Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by:
- clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements
- limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities
- peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally
- problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze
- repetitive routines or rituals
- socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully with peers
Aspergers is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior.
Other ASDs include:
- childhood disintegrative disorder
- classic autism
- pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS)
- Rett syndrome
Moms and dads usually sense there is something unusual about a youngster with Aspergers by the time of his or her third birthday, and some kids may exhibit symptoms as early as infancy. Unlike kids with autism, kids with Aspergers retain their early language skills. Motor development delays – crawling or walking late, clumsiness – are sometimes the first indicator of the disorder.
The incidence of Aspergers is not well established, but experts in population studies conservatively estimate that two out of every 10,000 kids have the disorder. Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to have Aspergers.
Studies of kids with Aspergers suggest that their problems with socialization and communication continue into adulthood. Some of these kids develop additional psychiatric symptoms and disorders in adolescence and adulthood.
Although diagnosed mainly in kids, Aspergers is being increasingly diagnosed in adults who seek medical help for mental health conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No studies have yet been conducted to determine the incidence of Aspergers in adult populations.
Why is it called Aspergers?
In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger observed four kids in his practice who had difficulty integrating socially. Although their intelligence appeared normal, the kids lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Their way of speaking was either disjointed or overly formal, and their all-absorbing interest in a single topic dominated their conversations. Dr. Asperger called the condition “autistic psychopathy” and described it as a personality disorder primarily marked by social isolation.
Asperger’s observations, published in German, were not widely known until 1981, when an English doctor named Lorna Wing published a series of case studies of kids showing similar symptoms, which she called “Asperger’s” syndrome. Wing’s writings were widely published and popularized. Aspergers became a distinct disease and diagnosis in 1992, when it was included in the tenth published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and in 1994 it was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic reference book.
What are some common signs or symptoms?
The most distinguishing symptom of Aspergers is a youngster’s obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other. Some kids with Aspergers have become experts on vacuum cleaners, makes and models of cars, even objects as odd as deep fat fryers. Kids with Aspergers want to know everything about their topic of interest and their conversations with others will be about little else. Their expertise, high level of vocabulary, and formal speech patterns make them seem like little professors.
Kids with Aspergers will gather enormous amounts of factual information about their favorite subject and will talk incessantly about it, but the conversation may seem like a random collection of facts or statistics, with no point or conclusion.
Their speech may be marked by a lack of rhythm, an odd inflection, or a monotone pitch. Kids with Aspergers often lack the ability to modulate the volume of their voice to match their surroundings. For example, they will have to be reminded to talk softly every time they enter a library or a movie theater.
Unlike the severe withdrawal from the rest of the world that is characteristic of autism, kids with Aspergers are isolated because of their poor social skills and narrow interests. In fact, they may approach other people, but make normal conversation impossible by inappropriate or eccentric behavior, or by wanting only to talk about their singular interest.
Kids with Aspergers usually have a history of developmental delays in motor skills such as pedaling a bike, catching a ball, or climbing outdoor play equipment. They are often awkward and poorly coordinated with a walk that can appear either stilted or bouncy.
Many kids with Aspergers are highly active in early childhood, and then develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Other conditions that often co-exist with Aspergers are ADHD, tic disorders (such as Tourette syndrome), depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD.
What causes Aspergers? Is it genetic?
Current research points to brain abnormalities as the cause of Aspergers. Using advanced brain imaging techniques, scientists have revealed structural and functional differences in specific regions of the brains of normal versus Aspergers kids. These defects are most likely caused by the abnormal migration of embryonic cells during fetal development that affects brain structure and “wiring” and then goes on to affect the neural circuits that control thought and behavior.
For example, one study found a reduction of brain activity in the frontal lobe of Aspergers kids when they were asked to respond to tasks that required them to use their judgment. Another study found differences in activity when kids were asked to respond to facial expressions. A different study investigating brain function in adults with Aspergers revealed abnormal levels of specific proteins that correlate with obsessive and repetitive behaviors.
Scientists have always known that there had to be a genetic component to Aspergers and the other ASDs because of their tendency to run in families. Additional evidence for the link between inherited genetic mutations and Aspergers was observed in the higher incidence of family members who have behavioral symptoms similar to Aspergers but in a more limited form. For example, they had slight difficulties with social interaction, language, or reading.
A specific gene for Aspergers, however, has never been identified. Instead, the most recent research indicates that there are most likely a common group of genes whose variations or deletions make an individual vulnerable to developing Aspergers. This combination of genetic variations or deletions will determine the severity and symptoms for each individual with Aspergers.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Aspergers is complicated by the lack of a standardized diagnostic screen or schedule. In fact, because there are several screening instruments in current use, each with different criteria, the same youngster could receive different diagnoses, depending on the screening tool the doctor uses.
To further complicate the issue, some doctors believe that Aspergers is not a separate and distinct disorder. Instead, they call it High-Functioning Autism (HFA), and view it as being on the mild end of the ASD spectrum with symptoms that differ -- only in degree -- from classic autism. Some clinicians use the two diagnoses, Aspergers or HFA, interchangeably. This makes gathering data about the incidence of Aspergers difficult, since some kids will be diagnosed with HFA instead of Aspergers, and vice versa.
Most doctors rely on the presence of a core group of behaviors to alert them to the possibility of a diagnosis of Aspergers. These are:
- a lack of interactive play
- a lack of interest in peers
- abnormal eye contact
- aloofness
- the failure to turn when called by name
- the failure to use gestures to point or show
Some of these behaviors may be apparent in the first few months of a youngster’s life, or they may appear later. Problems in at least one of the areas of communication and socialization or repetitive, restricted behavior must be present before the age of 3.
The diagnosis of Aspergers is a two-stage process. The first stage begins with developmental screening during a “well-child” check-up with a family doctor or pediatrician. The second stage is a comprehensive team evaluation to either rule in or rule out Aspergers. This team generally includes a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and additional professionals who have expertise in diagnosing kids with Aspergers.
The comprehensive evaluation includes neurologic and genetic assessment, with in-depth cognitive and language testing to establish IQ and evaluate psychomotor function, verbal and non-verbal strengths and weaknesses, style of learning, and independent living skills. An assessment of communication strengths and weaknesses includes evaluating non-verbal forms of communication (gaze and gestures); the use of non-literal language (metaphor, irony, absurdities, and humor); patterns of inflection, stress and volume modulation; pragmatics (turn-taking and sensitivity to verbal cues); and the content, clarity, and coherence of conversation. The physician will look at the testing results and combine them with the youngster’s developmental history and current symptoms to make a diagnosis.
Are there treatments available?
The ideal treatment for Aspergers coordinates therapies that address the three core symptoms of the disorder: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. There is no single best treatment package for all kids with Aspergers, but most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
An effective treatment program builds on the youngster’s interests, offers a predictable schedule, teaches tasks as a series of simple steps, actively engages the youngster’s attention in highly structured activities, and provides regular reinforcement of behavior. This kind of program generally includes:
- cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of “talk” therapy that can help the more explosive or anxious kids to manage their emotions better and cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines
- medication, for co-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety
- occupational or physical therapy, for kids with sensory integration problems or poor motor coordination
- parent training and support, to teach moms & dads behavioral techniques to use at home
- social skills training, a form of group therapy that teaches kids with Aspergers the skills they need to interact more successfully with other kids
- specialized speech/language therapy, to help kids who have trouble with the pragmatics of speech – the give and take of normal conversation
Do kids with Aspergers get better? What happens when they become adults?
With effective treatment, kids with Aspergers can learn to cope with their disabilities, but they may still find social situations and personal relationships challenging. Many adults with Aspergers are able to work successfully in mainstream jobs, although they may continue to need encouragement and moral support to maintain an independent life.
What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of the federal government’s leading supporters of biomedical research on brain and nervous system disorders. The NINDS conducts research in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, and awards grants to support research at universities and other facilities. Many of the Institutes at the NIH, including the NINDS, are sponsoring research to understand what causes Aspergers and how it can be effectively treated.
One study is using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show how abnormalities in particular areas of the brain cause changes in brain function that result in the symptoms of Aspergers and other ASDs. Another large-scale study is comparing neuropsychological and psychiatric assessments of kids with possible diagnoses of Aspergers or HFA to those of their moms & dads and siblings to see if there are patterns of symptoms that link Aspergers and HFA to specific neuropsychological profiles.
NINDS is also supporting a long-range international study that brings together investigators to collect and analyze DNA samples from kids with Aspergers and HFA, as well as their families, to identify associated genes and how they interact. Called the Autism Genome Project, it’s a consortium of scientists from universities, academic centers, and institutions around the world that functions as a repository for genetic data so that researchers can look for the genetic “building blocks” of Aspergers and the other ASDs.
Since there are so many different forms of ASD, understanding the genetic basis of each opens the door to opportunities for more precise diagnosis and treatment. Knowing the genetic profile of a particular disorder could mean early identification of those at risk, and early intervention when treatments and therapies are likely to be the most successful.
Resources for parents of children and teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism:
==> Preventing Meltdowns and Tantrums in Asperger's Children
==> Discipline for Defiant Asperger's Teens
==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management
==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's: How to Promote Self-Reliance
==> Everything You'll Ever Need to Know About Parenting Asperger's Children
==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism
==> AudioBook: Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger’s and High-Functioning Autism
