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