It's conservatively estimated that 2 out of every 10,000 children have this disorder. Boys are 3-4x more likely than girls to have AS.

 

Asperger's syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder marked by impaired social interactions and limited repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. It's also known as high-functioning autism.

 

AS has no significant delays of language acquisition but motor skills may be delayed. Clumsiness and awkwardness may be present but are relatively mild. AS is an autism spectrum disorder marked by impaired social interactions and limited repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities.

 

It's also known as high-functioning autism. This syndrome has no significant delays of language acquisition but motor skills may be delayed. Clumsiness and awkwardness may be present but are relatively mild.

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​Asperger’s Syndrome symptoms may consist of any of the following:

 

• Abnormal nonverbal communication Failure to develop peer relationships

• Being singled out by other children as "weird" or "strange"

• Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with others

• Markedly impaired expression of pleasure in other people's happiness

• Inability to return social or emotional feelings

• Inflexibility about specific routines or rituals

• Repetitive finger flapping, twisting, or whole body movements

• Unusually intense preoccupation with narrow areas of interest

• Preoccupation with parts of whole objects

• Repetitive behaviors, including repetitive self-injurious behavior

 

Treatment focuses on the three main symptoms: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.

 

An effective treatment program builds on the child's interests, offers a predictable schedule, teaches tasks as a series of simple steps, actively engages the child's attention in highly structured activities, and provides regular reinforcement of behavior. This includes:

 

1. Social skills training: teaches the necessary skills to interact   more successfully with other children

2. Cognitive behavioral therapy: talk therapy that helps to manage their emotions better and cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines

3. Medication for co-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety

4. Occupational or physical therapy for children with sensory integration problems or poor motor coordination

5. Specialized speech/language therapy to help with the pragmatics of speech

6. Parental training of behavioral techniques and support