asperger’s Define, Identify, Help
What is Asperger’s?
Common Symptoms
• Pervasive developmental disorder, commonly mistaken as autism
• Communication Difficulties • Eccentric/repetitive behaviour and rituals
• Those with Asperger’s usually function better • Have normal intelligence and language development
• Limited range of interests • Coordination problems • Highly skilled in specific subject of interest
• May experience communication problems
Affected Population
Genetics
• 68 million people are diagnosed with Asperger’s • Males diagnosed at rate 4-6x higher than females • Most diagnosed between ages 5 to 9, others as young as 3
• 130 genes may be linked to condition, but none confirmed • Hereditary component • also in children with pre- or post natural problems • Half suffered lack of oxygen during birth
3 THINGS THAT AFFECT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE Social relationships: Children who have Asperger’s don’t have the ability to ‘go with the flow’ and have trouble applying what was learned in past situations to present situations. They have little to no social skills and are very emotionless and speak with little to no facial expressions and a flat tone.
Communication: They rely on language for both obtaining information and teaching others. They do not do well with ‘watching and learning’ and often do not understand sarcasm and take it seriously.
Problem solving: They like routine and so not adapt as quickly as others to change, they are socially unaware of the situation they have been put in and have trouble seeing the ‘big picture’ which makes it hard for them to make a decision.
3 STRATEGIES TO HELP TUTOR IN SCHOOL SORT • Help Organize Binder • Colour code; ensure handouts immediately placed in • Maintain Consistent Schedule • Change increases anxiety; timer can decrease • Map long-term plan • Ask teacher for upcoming assignments; plan what to complete week(s) in advance • To-do List • Records achievements, reassures progress
SOCIALIZE • Empathize, relate • socializing can be painful task understand struggles • be welcoming & friendly • Double-duty • pair students with similar interests to discuss lesson together; encourage with reinforcement • Lessons: Make them Personable • DON’T raise voice, compromise eye contact
SIMPLIFY to SOLVE • Simplify Language • simplify main theme in text and expand its properties • use DIRECT language: no double meanings, sarcasm • Help them Express Help • find out WHAT they don’t understand and why • Hands-on Learning: helps problem solving • block math set -> counting in head