Asperger Syndrome
Asperger; Aspergers; syndrome; autism; disability; feelings; language; talking; behaviour; communicate; communication; understanding; asperger's;
Contents
What is Asperger syndrome?
| Asperger syndrome is the name given to a group of problems that some children (and adults) have when they are trying to communicate with others. They have difficulty understanding other people. |
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| Children with Asperger syndrome can hear what others say to them, and they know what the words mean, but they don't pick up the 'non-verbal' part of communication, so they often don't get the full message. |
You might be angry with someone, and say 'Get lost'. Most kids know that means 'leave me alone', but someone with Asperger syndrome could believe that you want him to go very far away and really get lost.
Asperger syndrome, is sometimes called an 'Autism spectrum disorder' because it is a bit like autism. It was named after the children's doctor who first identified the syndrome, Dr Hans Asperger of Vienna.
A person with autism cannot communicate well with other people, and really does not understand that people talk about feelings and have feelings. Kids with Asperger syndrome can talk, but they get confused a lot.
How do you get it?
No one knows for sure how anyone gets Asperger syndrome. It is not a disease, and you can't catch it from anyone.
The person's genes have something to do with it, and maybe something happened before they were born.
It can take a long time for doctors and other health professionals to diagnose Asperger syndrome.
Children have Asperger syndrome from the time they are born, but often they are at school before their problem is diagnosed.
There appear to be more people these days who are diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. This is probably because more is known about it nowadays.
What does it look like?
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Kids who have Asperger syndrome may have problems understanding that they have to listen as well as talk. |
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They may have problems making friends. They often want to have friends, and they can feel very lonely, but they don't know how to be a friend. |
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They are often really interested in things, like computers, Yugio cards, making things - but they have trouble having a conversation with someone. |
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They can be obsessive about something they are interested in, and don't understand that others are not as interested. |
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Their behaviour can seem a bit different or unusual, or it can be really difficult. Sometimes they get very upset and aggressive. They might be called 'eccentric', which means a bit odd and different to other people. |
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They may choose to play alone and stay away from other kids, or talk to adults. |
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They may like to be playing with a computer rather than with other kids, as they don't have to communicate socially with the computer |
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They may find it hard to understand the feelings behind a facial expression. They may think that if someone smiles at them in a friendly way, that person wants to be their best friend. They can then be very disappointed when the person wants to play with someone else. |
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They may take a long time to understand the ‘rules' about not interrupting when someone is talking, or how to take turns, or how to share. |
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They may be upset by some noises or smells, or by what some things feel like or look like. For example they might hate the feel of shoes on their feet, or how sand feels, or refuse to wear anything that is red. |
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They may be surprised when people do something they haven't expected. For example, if someone laughed because of something amusing, they might not know it was funny. |
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They may think that other kids have done something deliberately to hurt them when they have accidentally bumped into them. They can even believe that a chair tried to bump into them! |
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They like things to happen the same way all of the time, so they may get upset when lesson times are changed, or they have to move to a new desk in the classroom. |
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They can be targeted by bullies because they can easily be upset. |
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Some may do inappropriate things to try to make friends, and this can get them into trouble. |
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Because they don't understand the feelings of others, they may do things which upset other people - such as, using things that do not belong to them without asking permission |
They may need a lot of understanding and kindness.
Can it be cured?
Asperger syndrome is not a disease so it can't be cured, but people with Asperger syndrome do learn more about other people as they get older.
- Some become experts in their area of interest.
Some marry and have families of their own.- Some always have problems with relationships.
- Some always need things to be done exactly their way, and get very upset if someone does something 'wrong'.
- Many more now belong to groups with others who have Asperger syndrome and they are able to understand and support each other.
It is thought that Sir Isaac Newton, a brilliant mathematician, may have had Asperger syndrome. He lived a long time before Asperger syndrome was diagnosed.
How you can help
| If someone in your family or in your class at school has Asperger syndrome, then you can help by: |
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being friendly |
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helping him when he has trouble understanding |
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including him in your group, but not being upset if he doesn't want to join in |
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not bullying him or setting him up |
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standing up for him if others are being unkind |
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helping him to understand the rules by being firm and saying things like, "It's my turn now, then it will be yours." |
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understanding that unfamiliar things and unfamiliar noises can be upsetting for him |
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helping him to practise skills like talking to the class |
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praising him when he does well |
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letting him know that you like him |
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ignoring ‘bad' behaviour |
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understanding that he is not trying to be difficult, but also helping him to learn that he must be kind to other people. |
What kids say
"I have been in the same class with a boy who has AS. We all know that he doesn't want to do things like sport but he's really good on computers and can help us sometimes."
"My friend has AS. Sometimes he wants to be alone or wants to talk all the time about fish, so I just leave him and play with someone else. I understand."
"Some people are mean and like to tease kids who are different. In our class if you are mean to someone you have to write an apology to that person and say sorry in front of the class. Sometimes kids are mean out on the Oval and some teachers don't notice."
"I have AS. It's hard to make friends so it's good that I have always been to the same school and every year I know most of the kids in my class. I think it will be hard at High School though."
"Sometimes I don't understand what I have to do in class. My teacher helps me and sometimes she writes things down for me. I can do the work when I know what it is I have to do."
"I have been to some schools but it is really hard. When I was little I tried to hide all the time. My mum home-schools me now. I still play with some other kids and I do horse riding. I love horses."
Dr Kate says:
"Many kids with Asperger syndrome go to main-stream schools. This can be scary for them. Having to cope with changes all the time when you feel more comfortable with the same things happening in the same place can be really upsetting.
Some kids cannot cope with school and stay at home where they are home-schooled.
All kids want friends, so if you know someone at school or at home who has Asperger syndrome, try to be patient and kind. After all, it could easily have been you who was born with the problem. None of us can choose our genes, our parents or the place where we are born.
We all have feelings and we all live in the same world. Let's make it a kind and friendly place for everyone."
If you or your parents want to know more about Asperger syndrome, you could have a look at the topic on the Parenting and Child Health section of this site.
We've collected this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.