Asperger’s syndrome, also known as Asperger disorder, is a type of autism. It is a permanent impairment that affects how a person processes information from the outside world and interacts with others. Because of the number of ways in which it affects others, autism is often referred to as a “spectrum disorder.” Asperger’s syndrome is one of the pieces of the puzzle.
Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome also have average or above-normal intelligence and language development, but they often exhibit autistic-like tendencies and significant deficits in social and communication skills. Hans Asperger, a Viennese psychiatrist, named the condition after publishing a paper explaining a pattern of behaviours in 1944. Despite the publication, the condition was not applied to the DSM-IV until 1994, and it has only recently been recognised by practitioners and parents.
Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome have a normal IQ and possibly extraordinary ability or talent in a particular field. These people are often regarded as eccentric and are frequently the targets of ridicule and bullying. Their language learning seems average on the surface, but they frequently have pragmatic deficits. This indicates that they have trouble comprehending the intended sense of speech.
People with Asperger’s syndrome were once thought to have a secret disability. This suggested that an outsider would not understand their situation unless they might work in society. They do, however, struggle with social contact, social interaction, and social imagination. If they don’t have the learning disorders associated with autism, they may have dyslexia, dyspraxia, or ADHD.
Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome have trouble expressing themselves emotionally and socially, as well as interpreting facial gestures and differentiating tone of voice. They struggle with knowing when to start and end a conversation, as well as how to use complicated terms and phrases. Individuals always want to be social but fail to initiate social relationships and can struggle to form and sustain friendships. Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome do not understand social norms, which most people learn without thought at a young age. They perceive others to be unpredictable and perplexing, and as a result, they can withdraw and appear uninterested in others.
While people can be extremely innovative and inventive as accomplished authors, artists, and musicians, they can also struggle with social imagination. This means they have difficulty predicting the results of events or interpreting other people’s thoughts or feelings conveyed by facial expressions and body language.
Other similar characteristics include finding comfort in routines and having an extreme, if not obsessive, interest in a particular hobby or set. Some people experience sensory problems, which can affect one or more of their senses. The degree of complexity varies from person to person, but the most common way is a feeling that is either overdeveloped or underdeveloped. Bright lights or noisy sounds, for example, can cause anxiety or pain in someone with Asperger’s syndrome.
Researchers discovered structural and functional variations in particular regions of the brain using sophisticated brain imaging techniques. These variations are most likely the result of irregular embryonic cell migration during development when the child is still in the womb. A number of studies have found variations in brain function when Asperger’s syndrome children are asked to respond to particular tasks. While researchers believe there is a genetic component since Asperger syndrome tends to run in families, further evidence is required to establish a connection between genetic mutations and Asperger’s syndrome.