Asperger syndrome now comes under the single umbrella term of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is classified as a developmental disorder that affects how the brain processes information. People with Asperger syndrome have a wide range of strengths, weaknesses, skills and difficulties.
Common characteristics include difficulty in forming friendships, communication difficulties (such as a tendency to take things literally), and an inability to understand social rules and body language.
Although Asperger syndrome cannot be cured, appropriate intervention and experience can help people to develop skills, use strategies to compensate and help build up coping skills. Social skills training, which teaches people how to behave in different social situations, is often considered to be of great value to those with Asperger syndrome.
Counselling or psychological therapy, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can help people with Asperger syndrome to understand and manage their behavioural responses.
New ASD classification system
A new classification system for autism and Asperger syndrome, introduced in 2013 (in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), gives only one diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This is the result of much research that indicated there was not enough evidence to suggest that the conditions of autism and Asperger syndrome were distinct conditions, so now they all come under the single umbrella term, ASD.
This means that a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome will no longer be given. The preferred term is now ASD, However, there are a number of people who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s in the past, and identify with this diagnosis. They will still be able to refer to their condition as having Asperger’s into the future, despite the fact that it is no longer a formal diagnosis.
Symptoms of Asperger syndrome
More males than females are diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or ASD. While every person who has the condition will experience different symptoms and severity of symptoms, some of the more common characteristics include:
average or above-average intelligence
difficulties with high-level language skills such as verbal reasoning, problem solving, making inferences and predictions
difficulties in empathising with others
problems with understanding another person’s point of view
difficulties engaging in social routines such as conversations and ‘small talk’
problems with controlling feelings such as anger, depression and anxiety
a preference for routines and schedules which can result in stress or anxiety if a routine is disrupted
specialised fields of interest or hobbies.
Emotions of other people
A person with Asperger syndrome may have trouble understanding the emotions of other people, and the subtle messages sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed or misinterpreted. Because of this, people with Asperger syndrome might be mistakenly perceived as being egotistical, selfish or uncaring.
These are unfair labels because the person concerned may be unable to understand other people’s emotional states. People with Asperger syndrome are usually surprised when told their actions were hurtful or inappropriate.
Asperger syndrome and sexual codes of conduct
Research into the sexual understanding of people with Asperger syndrome is in its infancy. Studies suggest that individuals with Asperger syndrome are as interested in sex as anyone else, but many struggle with the wide range of complex skills required to successfully have intimate relationships.
People with Asperger syndrome can sometimes appear to have an ‘inappropriate’, ‘immature’ or ‘delayed’ understanding of sexual codes of conduct. The may not understand the boundaries of appropriate sexual behaviour and expression. This can sometimes result in sexually inappropriate behaviour. For example, an adult with Asperger syndrome might not understand the social rule that it is not considered socially appropriate to display sexualised behaviours in a public place.
Even people who are high achieving and academically or vocationally successful can have trouble negotiating the ‘hidden rules’ of courtship.
Issues for partners of people with Asperger syndrome or ASD
Some people with Asperger syndrome can successfully maintain relationships and parent children. However, like most relationships, there are challenges.
A common marital problem is unfair distribution of responsibilities. For example, the partner of a person with Asperger syndrome may be used to doing everything in the relationship when it is just the two of them. However, the partner may need practical and emotional support once children come along, something that the person with Asperger syndrome may not be fully able to provide.
When the partner expresses frustration or becomes upset that they are given no help of any kind, the person with Asperger syndrome is typically baffled. Tension in the relationship often makes their symptoms worse.
An adult’s diagnosis of Asperger syndrome often follows their child’s diagnosis of ASD. This ‘double whammy’ can be extremely distressing to the partner who has to cope simultaneously with both diagnoses. Counselling, or joining a support group where they can talk with other people who face the same challenges, can be helpful.
Some common issues for partners of people with Asperger syndrome include:
feeling overly responsible for their partner
failure to have their own needs met by the relationship
lack of emotional support from family members and friends who do not fully understand or appreciate the extra strains placed on a relationship by Asperger syndrome
a sense of isolation, because the challenges of their relationship are unique and not easily understood by others
frustrations, since problems in the relationship do not seem to improve despite great efforts
doubting the integrity of the relationship, or frequently wondering about whether or not to end the relationship
difficulties in accepting that their partner will not ‘recover’ from Asperger syndrome
after accepting that their partner’s Asperger syndrome cannot be ‘cured’, partners can often experience emotions such as guilt, despair and disappointment.
The workplace and Asperger syndrome
A person with Asperger syndrome may find their job opportunities are limited by their disability. It may help to choose a vocation that takes into account their symptoms and capitalises on their strengths, rather than highlighting their weaknesses.
Career suggestions for visual thinkers
The following career suggestions are adapted from material written by Temple Grandin, who has high-functioning autism and is a professor at Colorado University, USA. Suggestions include:
computer programming
drafting
commercial art
photography
equipment design
mechanic
appliance repair
handcraft artisan
webpage designer
video game designer
building maintenance
building trades.
Career suggestions for those good at mathematics or music
Suggestions include:
accounting
computer programming
engineering
journalist, copy editor
taxi driver
piano (or other musical instrument) tuner
filing positions
statistician
mathematician
bank teller
telemarketing.
A person with Asperger syndrome often experiences difficulties when trying to understand the emotions of other people. Subtle messages that are sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed.
Social skills training, which teaches people with Asperger syndrome how to behave in different social situations, is often considered to be of great value to people with this syndrome.
Common characteristics include difficulty in forming friendships, communication difficulties (such as a tendency to take things literally), and an inability to understand social rules and body language.
Although Asperger syndrome cannot be cured, appropriate intervention and experience can help people to develop skills, use strategies to compensate and help build up coping skills. Social skills training, which teaches people how to behave in different social situations, is often considered to be of great value to those with Asperger syndrome.
Counselling or psychological therapy, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can help people with Asperger syndrome to understand and manage their behavioural responses.
New ASD classification system
A new classification system for autism and Asperger syndrome, introduced in 2013 (in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), gives only one diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This is the result of much research that indicated there was not enough evidence to suggest that the conditions of autism and Asperger syndrome were distinct conditions, so now they all come under the single umbrella term, ASD.
This means that a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome will no longer be given. The preferred term is now ASD, However, there are a number of people who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s in the past, and identify with this diagnosis. They will still be able to refer to their condition as having Asperger’s into the future, despite the fact that it is no longer a formal diagnosis.
Symptoms of Asperger syndrome
More males than females are diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or ASD. While every person who has the condition will experience different symptoms and severity of symptoms, some of the more common characteristics include:
average or above-average intelligence
difficulties with high-level language skills such as verbal reasoning, problem solving, making inferences and predictions
difficulties in empathising with others
problems with understanding another person’s point of view
difficulties engaging in social routines such as conversations and ‘small talk’
problems with controlling feelings such as anger, depression and anxiety
a preference for routines and schedules which can result in stress or anxiety if a routine is disrupted
specialised fields of interest or hobbies.
Emotions of other people
A person with Asperger syndrome may have trouble understanding the emotions of other people, and the subtle messages sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed or misinterpreted. Because of this, people with Asperger syndrome might be mistakenly perceived as being egotistical, selfish or uncaring.
These are unfair labels because the person concerned may be unable to understand other people’s emotional states. People with Asperger syndrome are usually surprised when told their actions were hurtful or inappropriate.
Asperger syndrome and sexual codes of conduct
Research into the sexual understanding of people with Asperger syndrome is in its infancy. Studies suggest that individuals with Asperger syndrome are as interested in sex as anyone else, but many struggle with the wide range of complex skills required to successfully have intimate relationships.
People with Asperger syndrome can sometimes appear to have an ‘inappropriate’, ‘immature’ or ‘delayed’ understanding of sexual codes of conduct. The may not understand the boundaries of appropriate sexual behaviour and expression. This can sometimes result in sexually inappropriate behaviour. For example, an adult with Asperger syndrome might not understand the social rule that it is not considered socially appropriate to display sexualised behaviours in a public place.
Even people who are high achieving and academically or vocationally successful can have trouble negotiating the ‘hidden rules’ of courtship.
Issues for partners of people with Asperger syndrome or ASD
Some people with Asperger syndrome can successfully maintain relationships and parent children. However, like most relationships, there are challenges.
A common marital problem is unfair distribution of responsibilities. For example, the partner of a person with Asperger syndrome may be used to doing everything in the relationship when it is just the two of them. However, the partner may need practical and emotional support once children come along, something that the person with Asperger syndrome may not be fully able to provide.
When the partner expresses frustration or becomes upset that they are given no help of any kind, the person with Asperger syndrome is typically baffled. Tension in the relationship often makes their symptoms worse.
An adult’s diagnosis of Asperger syndrome often follows their child’s diagnosis of ASD. This ‘double whammy’ can be extremely distressing to the partner who has to cope simultaneously with both diagnoses. Counselling, or joining a support group where they can talk with other people who face the same challenges, can be helpful.
Some common issues for partners of people with Asperger syndrome include:
feeling overly responsible for their partner
failure to have their own needs met by the relationship
lack of emotional support from family members and friends who do not fully understand or appreciate the extra strains placed on a relationship by Asperger syndrome
a sense of isolation, because the challenges of their relationship are unique and not easily understood by others
frustrations, since problems in the relationship do not seem to improve despite great efforts
doubting the integrity of the relationship, or frequently wondering about whether or not to end the relationship
difficulties in accepting that their partner will not ‘recover’ from Asperger syndrome
after accepting that their partner’s Asperger syndrome cannot be ‘cured’, partners can often experience emotions such as guilt, despair and disappointment.
The workplace and Asperger syndrome
A person with Asperger syndrome may find their job opportunities are limited by their disability. It may help to choose a vocation that takes into account their symptoms and capitalises on their strengths, rather than highlighting their weaknesses.
Career suggestions for visual thinkers
The following career suggestions are adapted from material written by Temple Grandin, who has high-functioning autism and is a professor at Colorado University, USA. Suggestions include:
computer programming
drafting
commercial art
photography
equipment design
mechanic
appliance repair
handcraft artisan
webpage designer
video game designer
building maintenance
building trades.
Career suggestions for those good at mathematics or music
Suggestions include:
accounting
computer programming
engineering
journalist, copy editor
taxi driver
piano (or other musical instrument) tuner
filing positions
statistician
mathematician
bank teller
telemarketing.
A person with Asperger syndrome often experiences difficulties when trying to understand the emotions of other people. Subtle messages that are sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed.
Social skills training, which teaches people with Asperger syndrome how to behave in different social situations, is often considered to be of great value to people with this syndrome.
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