Sixty five years ago, Autism was first introduced into the psychiatric world. However, it was only accepted in 1980. The term was used “to describe a group of children who were extremely aloof and indifferent to people” (Bailey). Now the term has expanded to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and includes a variety of “serious biologically based delays in social skills and language development” (Bailey).
One in every one hundred fifty child is diagnosed with ASD in the United States. Even though the number is high, many people do not know that so many people have the disorder, if they even know it exists. Other sources claim that the number is much lower; it is said to be three point four in every one thousand (NMH).
Autism Spectrum Disorder has many types such as Asperger Syndrome (AS). This syndrome is in the High Functioning area of ASD. Children or adults with AS have an IQ from average to extremely high, “marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as: eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction, difficulty understanding another’s feelings (Aspen), etc.
Other problems lay in communication. Aspies’ (as they tend to be called in modern day society) “speech tends to be formal, pedantic and long winded” (CARD). They typically have limited gestures to go along with a monotone voice. If a statement is non literal, the child or adult with AS will have a very hard time understanding the statement; this prohibits them from understanding jokes, metaphors and other subtleties of that nature.
Social interaction is another problem. All people want friendships, but people with AS do not understand how to acquire them. Gestures are usually not understood nor do they usually make eye contact. In social situations, the Aspie “tends to be naïve and peculiar and movement is likely to be awkward and clumsy” (CARD). They generally will talk at people instead of to people. Aspies are typically isolated from their peers and more often than not, misunderstood. People with AS have unusual degrees of intelligence – they are typically either average or above average when it comes to IQ.
“The direct cause, or causes, of Asperger syndrome is unknown” (autism-help.org). We believe it to be hereditary though. Because of the number of symptoms that vary in Aspies, it is suspected that many genes play a part in the development of AS. Psychologists have not ruled out environmental factors such as “such as poverty, lack of sleep, substance abuse by the mother during pregnancy, discrimination, trauma during early childhood, and abuse” (autism-help.org).
The term Aspie, that most people with AS call themselves, was “coined by Liane Holliday Willey in 1999, or as an Aspergian” (autism-help.org). The term neurotypical, or NT, is used to describe people who are non autistic.
Asperger Syndrome is not only a social disorder, but it is a mental, or a neurological disorder. The syndrome is based in the brain. Researchers still have not found out much more than that; not even the direct cause is known. But we have determined that it is partially based on genetics, or at least that is what we believe.
So far, the best treatment for this disorder is therapy that addresses the problems an Aspie has like the challenges of social awareness and personal relationships. The earlier the therapy is given, the better the child will do later on down the road.
An Austrian pediatrician by the name of Hans Asperger “observed four children in his practice who had difficulty integrating socially” (NINDS 1). Their intelligence was normal, but the children didn’t understand body language, could not relate to their peers, and were clumsy. When they spoke it was clumsy or formal. Hans Asperger called their condition autistic psychopathy. He described it as “a personality disorder primarily marked by social isolation” (NINDS 1). His findings were published in German in 1944, but were not known until an English doctor by the name of Lorna Wing published almost the exact same thing in 1981. She called it Asperger’s Syndrome. Her publications were widespread and became very popular. In 1992 AS became a disease and was published in the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual. In 1994 AS was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s reference book named Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
There is no known cause for Asperger’s Disorder. New research says that the cause of AS is brain abnormalities; there is “structural and functional in specific regions of the brains normal versus AS children” (NINDS 2). The “defects” develop in the fetal stage of development. So, there is a genetic component to the disorder known as Asperger Syndrome. They just don’t know how large a part it plays considering that they (researchers) have never found a specific gene associated with AS. Recent research points to multiple genes affecting how one develops AS.
Any Autistic kid is bound to have difficulties in the subtleties of life. They try to fit in, but most just get made fun of. At least that is how they seem to view it. Going through school is tough when they don’t understand their peers. They don’t know how to react so often times their reactions will be inappropriate and/or hurtful.
Asperger’s kids don’t like changes. If they are used to going to school at nine in the morning and leaving at three in the afternoon they will be fine. When that schedule gets changed they will get very fussy and want their schedule back.
Another thing that makes the Aspies lacking in social ways is that they don’t make eye contact. They simply are afraid to make that connection. If you have ever heard of the term “the eyes are the gateway to the soul,” you know what Aspies go through.
Most kids will be into a little bit of everything. Aspies, however, will be into very few things. They will be so focused on those few things that it will dominate their conversations, if they ever manage to succeed in having them. One sided conversations are common with these kids, most often about their favorite subject. All this is below the teen years. But are those symptoms persistent in the teen years? Yes. They can, however acquire the social skills, but will have trouble still in reading people.
Teens and children with AS will have a very hard time fitting in. They will always feel different, but will still want to make friends. More often than not they will be too naive and gullible for their age so they might possible get picked on. This may very well lead to the teen or child acquiring depression and/or anxiety.
Improvements with this condition are seen in the adult years. Social skills will develop and Aspies will understand people much better so they can “read” them. Their chances of doing well in college or having a job are increased due to their “need” to pay attention to detail.
Many people with Asperger Syndrome have other disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Nonverbal learning disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, and Social Anxiety Disorder. ADHD is when the child is overly hyper and cannot focus. Nonverbal Learning Disorder is very much like Asperger Syndrome. OCD is when you have to do something over and over and over or you cannot do certain things without doing another certain thing. For instance, a person with OCD may not be able to watch a sequel to a movie if they have not seen the original movie before. Social anxiety disorder is when a person gets an overwhelming fear of social situations. These disorders are sometimes prevalent in an Aspie. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between these disorders and Asperger Syndrome due to the vast similarities.
Asperger Syndrome (AS) or Asperger’s Disorder is not a very well known mental disorder. In fact, a lot of people working in the medical field may not know about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Even though it is hardly known, it is here affecting 1 in 150 American children. Common treatments for this disorder are pills, psychotherapy, etc.
