Asperger’s Syndrome
Sarah Katie H.Melissa
Meet Nomi
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/01/08/nomi_slideshow/
Etiology
Genetic Contribution
Multiple Factors
Hereditary Linkage
Stronger genetic component than Autism
Characteristics
Significant difficulties in social interactions
Restricted and repetitive behavior
Relative preservation of cognitive and linguistic development
Clumsiness and atypical use of language
Scripted, robotic speech
Average or above average intelligence
Incidence & Prevalence
According to the Asperger’s Syndrome Coalition of the United States:
Many kids are diagnosed after 3, with most diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 9.
AS may occur at a rate of 3.6 to 7.1 per 1000 children ages 7- 16 years
AS is 5 times more common in children than autism
Male to female ratio is 2-3:1
Related Services
Early Intervention ( birth – 3)
IEP (offered in school from 3-21)
College (Office of Disability Services)
Work (MA Department of Health and Human Services)
Educational Considerations
Individualized training on reading facial expressions and emotional reactions
Work on organization of notes and ideas for class
Preview routines and changes in schedules
Teachers should plan lessons in clear patterns that are easy to follow
Impact of Disability on Language & Social Development
Difficulty with perceiving social environmental cues and rules
Exhibits limited knowledge of the concept of friendship
Definite preferences for clothing due to comfort level
Difficulty with understanding and expressing varied emotional states
Limited awareness and inappropriate display of emotions
Behavioral Issues
Shows a desire to interact with others but does so in a socially unconventional way
Misinterprets social cues
Mindblindness to feelings and boundaries of others
Preoccupations with specific interests
Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
Repetitive body movements
Speaks in a tone that is monotonous and lacks inflection and rhythm
Cognitively, child demonstrated average- above average intelligence
Common Medical Treatment
Combination of therapies (PT, OT, SLP)
Social Skills Training/ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Psychotherapy
Medicine Prescriptions
To help alleviate hyperactivity or impulsivity Psychostimulants and Antidepressants
To help alleviate aggressiveness Mood stabilizers, Beta Blockers, Neuroleptics
To help alleviate anxiety SSRIs and Antidepressents
To help alleviate preoccupations and compulsions SSRIs
Adaptations (Assistive Technology)
Contrast Aids: highlighter tape, colored overlays and paper, bolded font.
Organizational Aids: schedules, check lists, picture cues
Positioning Aids: alternative keyboards
Computer Software Aids:
Helps to organize ideas prior to writing
Enables child to express him/herself
http://superherosquad.marvel.com/cyoc
Impact of Language Development on Academic
& Social Skills Academic Skills:
Average or above average intelligence
No delay in linguistic development
Large vocabulary and formal speech (for areas of particular interest)
Little attention span
Difficulty with math and writing is different for each child
Social Skills:
Literalism
Social Scripts
Egocentric state of mind
Impact of Disability on Auditory Skills
Asperger’s Syndrome may affect a child’s auditory system:
Not effectively interpret information Literally and concretely
Hypersensitive to noise
Failing to respond when their name is called
Comprehends but needs extra time to process information
Difficulty following multi-step directions
Communication and Social Interaction Alternatives for Nonspeaking Individuals
This does not apply to this population
Average to below- average nonverbal cognitive abilities, though verbal cognitive abilities are usually average to above average
Children with AS:
Might show no delays in language development
Have good grammatical skills and an advanced vocabulary at an early age
Typically exhibit a language disorder (literal)
Resources
An Autism Spectrum Disorder. (2011). KidsHealth. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/asperger.html#
Asperger’s Syndrome. (2011). Autism Society. Retrieved from http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/aspergers-syndrome/
Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet. (2011). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm#179683080
Asperger Syndrome. (2011). Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome
Asperger’s Syndrome in Children and Teens. Your Little Professor. Retrieved from: http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/schools.html
Resources (continued)
Aspergers Children and Sensory Issues. (2011). My Aspergers Child. Retrieved from: http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2011/04/aspergers-children-and-sensory-issues.html
Stokes, Susan. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome: Characteristics/Learning Styles and Intervention Strategies. Retrieved from: http://www.specialed.us/autism/asper/asper11.html
Rosen- Bloch, Sally. (1999). Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Austim, and Disorders of the Autistic Continuum. Retrieved from: http://www.aspergersyndrome.com/html/research_paper.html
Treatment for Asperger’s Disorder. (2007) . PsychCentral. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/treatment-for-aspergers-disorder/
What Are the Autism Spectrum Disorders? (2009). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/what-are-the-autism-spectrum-disorders.shtml
Weinstein, Anna. (2011). Asperger’s in the Classroom. Retrieved from: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Aspergers_the_Classroom/