Patients have difficulty in communicating their interests and occupations are stereotyped, but the speech and cognitive abilities are intact. Statistics indicate that Asperger syndrome is found among school-age children in 0,36-0,71% of cases. But these data substantially underestimated, according to most experts. Scientists claim that a violation of such a plan are present in 30-50% of children and 3 times more likely to suffer from them are males. Diagnosis is advantageously aged between 4 and 11 years.
What it is?
Asperger syndrome - one of the five common developmental disorders characterized by serious difficulties in social interaction, and restricted, stereotyped, repetitive repertoire of interests and classes. Of infantile autism (Kanner syndrome), it is distinguished primarily by the fact that the speech and cognitive abilities remain largely intact. The syndrome is often characterized as severe clumsiness.
The syndrome is named after the Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician Hans Asperger (Hans Asperger), who described children in 1944, by the absence of non-verbal communication abilities, limited empathy for peers and physical awkwardness. Asperger himself used the term "autistic psychopathy".
Famous people
Among the prominent businessmen who suffer from this disease, the founders of Ford, General Electric, IBM and the IKEA, not to mention I mention the more recent examples such as Richard Branson (Virgin Group), John Chambers (Cisco) and Steve Jobs (Apple). It has a logical explanation. Dyslexia early learning to delegate tasks (eg, force other people to do their homework for school).
Causes of
To date, the causes of the described syndrome is not well established and studied. But we can say with firm conviction, that this is not a mental disorder is the result of education and social circumstances, as Aspi syndrome does not occur through the fault of the patient.
Researchers believe that the etiology of the syndrome Aspi similar to the causes of autism. The leading factors causing this mental disorder are:
- toxic effects of certain substances (smoking, alcohol) in the first trimester of pregnancy;
- genetically inherited predisposition;
- birth trauma and later head injuries.
As a working hypothesis is the presence of an autoimmune reaction mother's body, which contributes to brain damage in the fetus. Also noteworthy are many discussions about the negative consequences of vaccination. For example, the negative effect of preservatives containing mercury on the immune system and integrated baby vaccination, which creates a great burden on the immune system.
Another theory of the causes of this disorder advocates the theory of hormonal imbalance in the child (low or high levels of cortisol, testosterone increase). But this theory has not been scientifically confirmed.
The connection between autism spectrum disorders (including syndrome ASPI) and prematurity.
symptoms
People with Asperger's syndrome differ special problems in such social areas: communicative sphere, the sphere of interaction and imagination.
The classic symptoms of Asperger syndrome:
- difficulty with non-verbal communication;
- problems with the perception of the world;
- shortage of emotion, imagination and creative thinking.
These symptoms are referred to as "the triad of core symptoms of" High Functioning Autism, they can not be shown all at once and not be so obvious. Close should be wary if there are people in their environment, which is subject to:
- increased suspicion;
- physical awkwardness;
- frequently depression;
- addiction to a particular place of residence;
- violent outbursts, irritability;
- lack of understanding figurative language, jokes;
- difficulties in companionship and interaction;
- patterns of behavior.
To the latter point refers to a certain kind of addictive hobby, location order of things in the house, to perform repetitive actions. If the order is violated, it causes a storm of negative emotions, serious nervous shock, hysterical. The disease is diagnosed in childhood, but in some cases may be asymptomatic until a certain thrust.
Social interaction or cooperation
People with Asperger's syndrome is very difficult to establish and maintain friendly relations. They do not understand that friendship requires concepts such as the ability to wait, to empathize and sympathize, support each other, to discuss not only the topics that interest them, but also those that are interesting presupposes the other.
Incorrectness, and often lack of tact in dealing with other drives people away from them. Over time, those with Asperger's syndrome can learn rules of behavior and the concept of friendship that probably is not based on all the above meaning, and intuitively copying (such patients have a very fine mental organization) other people.
Often, patients with Asperger's hurt surrounding his statements themselves not wanting and not knowing it.
Features intelligence
Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome interfere with socialization, but they do not affect intelligence. According to the mental development of these children are not only lagging behind age norms, but also often exceed it. As a rule, they have a phenomenal memory, and knowledge of the world is truly encyclopedic, and yet, in practice, this knowledge is applied with difficulty.
As we have noted, the range of interests of children, as a rule, is limited, but due to the ability to concentrate on the little things they achieve stunning successes in their favorite pastime. they are usually impressed by such subjects as mathematics, philosophy, history, geography.
Children with Asperger syndrome are not willing to communicate, but it does not have problems with speech. They build grammatically correct sentences, but uttered their monotonous and unnatural voice, and speech itself while it may seem too formulaic and book. However, writing such children express their thoughts far better than in conversation.
The complexity of social imagination
Persons who have Asperger's syndrome, are known for a very rich imagination. Many are well-known artists, writers or musicians.
However, people with Asperger syndrome have great difficulty in social imagination, namely the inability to prediction of possible options, the failure to take the opinions of others, the impossibility of interpretation of feelings, thoughts or actions that person. In addition, in patients with Asperger's syndrome are marked limits to their creativity, because for them is acceptable only repetitive, sequential operations.
Diagnostics
To establish a diagnosis of the experts use a set of defined criteria. They are divided into several groups, each of which has several criteria.
Social difficulties:
- emotional coldness, lack of such feelings as compassion, empathy, joy;
- the inability to make eye contact, lack of facial expressions, the person does not use when communicating with gestures;
- violation of generally accepted norms of behavior and communication.
Behavioral characteristics:
- development of certain rituals of behavior and strict adherence to them;
- the presence of stereotyped movements with frequent repetition - Curling a lock of hair, buttons on clothing, drawing patterns with your finger;
- parochialism - a person engaged in only one chosen case, it is not distracted by what is happening around;
- pathological focus on a particular subject.
These diagnostic criteria are added to the basic secondary, which may have clinical significance only if the core:
- violation of the self-service;
- emotional depletion of speech;
- lack of interest in the outside world.
Diagnosis can perform and the patient himself or the child's parents. To do this, there are certain tests that can identify developmental disorders, which are inherent to Asperger syndrome. More accurate decoding of the tests involved psychologists.
Tests for the detection of disease
There are specific tests specifically used for the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome:
- Test ASSQ. Conducted in children 6 years of age. Able to identify some autistic traits of Asperger's syndrome in children, based on its perception of the different pictures and asked to describe the nature of the character image.
- TAS-20. The test aims to identify the emotions deficiency in adults and children, which is very characteristic of Asperger syndrome. The subjects were asked to describe the feelings that it evokes in viewing certain images and photographs.
- RAADS-R test. Reveals psychiatric disorders in adults, such as social phobia, anxiety obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical depression, and others. During the interview, the person can choose one of the options for its actions in specific situations.
- Toronto scale. The test detects abnormalities characteristic of Asperger's syndrome, which is expressed in non-standard bodily sensations. In addition, the questionnaire shows a decreased ability to interpret symbols and metaphors.
- Questionnaire Aspie Quiz. The test consists of hundreds of questions, deciphering the presence of autistic traits of Asperger's syndrome in adults, as well as their possible causes.
Modern methods of testing with the help of questions and interpretations demonstrated pictures help identify symptoms of Asperger's syndrome and even some of the causes of the disease, from an early age. Based on the survey results, observation and testing specialist doctor prescribes a treatment of Asperger syndrome psychotherapy and possibly medical support.
How to distinguish children with autism from Asperger's syndrome?
Differences between Asperger syndrome and autism are presented in the table:
| Criterion | Asperger's syndrome | children with autism |
| Feature state | Process psychopathic character | Psychopathy |
| Forecast for the further socialization | Adverse | relatively favorable |
| Self-awareness | The child is closed in his own world | The child lives in a society, but by its own rules |
| eye Contact | He does not notice other people, although it can look them in the eye | Avoid eye contact with other people |
| Communicative function of speech | With the help of speech, the child communicates, though mostly unilaterally | It is not a means for communication |
| Motor and speech development | Speech development is ahead of the ability to walk. | Speech development is delayed or non-existent. Toddler begins before speaking. |
| manifestation violations | After 3 years | Infancy |
Asperger's Syndrome Treatment
There is no special treatment of Asperger syndrome. Pharmacological support individually comprises administering psychotropic drugs (stimulants, neuroleptics, antidepressants). Non-pharmacological treatment includes training in social skills training, sessions with a speech therapist, physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.
The effectiveness of social adaptation of children with Asperger's syndrome depends on the proper organization of psycho-pedagogical support of the child at different stages of his life.
Children with Asperger's Syndrome can attend secondary school, but they need to create customized learning environment (organize a stable environment, to motivate, to promote academic success, accompanied by a tutor and etc.).
This disorder is not completely overcome and a child, growing up, still with the same problems. One-third of sick people in adulthood have families, live on their own, working a regular job. The most successful individuals are showing a high level of competence in the areas of their interest.
Forecast
According to some accounts, in children with Asperger's symptoms diminish with age; up to 20% of the children, as adults, do not meet the criteria for the syndrome, although social and communication difficulties may persist. For 2006, there have been no studies of long-term results of Asperger syndrome or systematic long-term study of children with this syndrome. Individuals with Asperger's life expectancy seems to be the same as that of the population as a whole, but an increased incidence comorbid psychiatric disorders such as clinical depression and anxiety disorder, which can significantly complicate forecast; there is a possibility of suicidal behavior. Although social impairments persist throughout life, the prognosis is usually more favorable than in disorders of the autism spectrum, leading to more severe violations functioning; for example, the symptoms of autism spectrum are more likely to flatten over time in children with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. Although the majority of students with Asperger's have average mathematical ability, and the results of mathematical tests are somewhat lower than tests general intelligence, some are gifted in mathematics, and Asperger's syndrome has not prevented some adults make significant progress until the Nobel Prize.
Although many attend regular classes, some children with Asperger's shows special education because of their social or behavioral problems. Teens with Asperger's syndrome may experience persistent difficulties with self-care, or organization, and be excited and concerned about the problems in the social and romantic relationships. Despite high cognitive potential, most young adults with Asperger's syndrome are at home, although some manage to marry and work independently. Difference from others can be traumatic for teenagers. Alarm causes may include preoccupation with possible violations of routines and rituals in the room situation without a clear schedule or expectations, or because of concerns about the failure of the social interactions; stress as a result of anxiety may manifest as inattention, failure of communication, reliance on obsessions, hyperactivity, aggressive or oppositional behavior. Depression often occurs as a result of chronic frustration from the constant failures in a zainteresovyvanii other people, and you may experience mood disorders requiring treatment. Clinical experience suggests that the rate of suicide in people with Asperger's syndrome is increased, but this has not been confirmed by systematic empirical research [.
Family Education is critical to develop strategies for understanding strengths and weaknesses; family support improves the prognosis for children. The forecast can be improved by diagnosis at an early age that will enable early intervention, while the intervention of an adult less useful, although it has a value. People with Asperger syndrome are at risk of exploitation by others and may be unable to understand the social consequences of their actions.
