Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome

At the age of three my younger brother had memorised every train's name from the television series, Thomas the Tank Engine. He could also name every model car my dad put in front of him. For a year or two my family and I would laugh that he was a boy-genius and bound to be the smartest kid around, but when he started kinder at the age of four we began to worry. He would get upset that his routine had changed and he wasn't getting along with the other children in his class. He would tell us he wanted to stay home and play alone. Soon we began to notice other signs that something was not right. He wouldn't make eye contact with anyone he didn't know and he would obsess over one thing and only that one thing.

Not long after he started kinder he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that affects 1% of the population. Even though it is such a widespread disorder affecting Australians and people worldwide, it isn't a disorder a lot of people know about.

Common characteristics of the syndrome are: lack of empathy and social interaction skills, restricted and repetitive interests and speech and language problems.

The biggest problems people with Asperger's have are making friends and expressing and understanding emotions. It is due to their lack of communication skills that they struggle to make friends. They have poor listening skills and often interrupt others while talking. They also have a tendency to take words literally. If I was to tell my brother, to "go get lost" he would think I want him to go far away and really get lost. Without being taught, they may not understand that someone frowning means they are sad. All these simple things we take for granted are big issues for someone suffering from Asperger's.

There is no cure or specific treatment for the syndrome but tailored educational programs are helpful. If diagnosed at a young age there are ways to educate the child to cope with his or her disability. Though it may seem daunting for a child, seeing a pediatrician, psychologist and speech therapist will help them learn the life skills they lack. Most people with Asperger's can grow up and live normal lives, get married and have a family if they choose to.

It is important to note that there is no proven cause for Asperger's and parents should not blame themselves. Early intervention and constant support for the child is all you can do.

Slowly but surely my little brother is learning the skills he needs to interact with others and make friends. He started grade prep this year and is settling in well, he came home and told us he has four best friends - which is a relief for my parents!

If you think your child or someone you know may have Asperger's syndrome seek advice from your doctor.

There are also many books about Asperger's which can shed some light on the disorder. Two great books to check out are Megan Hammond's book 'My Life with Asperger's: www.femail.com.au/my-life-with-aspergers.htm or Tony Attwood's 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome.'

By Simone Traglia