Asperger syndrome, also called Asperger’s, is an autism spectrum disease that, unfortunately, cannot be cured. However, there are treatment options that can help improve the behavior and over-all personality of the sufferer to some extent.
Asperger syndrome is a permeant developmental disorder. It is a group of neurological conditions identified by the degree of disablement in language and interpersonal skills. It is also characterized by repetitive patterns of thinking and behavior. As per studies, it is found in two out of every ten thousand individuals. Boys are at a higher risk of suffering from asperger’s syndrome in comparison to girls.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of asperger’s becomes noticeable when the patient is 2 to 3 years old. There have also been a small number of cases reported to have shown the characteristics of this disease since infancy. One most important signs is unusual interest with a particular subject to the riddance of other activities. The patient expresses certain distinctiveness in speech and language. He/she may speak in an excessively formal or monotonous manner. He/she may show repetitive routines of rituals and inability to interact successfully with compeers. Another common symptom is awkward and uncoordinated motor movements along with problematic non-verbal communication. The latter may include limited use of gestures, a particular stiff gaze, and inappropriate facial expressions.
Therapy
Therapy begins with the diagnosis of a peculiar group of behavior. They include abnormal eye contact, a lack of interest in compeers, a lack of interactive play, aloofness, failure to use gestures to point or indicate, and the failure to respond when their name is called. The medical diagnosis is a two-stage process. The first stage involves developmental screening of the child by a pediatrician. The second stage is an intensive evaluation to identify Asperger’s. It is conducted by a team of medical professionals that include a psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, speech therapist, and other experts who are adept in detecting the disease.
There is no treatment for the core symptoms. However, the over-all attributes of the patient can be improved with therapy, which is basically a psychological intervention focusing on communication skills and behavior management. A patient does not understand the unwritten principles of socialization and communication. Efforts are made by the specialists to teach him/her social skills in an expressive and rote fashion. The patient is also taught to speak in a more natural way and effectively use gestures, tone of voice, eye contact, humor, and sarcasm. The patient is also instructed to identify troublesome situations such as increased social demands on a special occasion and then choose a special strategy to deal with the situation. This is called cognitive behavior therapy. There are no medicines or drugs to cure Asperger’s. But the help of medication can be taken if the patient shows mental complications like anxiety, hyperactivity, or depression. The therapy also involves parent training and support. The parents and family members of the patient are taught various behavioral techniques that need to be used at home with the patient.
The patient gets better, to some extent, after receiving therapy. With proper treatment and training, the patient is able to cope with his/her disability. However, he/she may continue finding social situations and maintaining interpersonal relationships quite challenging and difficult. According to common observation, the patients are able to work successfully in mainstream jobs, but they need continuous support and promotion to lead an independent life.
