Asperger's Syndrome

Introduction

Asperger syndrome (AS) is the term applied to the mildest and highest functioning end of the autistic (or pervasive developmental disorder [PDD]) spectrum, which ranges from AS to classic autism. People with AS typically display impairments in three areas: social difficulties (i.e., reading social cues, social awkwardness, and poor social skills), subtle communication problems (i.e., pedantic tone of voice and rate of speech, lack of fluidity in speech, difficulty understanding linguistic humor such as sarcasm and irony), and repetitive, rigid, or restricted behaviors (i.e., extreme interest in a topic or activity, insistence on particular behavioral routines). Compared with children with other autistic spectrum disorders, children with AS are characterized as having higher cognitive abilities and relatively normal language functioning.(Szatmari, 351)

Discussion

Painter's (2001) paper was the major work to stimulate further review of Asperger's description and its relationship Kanner's. “Sundberg estimated that Kanner's definition of autism applied to only 10% of children with autism, and she called attention to the need for new diagnoses or a broader definition of the disorder. Wing also changed the disorder's name from autistic psychopathy to Asperger's syndrome.” (Sundberg,2007,698)

Research suggests that AS is considerably more common than autism. Whereas autism occurs in about 4 of every 10,000 children, estimates of AS have ranged as high as 20 to 25 per 10,000. Probably about 3 or 4 of every 1,000 children develop the full clinical picture of AS before about 10 years of age. Like autism, AS is much more common in boys than girls. “In fact, studies suggest that males are about 5 times more likely to have AS than females are. Because females with AS sometimes exhibit different patterns of symptoms, prevalence figures may underestimate the proportion of females with AS in the general population.”(Painter,2009, 21)

As is usually congenital or arises following brain damage sustained during birth or the first few years of life. It is uncommon for AS to appear as a consequence of brain damage suffered later in life. In some cases, there is a clear genetic component (i.e., one parent has AS). Research suggests that the genes involved do not cause AS but instead cause a variety of language and social differences and personality styles, of which the autistic spectrum disorders are the extreme form. The strengths of people with AS can run in families, too.(Sundberg,698) Parents and siblings often have similar talents and interests as those of people with autism spectrum disorders.(Szatmari, 351) For example, strong visual-spatial, mechanical, and memory skills are often found in the families of people with autism spectrum disorders. Thus, AS is just one of several possible outcomes of having certain genes.

“In addition to a genetic component, a number of other causes for AS and other disorders along the PDD continuum have been suggested, including infection during pregnancy or in the first years of life (e.g., herpes simplex virus); inherited immune system deficiency (e.g., diabetes); and various pregnancy, labor, and delivery complications.”(Szatmari, 351, 2007) Although research supports many of these potential causes, there is absolutely no evidence ...