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