Asperger’s syndrome is a pervasive development disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction. This article gives an overview about the procedures and techniques used in its treatment.
Asperger’s syndrome is classified as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or pervasive development disorder (PDD). Those who are affected by this condition have impaired social skills. They exhibit restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Unlike an autistic person, the person with Asperger’s has normal intelligence, and some degree of language development. According to most experts, the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, drug therapy, language therapy, social skills training, and support of parents and teachers can help the affected children and adults function normally in social situations.
Treatment
The symptoms appear by the age of 3 in children and parents are most likely to be the first ones to notice them. The main goal of the treatment is to address and resolve the characteristic symptoms of this disorder. Although, the condition cannot be cured, proper medical intervention helps many children to grow into normal adults. The main aim of the treatment is to help the affected individuals improve communication skills, avoid routines that are obsessive or repetitive, and get a hold on physical clumsiness and other occupational issues.
The different treatment procedures include:
- Training for improving and grooming communication and social skills. The affected children are provided with specialized routines that help them learn the basic aspects of socialization and communication in an explicit manner with the help of memorizing techniques. The training is structured such that it helps them speak in a normal rhythm. It also helps them make proper use of eye contact and voice tone. Efforts are made to help them understand humor and sarcasm.
- Another treatment method is to work on the behavioral aspects of the patients. It is a therapy that educates them, about how to cope with situations that may cause stress. These are the situations that require social interaction. The therapist helps the children learn specific strategies to cope with all such situations.
- Speech, physical, and occupational therapy helps address the problem of verbal and non-verbal communication.
In some cases, the treatment may involve the use of certain drugs to reduce the anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hyperactivity, irritability, inattention, and agitation.
Though social interaction and personal relationships pose a problem in the affected individuals, early medical intervention can prove beneficial. Since the level of intelligence of those affected by this condition is generally above average, many of them are able to function very well.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
