Asperger's disease or syndrome is a mild form of autism that affects a child's ability to socially interact with other people. Early detection of Asperger's can give children the opportunity to take advantage of alternative learning methods that can help them function normally with their friends and peers. If your child displays several symptoms, you should have her see a doctor for proper diagnosis and guidance.
Missing Cues
Picking up on social cues is one of the most important factors in creating a working dialog with others and developing friendships. Children with Asperger's often have a hard time picking up on these cues. It is very difficult for them to understand jokes or sarcasm or be sympathetic to another person's feelings. While being able to read someone else's body language is an inborn skill for most people, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for someone with Asperger's. They also exhibit an inability to sense other people's personal space.
Communication Skills
Because people who have Asperger's do not usually pick up on cues and inflections in the voices of others, they often have a speech pattern that is monotonous or very fast. Their speech patterns often are flat, lacking tone, pitch and accent. Children with Asperger's have a tendency to have in-depth, one-sided conversations without noticing the listener is no longer paying attention or is trying to change the subject. People with Asperger's often do not make eye contact and lack facial expressions.
Sensitivity
People with Asperger's usually have overdeveloped or underdeveloped sensory skills. More often than not their sensitivity toward sound and light is more heightened than what is considered normal. For example, sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, overpowering smells, particular food textures and the feeling of certain materials can be heightened so much that it can be the cause of intense anxiety for someone with Aspberger's.
Motor Skills
Children with Asperger's develop motor skills much slower than normal and often such skills are never fully developed. These children tend to move quite clumsily due to poor coordination and balance. They often have an irregular posture and an odd way of walking. Because of their delayed motor skill development, children with Asperger's generally take longer to learn walk or ride a bike.
Additional Considerations
In many cases, the symptoms of Asperger's in a child will persist into his teenage years. Most symptoms persist through the teen years. The continued lack of communication skills often tends to make it hard for these children or teenagers to make and keep friends. The differences they display often make them easy targets for bullying and teasing, which can lead to an increased risk for developing depression.
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