Asperger’s syndrome is a condition that causes people to have difficulty relating and communicating with others. However, there is no change in learning and may even have an above-average capacity to learn. Therefore, although it is part of the autism spectrum, Asperger’s is not the same as autism.
The intensity of symptoms can vary greatly from one child to another and, therefore, less obvious cases can be more difficult to identify. It is for this reason that many people only discover Asperger’s syndrome during adulthood, when they experience depression or when they begin to have intense and recurrent episodes of anxiety.
Unlike autism, Asperger’s syndrome does not cause generalized learning difficulties and it is common for people diagnosed with this syndrome to need to create fixed routines. Understand better what autism is and how to identify it.
Main symptoms of Asperger’s
Asperger’s syndrome can cause some characteristic signs and symptoms, such as:
1. Difficulty relating to other people
Children and adults with this syndrome generally show difficulty relating to other people, as they have rigid thinking and difficulty understanding their own emotions and the emotions of others, which may seem like they do not care about other people’s feelings and needs.
2. Difficulty communicating
People with Asperger’s syndrome have difficulty understanding the meaning of indirect signals, such as changes in tone of voice, facial expressions, body gestures, irony or sarcasm, so they can only understand what was said literally.
Thus, they also have difficulties expressing what they think or feel, not sharing interests or what they think with other people, in addition to avoiding contact with another person’s eyes.
3. Not understanding the rules
It is common that, in the presence of this syndrome, the child is unable to accept common sense or respect simple rules such as waiting their turn in line or waiting their turn to speak, for example. This makes social interaction for these children increasingly difficult as they grow up.
4. No delays in language, development or intelligence
Children with this syndrome have normal development, not needing more time to learn to speak or write. Furthermore, their level of intelligence is also normal or often above average.
5. Need to create fixed routines
To make the world a little less confusing, people with Asperger syndrome tend to create very fixed rituals and routines. Modifications to the order or schedules for activities or appointments are not well accepted, as changes are not welcome.
In the case of children, this characteristic can be observed when the child always needs to walk the same route to get to school, gets upset when they are late leaving home or cannot understand that someone can also sit on the same chair they use, for example example.
6. Very specific and intense interests
It is common for these people to stay focused on certain activities for a long time, and stay entertained with the same thing, such as a subject or object, for example, for a long time.
7. Little patience
In Asperger’s syndrome, it is common for people to be very impatient and have difficulty understanding the needs of others, often being considered rude. Furthermore, it is common for them to not like talking to people their own age, as they prefer a more formal speech with a lot of depth on a specific topic.
8. Motor incoordination
There may be a lack of coordination of movements, which tend to be clumsy and clumsy. It is common for children with this syndrome to have an unusual or strange body posture.
9. Emotional lack of control
In Asperger syndrome, there is difficulty understanding feelings and emotions. Therefore, when they are emotionally overwhelmed they may have difficulty regulating their reactions.
10. Hypersensitivity to stimuli
People with Asperger’s usually have an intensification of their senses and, therefore, it is common for them to overreact to stimuli, such as lights, sounds or textures.
However, there are also some cases of Asperger’s in which the senses seem to be less developed than normal, which ends up worsening their inability to relate to the world around them.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To diagnose Asperger’s syndrome, parents should take the child to see a pediatrician or a child psychologist as soon as signs indicating this syndrome appear. During the consultation, the doctor and/or psychologist will carry out a physical and psychological assessment of the child to understand the origin of their behavior and be able to confirm or rule out the Asperger’s diagnosis.
The earlier the diagnosis is made and interventions to treat the child begin, the better their adaptation to the environment and quality of life may be.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for Asperger’s syndrome aims to promote quality of life and a sense of well-being. Therefore, it is important that treatment is started soon after diagnosis and, ideally, during childhood, so that it is possible to obtain better results throughout the treatment.
Treatment is normally carried out by a multidisciplinary team, which coordinates therapies so that they complement each other over time:
1. Psychological support
Psychological support is essential in Asperger syndrome, as it is during the sessions that the main characteristics of the syndrome are observed, making it possible to identify situations in which these characteristics are highlighted. Furthermore, during treatment with a psychologist, the person is encouraged to talk and spend time with someone “unknown”, who is not part of their daily life.
Still, it is important that parents, friends and teachers participate in the psychological counseling process, as they can reinforce what was developed during the sessions and support evolution. Some examples of what parents and teachers can do to help a child with Asperger syndrome, for example, are:
- Give simple, short and clear orders. For example: “Keep the puzzle inside the box after playing” and not: “Keep your toys after playing”;
- Ask the child why they are acting at the time of the action;
- Explain clearly and calmly that the “strange” attitude, such as swearing or throwing something at another person, is unpleasant or not acceptable to others, so that the child does not repeat the mistake;
- Avoid judging the child for their behavior.
Furthermore, depending on the behavior that the child presents, the psychologist can play games that can help facilitate coexistence or help the child understand why they have had a certain attitude and the impact of their actions, for example, once who often cannot understand what is right and wrong.
2. Speech therapy sessions
As in some cases a person with Asperger’s syndrome may have difficulty speaking to other people, sessions with a speech therapist can help stimulate speech and construct sentences. In addition, the sessions can also help with modulating the tone of voice, as in some cases the person may shout or speak more forcefully in situations where this is not necessary.
In addition to helping to interact with other people through speech stimulation, the speech therapist can also help with the appropriate expression of feelings, which are identified with the help of the psychologist.
3. Use of medications
There is no specific medication to treat Asperger’s syndrome once and for all, however when there are signs of anxiety, depression, hyperactivity or attention deficit, the psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist so that the use of medication (such as antidepressants or anxiolytics) can be recommended. ) that help control the signs and symptoms of these changes, helping to promote quality of life.
