Definition of Asperger Syndrome
Is Asperger Syndrome a disability or a gift?
Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome
Risk Factors
Causes
Assessment of Asperger Syndrome
Treatment & Support
Education & Employment
We believe that as people who have actually experienced Asperger Syndrome and live with this condition on a daily basis, we are uniquely placed to help other people with AS and their families.
Definition of Asperger Syndrome:
Asperger Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental difference that changes the way a person communicates and interacts with others. Asperger Syndrome is often called High Functioning Autism and is clinically classed as an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In many cases the person with AS looks neurotypical and has good academic skills which can lead to delays with assessment and misdiagnosis. AS is a social difference that can often go undetected but can adversely affect a person’s life if not properly assessed and supported. The prevalence of AS is widely accepted as 1:100. AS rarely exists by itself and other conditions such as Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tics Disorder or Tourette’s Syndrome are often red flags for unassessed AS.
Aspergers Anonymous™ has no opinion on outside issues and does not endorse or oppose the opinions of external organizations or health care professionals. Our primary purpose is to help people with Aspergers Syndrome and their families.
Is Asperger Syndrome a disability or a gift?
Most of our families who have experienced Asperger Syndrome say that it can be both a disability and a gift. Asperger Syndrome is a social difference that requires ongoing social support throughout a person’s lifetime. However people with Asperger Syndrome are also usually very honest, reliable and dedicated people who offer original creative thinking to solving problems and are sometimes exceptionally talented and gifted in specialised areas.
It is widely accepted that the following famous people all had Asperger Syndrome:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – who wrote ‘Sherlock Holmes’ based on himself
Hans Christian Andersen – who wrote ‘The Ugly Duckling’ based on himself
Einstein
Jane Austen
Shakespeare
Carl Jung
Gregor Mendel
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Henry Ford
Mark Twain
There are also many hugely successful and famous philanthropists alive today who have openly confirmed that they have Asperger Syndrome!
Symptoms of Asperger Sydrome:
Asperger Syndrome is a social disability – typical symptoms often include:
Delayed social maturity – children with AS are usually at least three years behind peers.
Difficulty making friends often resulting in social isolation.
Better relationships with adults and older people than with peers.
Difficulty with communication and control of emotions.
Unusual formal language that can appear disconnected to the general discussion.
Language & tone can be misconstrued as argumentative or pedantic by neurotypical people.
A set of interests that can be viewed as narrow and intense.
An unusual profile of learning abilities.
A need for assistance with basic organizational skills.
Physical clumsiness – examples include gait and co-ordination.
Sensory hypersensitivity to certain sounds, aromas, textures or touch.
Risk Factors:
The dangers associated with undiagnosed and unsupported Asperger Syndrome include:
Social isolation
Negative thinking
Anxiety
Alcoholism
Depression
Bullying
Drug addiction
Dependency on prescription drugs
Multi drug overdose
Self harm
Anorexia nervosa – most commonly in girls
Misdiagnosis – most commonly with Schizophrenia
Causes of AS:
There is strong medical & scientific evidence to suggest that Asperger Syndrome is a genetic condition and this belief if supported by many respected doctors, psychiatrists and health care professionals. As families who have actually experienced and lived with Asperger Syndrome, we believe that a genetic cause makes sense and many of us have also been able to identify Autism Spectrum Disorders in other members of our family’s genetic heritage. It has been suggested by many geneticists that the genes responsible for Asperger Syndrome are also linked to the genes responsible for other co-existing disorders including Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tics Disorder or Tourette’s Syndrome. These disorders are often a ‘red flag’ for AS.
Those of us who are parents have been reassured by prominent medical experts that we are in no way to blame and that our children’s Asperger Syndrome was not caused by anything that we did or failed to do as parents. However we do accept that although we are not responsible for causing our children’s AS, we are responsible as their parents and legal guardians for going to any lengths to ensure that our children are properly assessed and that they receive the ongoing help and support that they need throughout their lives.
Assessment of Asperger Syndrome:
People with Asperger Syndrome are usually very honest, disciplined & caring people who offer original creative thinking to solving problems and are sometimes exceptionally talented. However we often find ourselves isolated and alone in the World and it is very important that we ask ourselves if we have AS so that we can learn to know ourselves better and reach out for the spiritual, emotional & social support that everybody needs and craves.
To answer this, click on the link below and answer the questions as honestly as you can:
Assess Asperger Syndrome
Treatment & Support:
We believe that as people who have actually experienced Asperger Syndrome and live with this condition on a daily basis, we are placed in a unique position to help other people with AS and their families. Our experience has made us certain that people with Asperger Syndrome do not want to be socially excluded or treated as different. We want to take part in life like everyone else, even though this may require a different approach for us. We also know that as people with AS we need relationships like everyone else but can usually only handle one relationship at a time and are usually attracted to and feel more comfortable with older people or with other people with Asperger Syndrome. Most people who live with AS will confirm that we suffer very badly from negative thinking, anxiety and stress. Aspergers Anonymous™ is a fellowship of people with AS and their families that offers regular meetings and a program to practice social interactions, acceptance & positive thinking on a daily basis.
Aspergers Anonymous™ is a fellowship of people with AS and their families that offers regular meetings and a program to practice social interactions, acceptance & positive thinking on a daily basis.
Education & Employment:
Children with Asperger Sydrome may be entitled to additional special needs and resource supports at school. A good school will often set up special interest groups such as Science or Maths groups that meet during lunchtime or after school to help children with AS to take part and avoid social exclusion and isolation. Adults with AS are also entitled to assisted access to third level education. Asperger Syndrome is a social disability and the risk of social isolation at school, college and in the workplace is usually the biggest challenge. We have found that adults with AS often work best in jobs that require specialised expertise and training or in public service or assisted employment schemes.