What is Asperger Syndrome

What is Asperger Syndrome:

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger disorder, is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development.

Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical (peculiar, odd) use of language are frequently reported.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Social Interactions
• Restricted and repetitive interests annd behaviour.
• Speech and language.
• Motor and sensatory perception.

As Pervasive Developmental Disorder, AS is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by equality impairment in social interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behaviour, activities and interests, and by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in language. Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject, one-sided verbosity, restricted prosody, and physical clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for diagnosis.

TREATMENT//// MANAGEMENT//// THERAPIES

* There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.

Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function.

The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. Most children improve as they mature to adulthood, but social and communication difficulties may persist. Some researchers and people with Asperger's have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that it is a difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured.

* Asperger treatment attempts to manage distressing symptoms and to teach age-appropiate social, communication and vocational skills that are  not naturazlly acquired during development, with intervention tailored to the needs of the individual based on multidisciplinary assessment. Although progress has been made, data supporting the efficacy of paerticular interventions are limited.

* The right treatment for AS coordinates therapies that adress core symptoms of the disorder, including poor communication skills and obsessive or repetitive routines while most profesionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better, there is no single best treatment package. AS treatment resembles that of the other high-functioning ASDs, except that it takes into account the linguistic capabilities, verbal strengths, and nonverbal vulnerabilities of individuals with AS. A typical program generally includes.

---- Social skills: training form more effective interpersonal interactions.

---- Cognitive behavioral therapy: to improve stress management relations to anxiety or explosive emotions and to cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines.

---- Ocuppational or physical therapy to assist with poor sensory integration and motor coordination.

---- Social communication: speech therapy.

---- Medication: for coexisting conditions such a s major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

CAUSES

The exact cause is unknown. Although research suggests the likelihood of a geneticbasis, there is no known genetic etiology and brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.

SOURCES:
---- Wikipedia: