Asperger’s Syndrome is a condition affecting approximately 3% of the population. The symptoms may include: poor eye contact and interactions decreased interest in play and communication, and limited ranges of interests (e.g., only playing with dogs or small children). Typically, these symptoms are not apparent at birth. Because they are commonly found in people with other developmental disabilities, it is not surprising that Asperger’s Syndrome is often confused with Autism. However, there are clear differences between the two and an Asperger’s patient may have some of the same characteristics as an Autistic person suffering from Autism. Please read this post for understanding Asperger’s vs Autism.
Socialization
Autism is a collection of related disorders that impair communication, socialization, and relating to people. The most common type of Autism is called pervasive developmental disorder and accounts for approximately 50% of diagnosed cases. Other types of Autism include Asperger’s Disorder, Down syndrome, and Fragile X Syndrome. The majority of children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) learn to function within their environment, but can also exhibit extreme behaviors. Common characteristics of Asperger’s Disorder include a wide interest range, great attention to detail, and an obsession with one topic. Unlike Autistic disorder, Asperger’s patients do not respond to stress or anxieties.
People with Asperger’s typically develop before or at the age of four. Usually, their symptoms disappear by the time they reach the age of six. They tend to be less active than other children their age, but they are curious and have a good imagination. They often enjoy playing games, are not sensitive to social cues, and are often easily bored.
Creative And Possess a Powerful Imagination
Often referred to as “street smarts”, people with Asperger’s have an abundance of skills that make them excel in many areas. For example, they are highly creative and possess a powerful imagination. They can often solve problems quickly and are skilled in fine arts. People with Asperger’s Syndrome can become very accomplished musicians and engineers as well. They are often good at sports and enjoy participating in sports.
Those with Asperger’s Syndrome tend to exhibit unusual body language. This can include twitching, facial expressions, pointing, or waving. Sometimes they will use humor to communicate. However, they may use nonverbal communication such as hand motions, facial gestures, or eye contact. Because they are unable to express their thoughts in sentences, they cannot form fluent conversations.
People with Asperger’s tend to have trouble understanding sarcasm, humor, puns, and faces. They tend to have difficulty learning from others, including sarcasm and tone of voice. Because of this, people with Asperger’s tend to have difficult relationships with their peers and sometimes are withdrawn. They also tend to suffer from symptoms of low self-esteem.
Abilities Are Below Normal
People with Asperger’s often exhibit above-average intelligence, but their cognitive abilities are below normal. Because they cannot speak or behave normally, they often have problems relating to others. Because their symptoms often make them appear disabled, people with autism often have a hard time adjusting to regular schools.
People with Asperger’s do not always display symptoms of autism, but many of them do. It is difficult for those who are unsure if they have Asperger’s or not to determine if they are displaying typical autism symptoms. If you or someone you know has Asperger’s Syndrome, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. By being informed you can seek treatment to alleviate the problems.
Some of the most common symptoms for Asperger’s are: being easily annoyed or having large explosive outbursts, usually resulting in physical injury; not being able to socialize easily and unable to form relationships with other people; making unusual gestures or hand motions; and having problems relating to the same sort of things as other children. Some children will have even more severe problems when it comes to social interaction. However, most people with Asperger’s will not display any of these symptoms. Instead they will be very focused on one task at a time.
A Clear Understanding
Most people with autism do not have a clear understanding of how they act or why. Children with autism may often behave as though they are acting out a script that has been handed to them. For example, they may show repetitive motions or hold hands repeatedly, even if they are autistic. When people with Asperger’s are given tasks that require that they use more than one hand at a time, they are unable to perform them because they cannot explain why they are doing so.
However, some people with Asperger’s may display some autistic behaviors, such as hand flapping or hand-eye coordination. These types of behaviors are considered to be normal for some people. In other cases, people will exhibit unnatural behaviors, such as insisting on performing an activity without much thought or repeatedly moving an object without any reason. Because these people have a difficult time communicating with others, their symptoms can be difficult to diagnose. As a result, many doctors will simply conclude that the patient has autism instead of Asperger’s.
