What is Asperger Syndrome?

 

All kids are different, and every parent should discuss these matters with a trusted physician. Below is listed the criteria for an Asperger Syndrome diagnoses, but remember that you know your child. I found that I knew well before anyone that something was amiss, and made sure I could explain to the doctor what was happening. Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also demonstrated autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. It wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only recently has Asperger Syndrome been recognized by professionals and parents. There is always debate about Asperger Syndrome, and it’s relation to other disorders, such as High-Functioning Autism, and depending on whom you speak with the definition could be different, because Asperger Syndrome is so new. I encourage you to learn as much about it as you can, and always be aware of the new studies and findings. Our children depend on us to help them, and we can only do that by educating ourselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer sums all of it up by saying, “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”

Diagnostic Criteria for 299.80 Asperger's Disorder

Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
lack of social or emotional reciprocity
Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)
There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood
Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia