Asperger’s
Disorder
“Asperger’s
Disorder is the most controversial of the new PDD (pervasive developmental
disorder) subtypes. The disorder
is characterized by gross and sustained impairment in social interaction of
the type that usually occurs in Autism. Essential
features include impaired interaction combined with restrictive, repetitive,
and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities.
What distinguishes it from Autistic Disorder is chiefly the lack of a
clinically significant delay in cognitive development.
During the first 3 years of life, unlike autism, few clinically
significant delays in language or cognitive development are apparent and
self-help and adaptive behaviors often appear normal.
Restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and
activities are present, and are often the most marked manifestation of the
disorder. Isolated special skills, usually related to the abnormal
preoccupation, may be present. Motor
milestones may be delayed and motor clumsiness may also occur.
A differential diagnosis from Schizoid Personality Disorder or
Schizotypal Disorder may be difficult and is not well-addressed in DSM IV
(Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition).”
Autism
Spectrum/Asperger’s Disorder Notations
- Asperger’s
and Autism occur almost exclusively in males – I am unsure of the exact
ratio of male to female diagnoses.
- Many
of these clients are rule-governed and respond well to behavior
modification and consistent environments.
- Some
of them are so sensitive to environmental alterations that changing a
toothpaste brand without notifying them can elicit a psychotic
- Many
of them have a love of ordinal numbers, sequence, patterns,
puzzles…again, rule-governed: the kids I’ve known love cards, chess,
checkers, the weather, math, insects, clocks, reading, foreign languages,
music, architecture, etc.
- Many
of them have absolutely no idea how to read a fellow human being’s
emotional state from their face, body language, or voice tone.
This often makes them appear cold and machine-like, but it’s just
not in their nature – as the caretaker for the Rainman said of
Raymond, “I don’t think people are his first priority”.
For many of them, we are objects they must negotiate like doors and
windows - and they often do not exhibit the “pack animal” need to
belong. Indeed, many just
wish you’d leave them alone so they can continue playing chess or
building web pages.
- When
you meet a couple of these amazing people it becomes easy to generalize
the behaviors and diagnostic criteria to every person with Asperger’s or
Autism. But they are all as
different as you and I. Some
like to be touched, some will attack if you touch them.
Some like eye contact, some cannot take its intensity.
Some are behavioral, some are manipulative, some never talk, some
won’t ever stop talking. Some
will never acknowledge you, some will miss you when you’re not there.
These are individuals – they are just generally truer to their
kind than we are .
- For
all the “Hollywood” glamour the movies present, they forget to
highlight that these people are not rock stars – they are highly
disabled individuals with pervasive social problems.
Many cannot ever live independently for this reason, no matter how
good they are at math.
The information was taken directly from the “DSM IV
Training Guide for Childhood Disorders” by Judith L. Rapoport, M.D. and
Deborah R. Ismond, M.A. (copyright 1996), pages 94, 95, and 96:
Questions Email Us
Mental Health Association of Augusta
This site was created by
Questions or comments about this site
Contact Me