Aspergers Syndrome (Aspergers Syndrome in General)

Member Name: diamond345

Product:	Aspergers Syndrome in General
Date:	01/03/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: honest, reliable, intelligent people

Disadvantages: other people's reaction to them

Asperger's Syndrome is very often described as " a mild form of autism". I often wonder who first thought to describe it that way as, being the mum of a son with the syndrome, I can say with all honesty that there is nothing mild about the effects it has on the person with the syndrome, and also all the people around him/her. It's a bit like decribing a broken ankle as a mild form of a broken leg!

Asperger's Syndrome is named after a Viennese paediatrician called Hans Asperger, who first identified the condition over 50 years ago. It seems to affect boys more than girls and the sufferers are usually of average or above average intelligence. It is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder - or ASD for short.

People with Aspergers have difficulties in;

SOCIAL INTERACTION
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
FLEXIBILITY OF THINKING OR IMAGINATION
SENSORY, MOTOR AND ORGANISATION DIFFICULTIES.

I'll explain them one by one ;

SOCIAL INTERACTION
The ability to "read "people's minds or know what their body language is "saying" is lacking , so they appear self-obssessed and lacking in any kind of empathy. In fact, they are really in a day-to-day struggle to understand everyone. Friendships are extremely difficult to maintain as it may seem very one-sided, with the friend without Aspergers doing all the work of maintaining the friendship. And the person with Aspergers will unknowingly say all the wrong things. For example, they are usually honest to the point of brutal - ask them "does my bum look big in this?" they will answer, "oh hell, yes! In fact, all of you looks big in that!" So if you want a very honest opinion, then that's fine, but if you would like your self-confidence intact, then leave them at home while clothes-shopping!!

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
People with Aspergers often have good language skills but they cannot understand jokes, irony or sarcasm, nor the underlying meaning of a conversation. Sometimes it's as if they are having a completely different conversation than anyone else is having as they misunderstand what everyone is talking about. Everything is taken very literally and they can often sound very rude as they take things out of context.
They will often have their own interests which will dominate the conversation and you won't be able to get them off the subject, no matter what you talk about!

FLEXIBILITY OF THINKING OR IMAGINATION
People with Aspergers have an inability to be flexible with their thinking. This means they can never see anyone else's point of view. It is their way - or the wrong way. They have a very rigid way of thinking and "know" they are right!! Even when they are wrong! And if they are told a fact, it is "set in stone".My son was told when we got a rabbit that rabbits last for ten years. When bunny was four years old he caught a virus after being taken to the vets. Even when the poor bunny was lying there, so obviously almost dead, he still would NOT believe that he would die - he was going to live for his ten years! He was absolutely, totally distraught when bunny did die, age
four!

SENSORY MOTOR AND ORGANISATION DIFFICULTIES.
People with Aspergers are extremely sensitive to light, noise and touch . This "sensory overload" can lead to many a meltdown as when they can't cope with things they invariably react with anger. My son can't stand labels in any clothes and we have to rip them out before he does otherwise his idea of snipping them out equals very big holes in Nike teeshirts! They cant "filter out" background noise like other people can and get very upset in crowded places.


Asperger Syndrome often has many other disorders which co-exist with it, such as Obssessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. All of these add to the frustrations and difficulties that people with this disorder face.
From my own experience, it is very difficult to get a diagnosis, especially if, like my son you have lots of these disorders co-existing because each one has its own diagnostic criteria and they all become confused and muddled and then are called a "grey area" child. What they really mean is that they haven't been able to tick enough boxes for a definite diagnosis on their silly forms. One of the criteria is not being able to make eye contact but I know a lot of Aspergers kids who are quite comfortable making eye contact, my son included.
The best way to get a diagnosis is to ask your GP for a referral to a psychologist if you have any worries that your child could be on the autistic spectrum. I had never heard of Aspergers until my son was 7 or 8, and it was to be another 3 or 4 years before we actually got a diagnosis. The waiting lists are frustratingly long.

My friend in America who has Aspergers sent me a book called It's So Much Work To Be Your Friend by Richard Lavoie. This is the best book I have ever read on the subject and extremely helpful.

I live in Essex and there is a help group called SAFE (Supporting Aspergers Families in Essex). They have been of trmendous help to me and my family. They have a website - www.aspergers.org.uk

Summary: I'm so proud of my son with Aspergers and I wouldn't change a thing about him!