Definition
Asperger's Autism syndrome is a mild form of autism, which according to the University of Washington, "is a developmental disability characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication, as well as a pattern of repetitive or obsessive behaviors and interests" (1). The syndrome is named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger, who described the condition in 1944. It is called an autism spectrum disorder because the severity of its impairments vary from person to person. Those afflicted by the disorder generally exhibit eccentric behavior and experience social isolation in childhood.
Causes
Asperger's Autism is caused by genetic complications such as the chromosomal abnormalities of deletion, inversion and duplication during fetal development. Thus, the syndrome is hereditary and one is born with it.
The Triad of Impairments
Asperger's Autism is not detectable from one's appearance; impairments are not physical, but rather psychological. The basic inhibitions caused by Asperger's, which vary from person to person, are generally divided into three main groups. According to the National Austistic Society, these groups are "Difficulty with social communication... difficulty with social interaction... [and] difficulty with social imagination" (2).
Difficulty With Social Communication
One symptom of Asperger's syndrome is difficulty with social communication. One who is afflicted with Asperger's may have difficulty expressing emotions and thoughts. For a Asperger's patient, understanding body language, facial expressions and voice intonation may be a challenge.
Difficulty With Social Interaction
People with Asperger's Syndrome lack the ability to make and sustain relationships with other people, which leads to excessive anxiety. Asperger's patients have difficulty understanding and applying social norms, such as etiquette, and they may find it hard to choose appropriate topics about which to speak.
Difficulty With Social Imagination
Although those who suffer from Asperger's can be successfully imaginative in the literal sense of the word (many are authors, musicians, etc.), they have difficulty imagining what will occur next in a social context, interpreting other people's feelings via subtle body language and vocal expressions and playing imaginative games such as "let's pretend." The imagination impediment leads to them having the aforementioned "repetitive or obsessive behaviors and interests" and a love of routine. A child with Asperger's Autism might consistently line up or stack toys and prefer logic- and system-based subjects such as math.
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