubt that the overall modes of treatment of children and adolescents with both autism and Asperger’s Syndrome will also undergo a further change.

Patients and their families are urged to maintain strong vigilance and uphold advocacy for those in their care to ensure that they will always be at the cutting edge of new medical discoveries and also treatment options.

The Developmental Disorder Known as Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a developmental disorder and is also in the category of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is a neurological condition that is characterized by impairment in language and communication skills, repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and resultant behavior. There are some similarities between children with autism and children with AS though children with AS retain their early language skills.

One outstanding characteristic of someone with AS is the obsessive interest in a single subject to exclusion of others. A child with AS can be highly informed regarding this one topic and know little else of other topics so great is their obsession. They usually exhibit a high level of vocabulary usage, and formal speech patterns are like that of a little adult. They are known to have repetitive routines or rituals, and peculiarities in speech and language, are socially immature, emotionally inappropriate behavior-wise at times and are unable to interact successfully with peers. They have a great deal of difficulty dealing with non-verbal communications and their physical movement skills are uncoordinated making them appear to be clumsy. Their walking gait may be stilted or bouncy, awkward and poorly coordinated.

Prognosis and treatment of Asperger's Syndrome:

With early intervention a child with AS can undergo behavioral therapy, social training and can be encouraged to learn how to interact socially with peers. Desensitizing can be achieved through occupational therapy so that they can cope better with sensory stimuli such as light, sound and touch.

Adults who have gone through intervention in childhood can learn to cope with the signs and symptoms of AS and are able to find ways to have mainstream jobs, and are encouraged to seek normal relationships and maintain independent living.

Research in ongoing to find the causes and therefore better treatment for Asperger's Syndrome.

There are organizations set up to assist those with Asperger’s Syndrome including:

MAAP Services for Autism, Asperger’s, and PDD located in Indiana, USA that can be reached by going to their Website: www.maapservices.org and also the Autism Network International (ANI) which is located in New York, USA. They also have a Website that you can make contact with them through at: www.ani.autistics.org

Common symptoms of individuals with AS include difficulty dealing with social situations, difficulty with non-verbal communication especially the inability to recognize body language such as facial expressions, sensory overload, awkward posturing, and a tendency to take everything literally.

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome benefit greatly from early intervention and parents and caregivers should receive education and training regarding the disorder and how best to intervene on behalf of the child with AS. Occupational therapy is helpful in dealing with the sensory overload regarding light, sound and touch so that the child can be desensitized to these that otherwise would disrupt his or her ability to participate in activities.

What are the Signs of Aspergers Syndrome

Aspergers is a form of Autism. People with Aspergers syndrome are on the higher end of the spectrum. They usually have normal language skills. Their main problem is dealing with people socially. Usually these problems are first noticed when a child begins school. The child can have all the signs of Aspergers, or only a few. Here are some of the common signs of Aspergers syndrome.

1. Have a hard time talking to other kids. Kids with Aspergers syndrome have a hard time going up to someone and starting a conversation.

2. Speak in words that are very advanced for their age. The Asperger's child may use words that adults would use.

3. Have trouble understanding when someone is joking, or being sarcastic. Children with Aspergers have a hard time understanding tones of people's voices. They tend to take everything said seriously.

4. Have very limited interests. A child with Aspergers syndrome may only want to focus on one thing. They may take a liking to puzzles, and only want to do puzzles all the time. They will often learn everything they can about one subject. That will be all they focus on.

5. Have a hard time with changes in their routine. This can be hard for a child starting school. They had a routine at home and now that is being changed. The same thing can happen during breaks during the school year. This is a common problem of Autistic children.

6. Talking a lot. Children with Aspergers usually talk a lot. They often say whatever they are thinking whether it is appropriate or not. Most of the conversations they have are one sided. While it looks like the child is talking to you, they are really talking at you.

7. Problems making friends. Kids with Aspergers have trouble making friends due to their inability to relate to the other children. They sometimes try to hard to make friends and scare the other kids away.

8. No eye contact. Children with Aspergers usually will not look you in the eye when speaking. This is another common trait of an Autistic child.

9. Using repetitive movements. This can be a movement like spinning around, or bouncing back and forth while sitting. These movements are calming to the Aspergers child.

10. Problems with speaking. The Aspergers child may speak really fast. They usually do not stop to see if the person they are talking to is paying attention. Their tone of voice is flat and does not change to show emotions.

11. Problems with movement. Children with Aspergers often have trouble with their coordination skills. They may always be tripping or stumbling over their own feet. They may take a long time to learn how to ride a bike.

Asperger children have the most positive outcome on the Autism spectrum. They have high intelligence and language skills. They can often be taught the social skills they need to get by. If you notice any of these signs in your child mention them to the doctor.

The Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome in Interpersonal Interactions

It is always said that individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome have a hard time with their interpersonal interactions. Do you know what this looks like?

* Eye contact is an essential part of interpersonal interactions, but for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome even the simple tasks of creating and maintaining eye contact is Herculean. * Attempting to create a healthy mix between staring and furtive glances, the individual dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome is unable to make sense of the subtle clues brought on by a conversation that signal to everyone else when it is time to look in the speaker’s eyes, when to express surprise with the eyes, and when to look away. * The tone of voice is another way that those with Asperger’s Syndrome sometimes showcase their inability to adequately comprehend the interactivity of the conversation. Usually not modulating their voice, it sometimes makes the speech of a person with Asperger’s Syndrome rather monotone. In addition, there is a good chance that the lack of inflection makes it hard for hearers to determine if the individual is done talking or still adding more facts. * Telling a joke is not something that you will hear from someone with Asperger’s Syndrome, unless it does not require a modulation of voice or any form of body language. Online, you will be surprised at the wit and sense of humor, but in person this is a lot harder. * Metaphors and other expressions add vibrancy to communication but they are hard won for a person with Asperger’s Syndrome. There are several good books that list many common metaphors but they do not help with the delivery of these word pictures. This leads to sometimes hearing someone use them and having it sound stilted. * Paying compliments is hard to do when metaphors escape do not make any sense. One might think that someone is using an odd phrase and then try it out on someone else; only to be told that what was just said is rude, nonsensical, or even suggestive.

These are but a few of the situations that the average individual with Asperger’s Syndrome has to weather. When encountered in the company of those with whom the individual feels at ease, it becomes a learning experience. Yet when correction is made by those whom the person does not know well or is easily embarrassed by, it might become a social nightmare for the individual, especially when she or he is still young.

Parents and caregivers are urged to role-play with their youngsters and to ensure that they understand certain nuances. While it is not possible to completely inoculate the youngster against the occasional mistakes that may result in laughter or sneers from peers, there is a good chance that early role playing games will make all the difference in future interactions the child will experience. In addition, it will also provide the save situation that enables the child to try out some metaphors, make first stab at humor, and even practice eye contact.