VERIFIED CONTENTConsultation: dr Joanna Ławicka, special educator, doctor of social sciences in the field of pedagogy, author of the popular book "I'm not an alien. I have Asperger's syndrome"

Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that can be viewed as a different pattern of building relationships with the environment. Asperger's syndrome affects not only children and adolescents - it is also diagnosed in adults. What are the symptoms and causes of Asperger's Syndrome? What is the therapy like in people with Asperger's syndrome?

Asperger syndrome - what is it?

Asperger's syndrome(AS) is often incorrectly called Asperger's disease. In fact,is a mild autism spectrum disorder whose primary symptom is difficulty establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.

Asperger's syndrome is a relatively new diagnostic entity, the diagnostic criteria of which were developed in 1992 (then it was also introduced into the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10). However, cases of this mild disorder had been reported several decades earlier.

Asperger's syndrome is not a disease!"Asperger's Disease" is an incorrect expression - therapists urge people not to treat Asperger's Syndrome this way. Such a stereotype strengthens the belief that people with the syndrome are different, worse, or on the contrary - they are unique and require special treatment. Both approaches are wrong and do not help people with this disorder to understand.

Modern publications on Asperger Syndrome suggest treating this syndrome as a different pattern of building relationships with the environment. Different does not mean worse or better - just different, but still within the norms.

Discovery of Asperger's syndrome

In 1944, Hans Asperger, an Austrian doctor working in a children's psychiatric clinic in Vienna, noticed that several of his patients behaved differently from the rest of the group. They were characterized by:

  • high level of intelligence
  • interesting interests
  • using a rich vocabulary
  • difficulties in establishing contacts with peers
  • problems with non-verbal communication
  • clumsy moves

Asperger used the term to describe these symptoms"autistic psychopathy".

The works of the Austrian doctor were unknown in the psychiatric community until the 1980s, when Lorna Wing, an English doctor, rediscovered and popularized them. Wing categorized the cases described by Hans Asperger as autism spectrum disorder and termed "Asperger syndrome", "Asperger's syndrome", " Asperger's syndrome ".

Causes of Asperger's Syndrome

So far, no definite causes of Asperger's syndrome have been established. Hans Asperger, on the basis of his observations of children with the syndrome and their families, especially fathers, concluded that this disorder was of genetic origin. The risk of a child developing Asperger's Syndrome also increases if the father is over 40 years old.

Although a specific gene has not yet been discovered to be responsible for the development of Asperger Syndrome, the theory has a strong foundation, supported by empirical evidence. Among other things, it has been observed thatAsperger's syndrome is more common in children whose parents show some symptoms of this disorder , but to a limited extent (e.g. problems in interpersonal relations).

There are also theories thatAsperger's Syndromehas its origins in exposure to teratogens (external factors that adversely affect fetal development) in the first 8 weeks after conception. Among other causes of the syndrome, the following are distinguished:

  • birth injuries,
  • toxoplasmosis,
  • damage to the central nervous system,
  • cerebral palsy.

Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome

Among the specific behaviors typical of Asperger Syndrome, the following can be distinguished:

  • Difficulty meeting new people and broadening your circle of friends - People with AS typically don't have many friends. This does not mean that they do not need contact with other people - their relationships with others are based not on the feeling of closeness and emotional bond, but on shared passions and interests. Since they are interested in very specific, narrow areas of knowledge (often in exact and natural sciences), it is difficult for them to find people who share their enthusiasm for, for example, astronomy or palaeontology.
  • Difficulty staying connected - To those around you, people with Asperger Syndrome may seem conceited, inaccessible, and even haughty. This is because they have trouble communicating on a non-verbal level. They do not know how to correctly interpret the gestures and expressions of their interlocutor, they often do not understand irony, wordplay, metaphors, extensive comparisons, etc. They understand the verbal message very literally, therefore they preferclear, concise, specific messages During a face-to-face conversation, they rarely send signals to maintain contact with the other person and reassure them of their interest (e.g. nodding, asking questions, eye contact) - all because they focus primarily on the topic of the conversation, not contact with another person. For this reason, AS people's behavior is often misinterpreted as self-righteous, thereby relegating them to the margins and isolating them from the group.
  • difficulties with accepting changes - prefer to follow the pattern they know.
  • overly rigid, stereotypical behavior - consisting in repeating the same activities each time in the same way, which gives a person with Asperger's Syndrome a sense of mental comfort. For example, stereotypical behavior may include going the same way to work, even though there are many different and faster ones; climbing stairs so as to always raise the same leg; Always wash the dishes in the same order (pots, plates, cutlery, never different). There may be as many behaviors of this type as there are people with Asperger's Syndrome.
  • compulsive behavior - it is the feeling of compulsion to repeat a given activity, which is used to release tension. People with Asperger's Syndrome often feel the need to chew on something, count the items they collect, obsessively order and arrange them in rows, wash their hands often, etc. These are also symptoms typical of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is diagnosed in about 25% of sufferers. for Asperger's syndrome.
  • perceptual abnormalities - mainly related to hypersensitivity or insensitivity to stimuli. In people with Asperger's Syndrome, deep sensation disorders are often observed, which translates into problems with maintaining balance (hence they are perceived as "clumsy"). They may also perceive visual stimuli differently - e.g. overly focus on details and constantly look for visual stimulation (look for moving objects, intensively look at colors and patterns) or vice versa - prefer static, calm views. They are often hypersensitive to noise, then they are tired of loud music, conversations, laughter, street noise; on the other hand, they may feel discomfort being in complete silence and need a lot of sound stimulation.
  • procedural memory disorders - procedural memory consists in performing everyday activities in a learned and automatic manner, without mental involvement. People with Asperger's Syndrome usually have trouble acting in this way, and they need to be very focused on what they are doing, even when it is related tosimple button fastening.

Read:Sensory integration disorders

How to recognize Asperger syndrome in children?

The diagnosis of Asperger syndromeis not easy.Asperger's syndromecan be diagnosed at any stage of life, but it is most often diagnosed in children aged 7-8 years. This is due to the fact that at this time the child goes to school and problems with functioning in the peer group are more clearly visible.

Symptoms of Asperger's syndromeUp to the age of 7, parents may not be suspicious - children with Asperger's syndrome usually begin to speak and read at the same time as their peers, have interesting interests and they are happy to talk to adults using a rich vocabulary. Parents enjoy such behaviors more often than they cause anxiety.

The situation changes after sending the child to kindergarten or school. Then a series of disturbing signals appear, which should increase caregivers' vigilance.

Here are the possible symptoms of Asperger syndrome in children that are worth paying special attention to:

  • the child integrates poorly with the peer group, prefers to stay aloof;
  • does not take part in joint games - either plays alone or wants to lead the group and separate roles. If he does not have a strong enough position in the group, he prefers to isolate himself rather than adapt to others;
  • has difficulties in behaving in accordance with the situation - does not know how to respect the teacher, is loud in lessons, asks questions out of place, fidgeting and messing up when required of him to remain calm and stand still;
  • prefers to be among adults than children of a similar age, it is also easier for him to find a language with older people.

Despite the difficulty in recognizing the clear symptoms of Asperger's syndrome in children under 7 years of age, this disorder can and even needs to be diagnosed earlier. Waiting with the diagnosis is a mistake, sometimes made even by psychologists.

If Asperger's Syndrome is suspected, a specialist should order appropriate therapy as soon as possible - the faster the reaction, the greater the chances that the young person will acquire the appropriate skills that will help him function better in society.

Read more on:Disturbance in attention and concentration in a child

Asperger syndrome - symptoms in teenagers

In adolescence, people with Asperger Syndrome may experience the most severe effects of difficulties in building social relationships. They can cause low mood and even depression.

Young people aged 12-18shows a strong need to identify with a group of peers, prefers to spend time among themselves and gradually becomes independent from adults. Most adolescents with Asperger Syndrome do not have such a need and do not understand it. They deem it unnecessary to break the rules, and the rules give a sense of security and psychological comfort. So the gap between them and their classmates deepens even more.

A young person with Asperger Syndrome, however, seeks contact with other people and most often does it via the Internet.It is easier for them to find people with similar passions and interests through discussion forums and social networks. Communication is also much easier - the most important thing is verbal communication, so you do not have to interpret complicated gestures and ambiguities.

Psychologists emphasize thatin the case of children with Asperger Syndrome, their parents should not drag the child away from the computer at all costs . Of course, you need to control which sides your teenager enters, but at the same time you need to understand that the virtual world is sometimes his only chance to make friends in the real world. It is worth being open to the possibility of transferring your internet acquaintances to the "real world", while maintaining the necessary caution.

Asperger's syndrome - symptoms in adults

A frequently repeated myth is thatAsperger's Syndromeonly applies to children and adolescents. Meanwhilethere are cases that 20- and even 30-year-olds learn about their disorder .Adult Asperger's Syndromehappens relatively often. Many people, looking for the cause of their problems, take theAsperger syndrome testavailable on the Internet.

It is only after the diagnosis that they learn that the feeling of isolation and difference that accompanies them from an early age is not their fault and does not make them "freaks". A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome also gives them a chance to change their behavior and the way of thinking that has often been the cause of their depressed mood, complexes and lack of self-confidence.

Psychotherapy gives such a possibility - unfortunately, it is much more difficult for adults with Asperger's syndrome than for children and teenagers.However, there are centers that offer help to anyone with Asperger's Syndrome, no matter what age . You can find a list of such centers at the end of the article.

  • Late symptoms of atypical autism
  • Autism in adults. Life as an adult autistic
  • Types of disorderson the autism spectrum

Therapy in people with Asperger's syndrome

The term "untreated Asperger Syndrome" is a mistake - because Asperger's Syndrome is not a disease, we are not talking about treatment, but about therapy to help a person with Asperger's Syndrome function better in society.

Therapeutic methods in Asperger's syndrome

The choice of a therapeutic method depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. You should always consult a therapist.

The following methods are used in the treatment of Asperger's syndrome:

  • cognitive therapy- proposed by the Prodeste Foundation. It is based on the assumption that human development proceeds according to specific and repeatable stages, and that the development of a human being on the autism spectrum is characterized by serious disharmony. In therapeutic management, a person with the syndrome should be supported in rebuilding the functions that were lost the earliest, so as to create the possibility of natural rebuilding of subsequent, higher developmentally. In cognitive therapy, special emphasis is placed on the role of the therapist-guide, i.e. the person accepting, and not forcing, socially "desirable" behavior, but not taking into account the individual needs of a given person.
  • behavioral therapy- serves to change behaviors into socially desirable through learning behavioral patterns. Learning is conducted in a system of rewards and punishments (more often rewards as they are better motivating). Various behavioral techniques are used to help people with Asperger's Syndrome function better in society and carry out daily activities (e.g. creating a schedule to remember what to do). The downside of this therapy, however, is that it is schematic - not all patterns of behavior are applicable to all situations. In addition, this method only teaches mechanical behavior, but does not make people with Asperger Syndrome aware of how to understand the needs and intentions of another person.
  • social skills training (TUS)- behavioral therapy classes, dedicated primarily to children and adolescents. They teach how to behave in strictly defined situations, such as making friends, discussing, expressing criticism (most often by role-play).
  • sensory integration classes (IS)- intended for children, to support the analysis and synthesis of stimuli and to counteract sensory abnormalities. Various equipment and objects are used to carry them out - swings, hammocks, suspended platforms, trampolines, balls, tunnels, etc., as well as materials of various textures and colors usedto stimulate the senses. The effect of the therapy is to improve the child's motor skills and coordination.
  • cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy- is based on the belief that human behavior depends on what he thinks and what emotions he / she feels, therefore the therapy aims to change the way people think about themselves , the world and other people. Thanks to it, you can unlearn thought patterns that make it difficult to achieve a goal and learn those that motivate, change your view of the world.

Drug treatment of Asperger's syndrome

There are no medications that can eliminatethe symptoms of Asperger's syndrome , because as already mentioned - this disorder does not require treatment, but therapy aimed at understanding yourself and helping to cope with her every day. In people with Asperger's syndrome, drugs are used only to treat diseases resulting from their disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety, insomnia caused by difficulties in coping with everyday life, and alienation. Then, administration of antidepressants or antipsychotics can restore psychological comfort and facilitate therapy.

Read also: Autism - each autistic child suffers differently

This will be useful to you

Asperger's syndrome - where to get help?

  • Prodeste Foundation- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • Polish Society of Asperger Syndrome- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • SYNAPSIS Foundation- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • Support and Development Foundation- contact phone: 501-761-834, 501-666-539
  • Association for Assistance to Persons with Asperger Syndrome ASPI- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • Association for Help for Children and Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and Related Disorders "AS"- contact e-mail: [email protected]
  • SCOLAR Foundation- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • SOTIS Autism Therapy Center- e-mail contact: [email protected]
  • Association for the Assistance of Children with Hidden Disabilities "Nie-polną Dzieci"- contact phone: 887-059-343
  • SAVANT Foundation- contact phone: 601-317-168
  • Syriusz Foundation- e-mail contact: [email protected]

The above-mentioned units provide a wide range of help to people with Asperger's syndrome - they offer psychological help, organize workshops, therapeutic classes, summer camps for children. On the "web" you can also find many blogs by parents of children with this syndrome as welladults with Asperger's syndrome and forums dedicated to this disorder.

Asperger's syndrome: famous people with this disorder

  • Elfriede Jelinek - writer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
  • Deryl Hannah - actress
  • Robin Williams - actor
  • Dan Aykroyd - actor
  • Tim Burton - director
  • Al Gore - politician
  • Leo Messi - footballer

People who possibly had Asperger's syndrome but lived before it was diagnosed or were not diagnosed:

  • Albert Einstein - physicist, founder of the theory of relativity
  • Andy Warhol - artist
  • Bobby Fischer - chess player
  • Mark Twain - writer
  • Howard Hughes - pilot

Differences between Asperger Syndrome and Autism

Asperger's syndromeis a mild developmental disorder that falls on the autism spectrum. Both types of disorders have three basic symptoms:

  1. Problems in establishing interpersonal relationships.
  2. Difficulty communicating.
  3. Unusual interests and overly rigid, stereotypical patterns of activity.

Asperger Syndromeand autism, however, share a major difference:people with Asperger ALWAYS develop speech correctlyand have no problems with thought processes; they are fully intellectually fit and reason correctly. On the other hand, people with autism may have delayed speech development and intellectual disability, which most often manifests itself before the age of 3.

Read also:

  • Vaccine autism is a myth - the theory linking vaccines to autism was a hoax
  • High-Functioning Autism
  • Savant syndrome, or handicapped geniuses. Savant Syndrome Causes and Symptoms

Category:

Psychiatry