Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder that can manifest as rigid or repetitive behavior.
Although the term for Asperger’s Syndrome has changed and is now referred to as part of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), many still use the name to talk about their condition.
ASD covers a wide range of autism-like conditions but when describing Asperger’s Syndrome, they may say, ‘ASD – without intellectual or language impairment.’
Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome
- Immature in ability to manage emotions and express empathy
- Unusual learning style with remarkable knowledge in an area of interest to the child but significant learning or attention problems for other academic skills
- Reduced motor coordination (handwriting, running, and catching a ball)
- Child may cover his or her ears in response to sounds that are not perceived as unpleasant by other children
- May actively avoid social play with peers or be socially naïve, intrusive or dominating
- Does not seem to notice or understand the non-verbal signals that convey messages such as ‘not now’ or ‘I am starting to feel annoyed’
- May become notorious for interrupting or not responding to the social context in ways that would be expected of a child of that age and intellectual ability
- The child may become extremely anxious if routines are changed or he or she cannot solve a problem
- May be highly sensitive to light, texture and sound
Compensatory and adjustment strategies to being different
To deal with their frustration, your child may employ one of the following strategies:
- Reactive depression (internalising) – feeling sad or miserable because they can’t express themselves
- Escape into imagination (internalising) – living in their own dream world where everything makes sense
- Denial and arrogance (externalising) – refusing to accept that their way of doing things is wrong
- Imitation (externalising) – copying the way someone speaks or behaves instead of trusting their own instincts
Click here for more information on Asperger’s Syndrome and the support available for families living with the condition.
