What is Asperger's Syndrome?

One disorder that is gaining recognition in mental health is the increase in diagnosis of people with Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s, a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), is included on the autism spectrum, is often not diagnosed until a child is between the ages of 6 and 11, although there have been instances where diagnosis occurs much later in life, according to mental health experts like Lindsey Stone.

History of Asperger’s

Asperger’s is named for an Austrian doctor, Hans Asperger, who discovered the disorder in 1944. At the time, Dr. Asperger provided an account of patients whose clinical features were similar to autism, including problems with social interaction and communication, but without the delays in motor skills and speech that often occurred in children with autism. However, the disorder was not widely recognized until 1981 when Lorna Wing, an English psychiatrist and physician, published an academic paper on Dr. Asperger’s research, introducing the term Asperger’s Syndrome.

Features of Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s features can differ from person-to-person, making it difficult to diagnose. One of the main features of Asperger’s is difficulty interacting with others to the point that they are awkward in social situations. It is difficult for them to make friends as they have difficulty initiating and maintaining conversation. The can display odd repetitive movements and are often preoccupied with unusual subjects or rituals. Like those on the autism spectrum, they may have difficulty making eye contact or using facial expressions or gestures properly. They often have difficulty understanding language context and are very literal in their use of language. Asperger’s children may develop an almost obsessive interest in narrow areas, such as the weather, maps or schedules. They seem clumsy or awkward, but are often exceptionally talented in a particular subject, such as math.

Differences From Autism

Although both are a form of PDD, autism is a much more severe disorder than Asperger’s Syndrome. Children with Asperger’s are often diagnosed later in life because they do not display the language or intellectual delays that children with other forms of autism do. Because the typical hallmark of Asperger’s is difficulty in social interactions, the problem may not be recognized when social settings are simple, such as playing on playground equipment. As social interactions grow more complex, the issues with social interaction become more apparent. It is important to remember that, until 1981, when Dr. Wing released her study, Asperger’s was unknown in the mental health world, and it was not added to the international classification system used to define diagnoses until 1994. Therefore, there could be an entire generation of people with Asperger’s Syndrome who have never been diagnosed.

Alien in the Playground

Clare Sainsbury published a book entitled “Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger’s Syndrome after working with people who had been diagnosed with the syndrome described that they felt like an “alien” when playing with other children. They reported being unable to make friends or fitting in and many were bullied. Adults with Asperger’s suffer clinical depression and many had difficulty with intimate relationships. Someone with undiagnosed Asperger’s may also have difficulty finding and keeping employment as they are unable to understand what is expected of them or because they are constantly in conflict with others. Some may be passed over for promotions because they lack team skills. Despite the fact that they were high on the intelligence scale, many drop out of school because teachers insisted they learn English or other subjects when all they wanted to learn about was a narrowly-focused subject, such as Chinese maps or the molecular structure of proteins, further limiting their ability to find employment.

Although Asperger’s Syndrome is part of the autism spectrum, it is more difficult to diagnose as those with the syndrome do not display classic types of autism symptoms. In addition, as a relatively new addition to the spectrum, many people who have Asperger’s have not yet been diagnosed and continue to struggle with their limitations. By learning more about the syndrome, it may be possible to identify adults with Asperger’s and provide them with the tools to manage better socially.