Essay about Your Child and Asperger's Syndrome

Submitted By bdb229
Words: 1200
Pages: 5
Open Document
Your Child and Asperger’s Syndrome
Does your child find social situations confusing? Do they find small talk more difficult to take part in than you think they should? Have you ever noticed that he/she finds it very hard to understand other people’s feelings? Are small details and facts something your child hones in on? Have you ever taken notice to a specific routine that your child takes part in everyday? Does disrupting this routine excite or upset them more than it should? Is making friends a very difficult task for your child? Have you ever noticed that your child is very averse to making direct eye contact? If 'yes' has been your answer to most of these questions, then your child may be suffering from Asperger's syndrome.

Defining Asperger’s
Asperger's syndrome (also known as Asperger's disorder) is a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Pervasive developmental disorders are distinguished by interruptions in the development of basic skills, specifically the ability to socialize and communicate with others, and to use imagination.
Asperger's syndrome is commonly misunderstood to be autism, which is a diagnosis most parents have a hard time accepting. Asperger’s can be considered amongst the Autism spectrum disorder’s (ASDs), but more modernly is regarded as a pervasive developmental disorder (not otherwise specified). To put your mind at ease here are some important points of difference between Autism and Asperger’s disorder; children with Asperger's syndrome generally function better than those with autism. Asperger’s children typically have normal intelligence and in some cases extraordinarily high intelligence, however, they may develop problems communicating as they get older.
Discovery
Asperger's syndrome was named for the Austrian doctor, Hans Asperger, who first described the disorder in 1944. However, Asperger's syndrome was not recognized as a unique disorder until much more recently.
Recognizing the Disorder
Each child will have his/her own individual pattern of development. Sometimes, a child's development is delayed from birth. Other children with Asperger’s develop normally before suddenly losing social or language skills. Parents are usually the first to notice something is wrong. As a parent here are some key characteristics you can keep an eye out for: * The inability to make eye contact while speaking. * The child may make unusual gestures while speaking that may seem impolite or rude. * He/She may not understand personal space and stand too close to someone while talking. * They may have problems focusing their attention on people and even topics that are not his/her favorite things.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Asperger's syndrome vary and can range from mild to severe. Generally, Asperger’s children have difficulty interacting with others and often are awkward in social situations. Because of their awkward tendencies, they do not make friends easily. They have a very hard time starting and maintaining conversations. Children may develop odd, repetitive movements like hand wringing or finger twisting. The movements of children with Asperger's syndrome may seem clumsy or awkward. A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop rituals that he or she refuses to change, such as eating schedules. Children with Asperger's syndrome may not make eye contact when speaking with someone unless they’re instructed to. Because of this, they may have trouble using facial expressions and gestures, and understanding body language. A child with Asperger's syndrome may develop an intense, almost obsessive, interest in a few areas: sports schedules, weather, or maps.
Cause and Frequency
The exact cause of Asperger's syndrome is unknown. However, we do know it tends to run in families, which may suggest inheritability. Asperger's syndrome has only recently been recognized as a unique disorder. For that reason, the exact number of people with the disorder
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Your Child and Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome Analysis

Introduction: Historical and Medical Background Asperger’s Syndrome is defined as “an autism spectrum disorder considered to be on the “higher functioning” end of the spectrum” (Autism Speaks, 2014). The first children who showed characteristics of Asperger’s were identified in 1944 by Hans Asperger, who was a pediatrician (Attwood, 1998). However, his observations weren’t really known until 1981 when Lorna Wing, an English doctor, also noticed these characteristics and published a series of studies…

Words 1037 - Pages 5

Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome In today’s society, Asperger’s Syndrome is being talked about, and seen, more than ever, from television shows, such as Parenthood, to magazine articles, and of course in the inclusive classroom. Throughout this paper we will be looking at where Asperger’s Syndrome originated, some of the characteristics and causes, as well as ways in which teachers and parents can better deal with a child that has Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome is found under Autistic Spectrum…

Words 2771 - Pages 12

Asd/a Lifestyle Essay

challenges they encounter. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Aspergers Syndrome are all general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development that impair language and social skills. (Beneron) Dr. Leo Kanner formed the Department of Child Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He began his career by studying eleven children, eight boys and three girls which lead to is description…

Words 924 - Pages 4

Anthropology Research Paper

connection to you, your relatives, and your (future) descendants, and why? Begin by thinking about medical challenges that ‘run in your family,’ and therefore are likely to have a genetic component. Use these challenges as the starting point for your research. Over the last 10 years, there have been many research studies based on or related to evolutionary theory, genetic studies and mechanisms in medicine. The three studies that are relevant to my family are Asperger’s syndrome, Asthma and Alzheimer’s…

Words 1401 - Pages 6

Biology Study Guide Essay

“Just Because You're A Bird Doesn't Mean You Can Fly..” Imagine waking up everyday knowing that the minute you step foot out your front door people are going to stare and judge you constantly. People you don't even know are going to look at you and feel a sense of pitty and disbelief. Picture yourself sitting in a classroom full of people knowing that you are different but not being able to figure out why. Children everyday around the world are being diagnosed with Autism Disease. “Just because…

Words 1233 - Pages 5

Research Paper On Autism

AUTISM I know a child, who is a gift from GOD you see, A person who has no visible sign of a disability, Doctors call it Autism or ASD, He is the same as you and me, It just means his brain is wired differently. Autism is a disorder that affects 1 in 88 kids every year. The majority of children affected are boys. Autism has been linked to an abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. Although the cause is still unknown, many theories or possible causes have been suspected…

Words 948 - Pages 4

Asperger: Learning and Formal Education Essay

1. How would you define Asperger’s syndrome? I would define Asperger as a syndrome in which a person can get from birth that can be defined as a mental disability that is a form of autism. Asperger is a syndrome which causes developmental issues that can affect the social wellbeing and communication of a person till the end of their life. How can you interact and include people with AS? I believe interacting with a person with AS should be almost the same way you interact with someone who doesn’t…

Words 447 - Pages 2

Jeffrey Dahmer Essay

Internal Factors In the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, most of his behaviors that emerged when he was an adult did not just spring up overnight. It was the result of a long and painful development that started when he was a child. Dahmer experienced such things as Asperger’s syndrome, loneliness, social isolation, neglect, and depression all before he became a young adult. As a result of these, his development into a serial killer was almost a domino effect leading to his necrophilia tendencies and cannibalistic…

Words 2282 - Pages 10

Evaluating Published Research Problems

Problems Locate two research studies in your discipline or your field of study—one study must use a qualitative method and one study must use a quantitative method. Each study must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Perform the following with each study: Review of Contemporary Curriculum Research Qualitative Research Study Identify the research problem. Smith’s (2007) research study on “Support Services for Students with Asperger’s Syndrome in Higher Education” problem focus is…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Essay about Adhd: Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Adhd Secondary Contacts

ADHD Signs and Symptoms This is a guideline of some of the signs and symptoms that are associated with ADHD. Use this guide to tick any of the signs or symptoms that you have often witnessed in your child. Six (6) or more ticks may indicate that you should seek professional advice: Tick: - Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities. - Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities. - Often does…

Words 622 - Pages 3