Asperger syndrome
Alternate Names : Pervasive developmental disorder - Asperger syndrome
Symptoms & Signs
People with Asperger have problems with language in a social setting. - It may be difficult to choose a topic of conversation, their body language may be off, and it may be difficult for them to recognize that the other person has lost interest in the topic.
- They may speak in a monotone, and may not respond to other people's comments or emotions.
- They may have difficulty understanding sarcasm or humor.
Other symptoms may include: - Problems with eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, or gestures (nonverbal communication)
- Singled out by other children as "weird" or "strange"
- Difficulty developing relationships with children their own age
- Inability to respond emotionally in normal social interactions
- Not flexible about routines or rituals
- Lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people
- Do not express pleasure at other people's happiness
- Preoccupied with parts of whole objects
- Repetitive behaviors, including repetitive behavior that injures themselves
- Repetitive finger flapping, twisting, or whole body movements
- Unusually intense preoccupation with narrow areas of interest, such as obsession with train schedules, phone books, or collections of objects
Diagnosis & Tests
Physical, emotional, and mental tests are usually done to rule out other causes.
|