Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's Syndrome is a syndrome described by the Austrian physician Hans Asperger that has now come to be thought of as a variant of autism. Both autism and Asperger's syndrome are included under the umbrella terms of pervasive developmental disorders or autism spectrum disorders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV that defines the psychiatric criteria for diagnoses lists the following for Asperger's syndrome:
- At least 2 demonstrations of impaired social interaction. The patient:
- Shows a marked inability to regulate social interaction by using multiple non-verbal behaviors such as body posture and gestures, eye contact and facial expression.
-Doesn't develop peer relationships that are appropriate to the developmental level.
-Doesn't seek to share achievements, interests or pleasure with others
-Lacks social or emotional reciprocity.- Activities, behavior and interests that are repetitive, restricted and stereotyped (at least 1 of):
-Preoccupation with abnormal (in focus or intensity) interests that are restricted and stereotyped (such as spinning things)
-Rigidly sticks to routines or rituals that don't appear to have a function -Has stereotyped, repetitive motor mannerisms (such as hand flapping)
-Persistently preoccupied with parts of objects The symptoms cause clinically important impairment in social, occupational or personal functioning.- There is no clinically important general language delay (the child can speak words by age two, phrases by age three).
- There is no clinically important delay in developing cognition, age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (except social interaction) and normal curiosity about the environment. ·
- The patient doesn't fulfill criteria for Schizophrenia or another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
University of Delaware site that covers the evolution of the nomenclature and current concepts on intervention, support sessions for parents, articles, kids corners and much more.
www.aspergers.com you will find a description of the problems.
Asperger's association of New England provides a description of all their services and local support groups.
