What is: ASPERGER'S SYNDROME

patients with AS. AS is now officially grouped with the other disorders on the autism spectrum, and the formal diagnosis of someone with AS is Autism Spectrum Disorder.

To diagnose AS, a team of healthcare professionals use questionnaires about the patient’s development and spend time with the patient to gauge the patient’s skills. Both intellectual and language skills are evaluated along with the patient’s ability to interact appropriately with others. Unlike some other Autism Spectrum Disorders, patients with AS usually do not have delays in speech or intellectual development. However, kids with AS may have attention deficits.

A combination of different types of therapy, such as medication, cognitive behavior therapy, occupational therapy and social skills training may be used to treat AS. The goal of the treatment for AS is to help the patient cope with the symptoms and to learn to interpret social cues appropriately.