ASPERGER’S SYNDROMEThe condition that Christopher has in our text

What is Asperger’s What is Asperger’s Syndrome?Syndrome?

There is a debate as to whether Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of Autism or whether it is a separate condition.

Where Asperger’s Where Asperger’s Syndrome Differs from Syndrome Differs from

AutismAutism

Autism Asperger’s Syndrome

Severe problems with language

No significant language delay or problems with

structure

Significant learning difficulties

Learning difficulties less severe

Triad of Autistic Triad of Autistic ImpairmentImpairment

Impairment of social

interaction

Impairment of language

and communication

Impairment of flexibility

of thought

In fact…..In fact…..

People with Asperger’s Syndrome usually have average or above average intelligence…. Watch this cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW1qHA5Hqwc

So what is Asperger’s So what is Asperger’s Syndrome?Syndrome?

A person with Asperger’s has a different way of thinking and interacting with their

environment

Is there a cure?Is there a cure?

No, it is a lifelong disorder, a development disability affecting the brain and there is, therefore no cure.

Difficulties with Difficulties with CommunicationCommunication

may include:

poor quality eye-contact

pedantic speech

odd intonation

inappropriate communication to social context

literalism – little understanding of jokes etc.

Asperger’s Syndrome, like Asperger’s Syndrome, like

autism, affects the autism, affects the

understanding of common understanding of common

phrases and idiomsphrases and idioms

‘Shake a leg’

‘Has the cat got your tongue?’

‘You can say that again!’

‘You’re pulling my leg’

‘You must be joking’

‘Lets have a toast to the bride’

Difficulties with Social Difficulties with Social InteractionInteraction

a lack of attention to people

not responding when addressed in a group

needing personal space, but not understanding that others need personal space

problems with understanding emotions

reluctance to engage interactively with other people

Other Possible Features of Other Possible Features of Social ImpairmentSocial Impairment

Prefers to find a secluded place rather than be with others

Can make personal comments without understanding why this may cause offence

Expects other people to know their thoughts and feelings

Sometimes indifferent to peer pressure

May not understand peer pressure but will submit to try and ‘fit in’ – can be suggestible and inadvertently ‘get into trouble’ at the instigation of someone else

Expressions of emotion often inappropriately extreme

Lack of Flexibility of ThoughtLack of Flexibility of Thought

finds difficulty in empathising and generalising

rigidity – difficulties with change/having to get to the end

lack of central coherence – is likely to see the individual sheep rather than the whole herd of sheep

may refuse to undertake a task if its purpose is not understood

underlying fears and coping mechanisms

Difficulties With The Difficulties With The AbstractAbstract

Whilst they often excel at learning facts and figures, people with Asperger’s Syndrome find it hard to think in abstract ways.

This can cause problems with certain subjects as literature or religious studies.

At a conference which was attended by At a conference which was attended by

adults with Autism, an adult stood up and adults with Autism, an adult stood up and

contributed the following:contributed the following:

“You people who do not have autism are like cars. You are free to drive wherever you want to go, and take whichever route you want. We who have autism are like trains. We can go forward, but we cannot leave our tracks; we can only go in one direction.

However, you people who do not have autism want us to be like you. You come and try to pull us of our tracks so that we can be free like you – and in doing so you pull up our sleepers and destroy our lines so that we cannot go forward at all.”