Asperger's is a form of Autism, a developmental malfunction of the brain which affects social intelligence. Unlike the character immortalized in the movie "Rainman," many people who suffer from Asperger's may go on to have productive lives. Remarkably they are able to overcome the hurdles imposed on them by the disability, but the nature and essence of how their mind works does not change. Very few are true savants, but all are missing social skills inherent to most people.

Scientists are still not sure how the disorder occurs. They do know that it can be genetic and run in families, they are also speculating that it may be connected in some way with the Strep virus. I personally believe it has something to do with a chemical imbalance, biological or due to a change in how neurons fire within the brain, because dietary changes have shown promise among autistic children. Some believe a gluten-free diet helps and may be why AS people crave breads and pasta. There may also be a link with Hypothyroidism (a hormone gland in the neck) which can cause weight gain, depression, awkward mobility and mood changes.

Adults who suffer from the disease or similar forms of this (mine was exacerbated by trauma to the frontal cortex of the brain in a car accident), show many signs which their friends or family may not recognize. Here are just a few:

First, many suffer from a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This can involve anything from repetative activities such as constantly checking locks on doors, hand-washing and reorganizing things into place. These behaviors could also go to the extreme of constant body movement like rocking, talking, or repeatedly going over the same routines again and again like checking account balances, washing clothes, or walking the dog.

Second, sounds, sights and smells are amplified. The sound of ambulances, trains or people shouting causes extreme anxiety. Nearby smokers, highly scented floral arrangements, car exhaust and the like are horrendously intrusive. Any kind of disorder, things out of place, bad art, trash or cracks on the sidewalk, heavy rain, ringing telephones and barking dogs drive us crazy. Commercials, especially TV shows with catchy sayings like Judge Judy: "The people are real, the cases are real, the rulings are final" delight us for some reason I still cannot understand, and in some cases the person will repeat catchy words over and over in amusement.

Third, Asperger's causes the person to draw into

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