Asperger’s Syndrome: Breaking Away From the Spectrum

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Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder belonging to a family of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or more commonly as just Autism. Asperger’s Syndrome is named for Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger. Asperger studied four children in his practice who exhibited the signs of the disorder that now bears his name. His findings, while published in 1944, were essentially unnoticed until 1981when Dr. Lorna Wing published a series of case studies of children who exhibited the same signs as Dr. Asperger’s patients, and called it Asperger’s Syndrome. In 1992, Asperger’s Syndrome became recognized as a separate and distinct disorder in the Autism Spectrum. (NINDS, 2011)

Asperger’s is one of five developmental disabilities under the category otherwise known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). In addition to Autism there is, Asperger’s, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS); PDD-NOS is a category for an individual that has some characteristics but not all the characteristic of the disorder. There are subtle differences between each of these five categories of autism. Autism is labeled a spectrum disorder because of the wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment of those affected. Patients afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome exhibit characteristics to what some doctors call “high-functioning Autism.” In fact, when comparing Asperger’s to high-functioning Autism, it becomes difficult to accurately distinguish between the two.

The question is often asked, what symptoms distinguish Asperger’s Syndrome? While similar in some aspects to other forms of Autism, patients with Asperger’s Syndrome exhibit some unique char...

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...upport (NINDS, 2011)

Treatment, when tailored to the child and initiated at an early age, can help the child with Asperger’s Syndrome grow to be fully functional and independent adults. Many adults with Asperger’s are able to work successfully in regular jobs, and with support, can live independent lives. (NINDS, 2011)

Works Cited

Mayo Clinic. (2011). Bing Health- Asperger's Syndrome. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from Bing: www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-MADS00551/Asperger's-syndrome?q=asperger's

Melinda Smith, M. J. (2010, December). Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from helpguide.org: http://helpguide.org/mental/autism_spectrum.htm

NINDS. (2011, November 4). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from www.ninds.nih.gov: www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm

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