Asperger 's Syndrome, Autism And Brain Anatomy

Diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome can be a challenge. An interview with a clinician must be conducted, including the family of the person being diagnosed. Also, an observation is conducted in two different social settings (i.e.: school and home) (Stoddart, 2009). The criterion to be diagnosed is straight forward. First, there must be a severe impairment in social interaction. For example, no eye to eye contact, posture, does not develop peer relationships, and not bringing up interests to other people (Stoddart, 2009). Second, there must be stereotyped behaviors. For example, not being able to adhere to a random routine or change of plans, hand flapping, and playing with parts of objects, not the object itself. Thirdly, the impairments cause strain on social, and other areas of functioning. Fourth, the child had no delay in speech. This is the difference between a child with autism and Asperger’s. Children with Asperger’s have no delay in speech and usually are advanced in this area. Lastly, the child has no cognitive delay. For example, self-help abilities, and adapting behaviors. Usually these children have very high IQs (Stoddart, 2009). The major criterion is the social impairment. Asperger’s Syndrome is very focused around social behaviors. These children do not socially interact,

Asperger’s syndrome is a condition that is on the autism spectrum. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) uses three standard criteria to specify the severity of the condition. In John M. Mahoney’s article, he says that “The core symptoms of the disorder fall into two broad clusters: Criterion A describes qualitative impairment in social interaction; Criterion B contains examples of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities” (3). Within these clusters, there are multiple ‘classes’ of behavior under criterion A and B.

Approximately 947,570 Americans have Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), however, it is not an easy disorder to explain (Bashe 19). With multiple conditions and characteristics in each case, AS is not an easy disorder to diagnose. Asperger’s Syndrome was named after Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician, who first described the disorder in 1944 after studying a group of children with similar, unusual characteristics. However, AS was not made an official disease until 1994. Consequently, Asperger disease is just now becoming published and popular so there is still research and questions being answered. Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, is noted by above-average

Asperger’s syndrome, which is also referred to as Asperger's disorder, is a type of Persuasive Developmental Disorder. Persuasive Developmental Disorder or PDD are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of basic skills, the most recognizable of these skills is the ability to communicate and socialize with others as well as use their own imagination. Although Asperger's syndrome is similar in some ways to autism, there are important differences between the two. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically function higher than those children with autism. In addition to them being higher functioning; children with Asperger's syndrome generally have normal intelligence and slightly less than normal language development.

Autism spectrum disorders are a class of developmental disorders that impair social skills, behavior, and communication (Center for Disease Control). ASDs are considered ‘spectrum’ disorders because each patient has a unique experience in the nature and severity of their symptoms (Center for Disease Control). Under the umbrella of ASDs, there are three types of disorders, including Autistic disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Center for Disease Control). Autistic disorder is the most severe of the three, and patients exhibit significant problems with language, communication, and behavior (Center for Disease Control). Furthermore, people with Autistic disorder often have some intellectual impairment (Center for Disease Control). Asperger Syndrome is a milder form of autistic disorder where patients have some developmental delays, but their language and intellect are not affected (Center for Disease Control). The mildest of the ASDs is the pervasive developmental disorder. These patients usually don’t meet all of the criteria for autistic disorder, but do show some signs of social and communication problems (Center for Disease Control). The number of children diagnosed with ASD is growing, and currently 1 in 88 children fall somewhere on the spectrum (Mari-Bauset et al., 2013). Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism, and while the exact cause of these disorders is unknown, both genetic and

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be portrayed toward critical impairments in social interaction. It also includes restricted repeated behaviors, interests and activities. (Mayo Clinic staff, 2014)

Autism is a brain disorder that is characterized by slow and difficult comprehension of spoken and non-verbal communication and repetition of behaviors. Autism is normally noticed in the first two years of a child (Myers & Johnson, 2007). Asperger syndrome is an autistic disorder that has almost the same similarities with autism. People with Asperger syndrome have little comprehension of the world and its surroundings and poor communication with other people. People with Asperger syndrome are hard to recognize, as they do not show on their outward appearances. They are average or above average intellectually and have fewer problems in terms of speech and specific learning disabilities unlike in autism. These difficulties include dyslexia, epilepsy, and attention

Social interactions and relationships. Symptoms may include: substantial problems with developing nonverbal communication skills, such as making eye-to-eye contact, different facial expressions to express their feelings, and body stance. Those with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) often fail to be able to establish friendships with children of their similar age. There is a lack of interest in

What is Asperger 's syndrome (AS)? AS is a social disorder linked to autism which is often misdiagnosed as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because of their similar symptoms. The name comes from Hans Asperger, an Austrian that examined autistic children and used the term "autism" to identify them (Grinker 56). According to Bibbi Hagberg et. Al. , Approximately, 30–50 % of individuals with AS have symptoms (inattention and overactivity in particular) consistent with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research indicates individuals with AS may experience challenges with social interaction, coordination capabilities, and the ability to understand

Asperger’s disorder (AD) is a disruption in the formation of the child’s physical and or psychological development and recognizing these, the disorder was separated from Autism in 1944, to provide a basis for each child to get the proper care. All children with Asperger Disorder will show some traits in these three categories; impaired social skills, trouble communicating with others and a pattern of behavior, interest, and activities’ will be limited and recurring; they become obsessed with a single theme. Usually the child will have the normal communication skills in the beginning years. They will be using single words by age one. They just will not be using them in the normal way. When doctors are testing for this disorder, they are looking for specific behaviors or skills that are either present or absent. If the right services are available, Asperser’s children will show significant improvement in language

Asperger’s disorder is a disorder that is on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum. This disorder effects an individual’s social and communication skills, and they will often have autistic like behaviors, with a normal intelligence range, and normal language development.

Asperger’s was first recognized by Hans Asperger in 1944 and Leo Kanner in 1943 as a developmental disorder; however, it was reintroduced again in 1981 “since Wing’s (1981) introduced to Hans Asperger’s seminal work of 1944, and since inclusion of the disorder as a diagnostic category in Diagnostic and statistical Mantel disorders-Fourth Edition “(Myles 130). Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis rely on the following criteria: 1- “Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior” (Khouzam et al. 186) such as being fully attracted to one pattern of activities, and having difficulties of changing these rigid models of behavior and interests. 2- Imperfections in social interactions such as difficulties in making friends and low understanding of non-verbal communications.3- Appearance of any other important developmental delays, such as occupational defects. The Asperger’s syndrome differentiates in developing appropriate language; “Cognitive development and age appropriate self-help skills and adaptive behavior are not clinically significantly delayed” (Khozam et al.187). In

Specifically, autism impairs communication and social collaboration. Particularly, there are three categories of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The three categories of autism are classified by the severity of the symptoms. The category most people associate autism with is Autistic Disorder. Many times this form of autism is referred to as “classic autism.” Autistic Disorder symptoms include speech suspensions, strange behaviors and interests, as well as academic impairments. Another form of autism includes Asperger Syndrome. This form of autism deals with symptoms similar to Autistic Disorder, however they are not as severe. Unlike Autistic Disorder, individuals who have Asperger Syndrome rarely have speech and intellectual impairments. Therefore,

This implicitly links with the observations of Attwood (2007 p 56) which describe Asperger syndrome (as part of the autism spectrum of characteristics) and social interaction as

High functioning autism (HFA) is at one end of the spectrum. Signs and symptoms are less severe than with other forms of autism. In fact, Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and high functioning autism (HFA) are often referred to as the same diagnosis. As of right now they are two different diagnosis but there is a debate as to if it is necessary. In the future they may be combined as one diagnosis. Individuals with AS or HFA have average or above average intelligence but may struggle with the social interactions and communication. “Persons with autism may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resistance to changes in routines. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.” (Disabled World 2008). Some people with high function autism or Asperger’s Syndrome demonstrate the ability to remember dates, maps, phone numbers or other factual