Signs and Symptoms
The hallmark symptoms of Asperger Syndrome include problems in social and
communication abilities despite good intelligence. These may include:
- Recognizing and interpreting social situations
- Understanding social rules and conventions such as conversational turn-taking
- Using and interpreting non-verbal behaviors, such as facial expressions, body language and gestures
- Expressing inappropriate emotional reactions
- Engaging in a pattern of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and activities
When to Seek Professional Help
You should seek professional help and guidance for your child when the child:
- Has difficulty making and maintaining friendships
- Shows unusual preoccupation with interests (chess, maps, math, astronomy, or some esoteric area)
- Doesn't seek to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with others
- Doesn't seem to get the point of jokes, humor or satire
How Asperger Syndrome is Treated
The most effective treatment consists of a combination of:
- Educational placement appropriate to the child's good intellectual abilities
- Social skills groups
- Supportive services to the family
- Consultation regarding medication for children with co-existing conditions such as anxiety, depression
The Risks of Not Treating a Child with Asperger Syndrome
Undetected or untreated Asperger Syndrome can lead to:
- Psychiatric problems such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Social isolation
- Poor grades and decreased learning and satisfaction in school
- Failure to reach intellectual potential
More Information
For more information and a list of related articles, visit the Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Disorder (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) page of our A-Z Disorder Guide.
