by Jeanette Mcdonough

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

Asperger Syndrome is classified as a pervasive developmental disorder. Frequently, it is associated with autism. Some professionals consider Asperger syndrome as a milder form of autism; however, it may be that these conditions are related only by a cluster of common symptoms (Bauer, 2008). Generally, persons with Asperger Syndrome demonstrate higher cognitive functioning and more developed vocabulary that Autistics. In fact, higher language skills are one way that a diagnosis of Asperger's is made rather than a diagnosis of Autism. A physician or psychiatrist diagnoses Asperger Syndrome according to behavioral symptoms or characteristics.

Though there are no concrete tests to determine is someone has Asperger syndrome, recent research suggests that one day MRIs may be used to help make a diagnosis because there appears to be differences in regions of the brain between Asperger patients and normal individuals (McAlonan et al., 2002). Teachers and school personnel may refer a student for diagnosis if there is ample reason to suspect that the child may be exhibiting Asperger-like behavior (Bauer, 2008; McAlonan et al., 2002).

Because symptoms of Asperger Syndrome run along a continuum between mild and severe, it is often difficult to distinguish Asperger syndrome and other conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder. Incidences of Asperger Syndrome are higher than those of Autism. It has been estimated that 20 out of 10,000 births results in a child born with Asperger syndrome. There may be a genetic component to Asperger syndrome as well. Asperger like characteristics may be passed down through the family, this may happen more frequently through the Father's line (Bauer, 2008).

Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome include social awkwardness, limited interest, repetitive behavior and frequently depression. In addition, there may be discernable differences in the type and quality of the vocabulary used by a person with Asperger Syndrome and their normal peers. For example, they make odd word choices. They may also have difficulty with word choices due to problems differentiating between literal and figurative word use.

Another outstanding feature of Autism Asperger syndrome is difficulty in social situations, a person with Asperger's may present a blank affect or they may have inappropriate expressions for a given situation. Frequently people with Asperger syndrome have trouble reading body language. There may also be a marked focus on one or two areas of interest. For example, they may focus intensely on a given topic or they may show a significant interest in a subject matter such as math.

Asperger Syndrome treatment options often involve behavior management and modification. Role-playing and rehearsal for social events are examples of this type of therapy. Occasionally a determination is made to treat some of the symptoms of Asperger syndrome with medications. For instance, if a patient with Asperger's is depressed, they may be prescribed antidepressants. Info on Asperger syndrome suggests that the future can be bright for persons with Asperger syndrome. There is every reason to believe that people with Asperger can live productive and constructive lives.

References
Bauer, Steven MD, MPH Retrieved from Asperger.com on 5/26/08 http://asperger.org/publications/Stephen_Baur_Articl e.asp

Grainne M. McAlonan, Eileen Daly, Veena Kumari, Hugo D. Critchley, Therese van Amelsvoort, John Suckling,Andrew Simmons, Thordur Sigmundsson, Kathyrn Greenwood, Ailsa Russell, Nicole Schmitz, Francesca Happe , Patricia Howlin and Declan G. M. Murphy. Brain anatomy and sensorimotor gating in Asperger's syndrome. Brain, Vol. 125, No. 7, 1594-1606, July 2002

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