Asperger's Syndrome brochure

TREATMENT

The preferred treatment coordinates therapies that address three core symptoms of AS : poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness A typical treatment program generally includes:

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Social skills training, to teach the skills to more successfully interact with others

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Cognitive behavioral therapy, to help in better managing emotions that maybe explosive or anxious, and to cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines

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Medication for co-existing conditions

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Nutrition, related to improvement of Asperger’s tendencies , such as Mg, vitamin B6,gluten (wheat), and dairy-free diets

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Occupational or physical therapy

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Specialized speech therapy

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Parent training and support, to teach parents behavioral techniques to use at home

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Counseling to support individuals to increase self-awareness skills and help them develop and manage the emotions around social experiences

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Learning Center

Christiana Perakis Evloyia Program Director E-mail: perakisc@acs.gr

Address: 129 Aghias Parskevis & Kazantzaki Sr, 15234 Halandri

The Optimal Match Program

Asperger’s Syndrome

Tel: +30(210) 6393200 ext 237, 265 Fax: +30(210) 6390051

Pocket Guide

DEFINITION Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is a severe developmental disorder characterized by major difficulties in social interaction, and restricted and unusual patterns of interest and behavior.

AS is not often identified in early childhood, and many individuals are not diagnosed until they are adults. Assistance for core symptoms of AS consists of therapies that apply behavior management strategies and address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.

Many individuals with AS can adopt strategies for coping and Dr. Hans Asper- do lead fulfilling lives-being gainger, after whom fully employed, having successful the syndrome is relationships, and having faminamed. lies. In most cases, they are aware of their differences and “…exceptional human beings must be can recognize if they need any support to maintain an indegiven exceptional pendent life. educational treatment…”

Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, but it is believed moreover that AS Disorder

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Onset is usually later

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Outcome is usually more positive

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Social and communication deficits are less severe

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Circumscribed interests are more prominent

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Verbal IQ is usually higher

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Neurological disorders are less common

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Family history is more frequently positive

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Clumsiness is more frequently seen

Signs and Symptoms Research into Causes

1.

Qualitative impairment in social interaction

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The presence of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and interests

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Significant impairment in important areas of functioning

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No significant delay in language

It is suspected that multiple genes play a part in causing AS, since the number and severity of symptoms vary widely among individuals.

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During the 3 first years of life, there can be no clinically significant delay in cognitive development

Other possible causative mechanisms include a serotonin dysfunction and cerebellar dysfunction

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The symptoms must not better accounted for by another specific pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia

Current research points to structural abnormalities in the brain as a cause of AS. These abnormalities impact neural circuits that control thought and behavior

Clinical features 1.

Narrow interests or preoccupation with a subject to the exclusion of other activities

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Repetitive behaviors or rituals

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Peculiarities in speech and language

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Extensive logical/technical patterns of thought

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Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and interpersonal interaction

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Problems with nonverbal communication

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Clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements

The direct cause(s) of AS is unknown.

Even though no consensus exists for the cause of AS it is widely accepted that AS has a hereditary factor.