Asperger

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Aspergers Syndrome
An Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Frances Lin
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Definition

• Aspergers syndrome is a type of autism
  spectrum disorder.
• It affects how the person interacts with others.
  When people with
• Aspergers syndrome interact with others, they
  may be awkward and
• only show interest in certain topics. However,
  Aspergers syndrome
• does not affect outward appearance.

People with Aspergers dont look any different
from us. Look at these people. Can you guess
which one has Aspergers?
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Symptoms

• Uncoordinated and clumsy
• Lengthy, one sided conversations. Doesnt notice
  whether people are listening or changing the
  subject
• Speaks in a monotone without facial or hand
  gestures.
• Certain obsessions (examples maps, baseball
  statistics, snakes, weather, train schedules)
• Does not relate to others emotions
• Is not making friends, especially with people of
  the same age
• Repetitive, ritualistic motions with body parts
  and objects
• Sensitive to things others dont notice like
  light, sound, and fabric type

People with Aspergers syndrome have certain
obsessions. This boy is fascinated by molecule
structure.
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Causes

• There is no clear cause of Aspergers syndrome.
  All we can do is guess at what might contribute
  to the condition. Scientists think it might have
  something to do with inheritance or genetic
  changes. It could also be related to changes in
  the structure of the brain. Lastly, experts think
  that Aspergers syndrome may be a result of other
  disorders in mental health, such as bipolar
  disorder or depression.
• Aspergers is mainly a disorder of the nervous
  system. People with Aspergers syndrome are
  uncoordinated, overly sensitive, and think
  emotionally differently than most people. The
  brain controls all of these things, so clearly
  the brain is strongly affected by Aspergers
  syndrome.

Aspergers syndrome affects the central nervous
system because the brain is unable to maintain
proper control over the body.
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Prevention and transmission

• Unfortunately, nobody has discovered a way to
  prevent Aspergers syndrome. The best thing to do
  is just get it diagnosed early, as well as
  getting help. While this wont stop Aspergers
  syndrome, it might prevent later problems in
  behavior and emotions. Also, for parents and
  doctors, it is important to make sure the fetus
  gets enough oxygen during birth.
• The good thing about Aspergers syndrome is
  that it does not spread. Therefore, interaction
  with people, especially children with Aspergers
  should be encouraged.

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epidemiology

• There is not much known about the origins of
  Aspergers syndrome, but more and more people are
  beginning to research it. The disability is named
  for an Austrian researcher named Hans Asperger.
  After researching the disorder extensively, he
  opened a school for kids with Aspergers syndrome
  in the 1940s. Sadly, the school was eventually
  bombed. However, his work led the way for more
  research to be done.
• Aspergers syndrome is not a very common
  disorder. Only 2-6 people in every 1,000 have it.
  Roughly 400,000 families have been affected.
  Strangely, the disability is mostly found in
  boys. In fact, boys have it 3-4 times more than
  girls. Nobody knows why.
• Things are getting better for people with
  Aspergers. Because they have trouble socially,
  they are often bullied, but now that it has been
  researched more, less people with the disorder
  are getting picked on.

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Treatments

• Aspergers cannot be fully treated. However,
  there are some things to help people cope. Some
  ideas are
• Training for communication and social skills
• Therapy for behavior and mind
• Medications including
• Aripiprazole- for irritation
• Guanfacine- attention span
• SSRIs- treats depression and repeating behavior
• Risperidone-short temperedness
• Olanzapine and naltrexone- reduce repetition
• All these medications have side effects like
  weight gain, increased blood sugar, getting
  drowsy, headaches, and increased cholesterol.

Kids with Aspergers syndrome may need to take
lots of medicine to help them keep up with others.
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References

• Accepting Asperger's Syndrome This Is a Crash
  Course to Accepting Your Asperger's! Web. 15 May
  2011. lthttp//aspiefrommaine.webs.com/growingupwit
  has.htmgt.
• Angelfire Welcome to Angelfire. Web. 15 May
  2011. lthttp//www.angelfire.com/amiga/aut/asperist
  ory.htmlgt.
• "Asperger Syndrome." KidsHealth - the Web's Most
  Visited Site about Children's Health. Kids
  Health. Web. 15 May 2011. lthttp//kidshealth.org/p
  arent/medical/brain/asperger.htmlgt.
• "Asperger Syndrome." Wikipedia, the Free
  Encyclopedia. Web. 15 May 2011.
  lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndromegt.
• "Asperger's Disorder - Children, Causes, DSM,
  Functioning, Therapy, Adults, Person, People."
  Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Mind Disorders.
  Web. 15 May 2011. lthttp//www.minddisorders.com/A-
  Br/Asperger-s-disorder.htmlgt.
• "Asperger's Syndrome - Prognosis - Prevention -
  Healthcommunities.com, Inc." Medical Information
  Websites and Medical Web Design for Doctors -
  Healthcommunities.com - Healthcommunities.com,
  Inc. Neurology Channel. Web. 15 May 2011.
  lthttp//www.healthcommunities.com/aspergers-syndro
  me/prognosis-prevention.shtmlgt.
• Klin, Ami. "History of Aspergers Disorder
  Psych Central." Psych Central - Trusted Mental
  Health, Depression, Bipolar, ADHD and Psychology
  Information. Psych Central. Web. 15 May 2011.
  lthttp//psychcentral.com/lib/2007/history-of-asper
  gers-disorder/gt.
• Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Asperger's Syndrome -
  MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. Web.
  15 May 2011. lthttp//www.mayoclinic.com/health/asp
  ergers-syndrome/DS00551gt.