Aspergers is a pervasive developmental disorder, a
neurological disorder that affects a child’s ability to
communicate, understand language, play, and relate to
others.
Pervasive developmental disorders such as
autism are generally evident by the age of three, but Aspergers may not be diagnosed until the age of nine or
ten.
Aspergers is characterized by communication problems,
difficulty relating to people, repetitive body
movements, difficulty with changes in routine, obsessing
about certain topics or items, and unusual play with
toys or other objects.
The
causes of Aspergers are currently unknown, but as a
neurological disorder, it may result from an injury to
the brain.
There is current research that also suggests
it may run in families, giving it a genetic basis. Aspergers is more common in boys than in girls.
Children with Aspergers
typically have a normal IQ, and many children possess
exceptional skills or abilities in one area.
Early intervention is
important in order to get them on the right path and
provide parents and teachers with the opportunity to
develop a plan.
Routine is critical to the child with Aspergers.
If there are changes in
their typical routine, they may experience a great deal
of anxiety, which may be when they display challenging
behaviors, repetitive behaviors, or obsess about a
particular topic.
Social skills are particularly challenging for the child
with Aspergers.
They find it difficult to recognize
and/or interpret body language.
Interacting with other
children may also cause anxiety.
Children with Aspergers
are generally unable to transfer social knowledge and
information from one setting to another.
This means they have to
learn a new set of rules for each and every new
situation which is very tiring and demanding for them.
Many children with Aspergers
experience sensory integration issues, or sensory
dysfunction.
They may be easily
over-stimulated by sensory activities, or they may
withdraw because they are hypersensitive to sensory
stimulation.
An occupational therapist
is able to make an assessment and provide a specialized
program in order to minimize the effects on their daily
lives.
A
lack of coordination or general clumsiness is common in
children with Aspergers.
Again an occupational
therapist can also assist in this area, to determine if
there are specific activities that may be useful in
developing or strengthening areas related to physical
activities.
