| Asperger's Disorder is a developmental | | | | evidenced by reduced non-verbal behaviors |
| disorder that can have devastating symptoms | | | | such as eye contact, facial expressions, body |
| and can be seen in children as young as two | | | | postures, and gestures. |
| years old. It is not caused by and infection | | | | |
| or virus and why it occurs is not fully | | | | - Failure to develop social peer |
| understood, however it is not your fault. | | | | relationships; the child is uninterested in |
| | | | same-age peers. |
| Although it isn't as debilitating as autism, | | | | |
| Asperger's is no less impairing. Aspergers | | | | - Lack of spontaneous seeking to enjoy |
| syndrome was first describe by Hans Asperger, | | | | bonding with others; the child is |
| an Austrian physician, in 1944. It is one of | | | | uninterested in sharing pleasurable |
| a sub set of what is called Autistic Spectrum | | | | experiences with others. |
| Disorders in European countries, or Pervasive | | | | |
| Developmental Disorders ("PDD"), in the | | | | - Restricted repetitive and stereotyped |
| United States. | | | | patterns of behavior such as intense |
| | | | necessity for routine and organization, |
| As a parent of a toddler with Asperger's | | | | adherence to strange rituals, movements such |
| Syndrome there are probably many questions | | | | as hand or finger flapping, twisting, or |
| you want to have answered the main one being | | | | rocking. |
| how will the disorder affect your child and | | | | |
| your child's future? | | | | - The disturbance causes significant |
| | | | impairment in social behavior. |
| It can affect them in number of ways. | | | | |
| Clumsiness is prominent both in their | | | | - There is no clinically significant delay in |
| articulation and behavior however the most | | | | language and communication single words. |
| common difficulties are to do with | | | | Unlike autism, children with Asperger's |
| communication. Sufferers often have a | | | | Disorder have much less social and learning |
| particularly strong area of interest. This | | | | impairment. |
| area of interest can range form cars to | | | | |
| doornobs to history or astronomy. They appear | | | | Now that you have familiarized yourself with |
| to be almost obsessed to the exclusion of | | | | the major characteristics of Asperger's there |
| more normal interests. | | | | are a few more things that you can do to help |
| | | | your toddler cope with the world. Look into |
| There are also problems in social interaction | | | | getting professional help. A reputable |
| and non-verbal communication. Their speech | | | | specialist familiar with the disorder can |
| can be strange due to abnormalities of | | | | offer advice on your child's development and |
| inflection and a repetition. | | | | a clinical psychologist can work in tandem |
| | | | with your pediatrician to help improve your |
| Whatever you do, don't give in to feelings of | | | | child's social skills through therapy and/or |
| hopelessness that often accompany diagnoses | | | | medication. When your toddler is of age to |
| of serious illnesses and rest assured: Your | | | | begin pre-school, seek the counsel of a |
| child will be capable of living a productive | | | | special education expert as well, as school |
| life the same as anyone else. | | | | is a very social and academic environment. |
| | | | |
| According to the Diagnostic and Statistical | | | | The exact cause of Asperger's Disorder is |
| Manual of the American Psychiatric | | | | still a mystery, and although there is no |
| Association, Version Four, Text Revision, | | | | "cure" for this condition, there are many |
| Asperger's Disorder is characterized by the | | | | behavioral and psychiatric interventions that |
| following symptoms: | | | | will help your child achieve a meaningful |
| | | | life. Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician, |
| - Impairment in social interaction as | | | | first described the syndrome in 1944. |