Asperger’s Syndrome Lora Anderson

What is Asperger’s Syndrome? A neurological disorder It is on the “high end” of the Autism spectrum

Characteristics Symptoms range from mild to severe Severe and sustained impairment in social interactions Development of restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities Difficulty with transitions and changes

More Characteristics Difficulty reading body language Normal IQ (>70) Rich vocabulary Very literal Overly sensitive to: smells sights sounds tastes

Asperger’s Syndrome is NOT Autism! No significant delays in language No delays in cognitive development Can develop age-appropriate self-help skills

Prevalence Limited information available, possibly 20 per 10,000 live births 3-4 times more likely in males 5 times more common than Down Syndrome 3 times more common than Juvenile Diabetes

Diagnosis Usually diagnosed between ages 5-9 Appears to run in families Lifelong disorder

Commonly misdiagnosed Tourette’s Syndrome Autism Attention Deficit Disorder Oppositional Defiance Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Common Treatments St. John’s Wort Tea Haldol Ritalin Vitamins

Common Therapies Anti-yeast therapy Auditory training Lovaas Method (behavior modification) TEACCH (behavior management system) Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy

How do I communicate with this student? Be concrete and specific Go SLOW Model tasks for student Break tasks down into smaller steps Provide accurate info about changes Specifically engage student’s attention

Provide social supports Protect child from teasing and bullying Praise classmates for appropriate interactions Let the student share his knowledge Use the “buddy system” Utilize social stories to get through difficult situations Concentrate on changing inappropriate behaviors (not odd ones)

What kind of environment should I provide? Must be predictable and safe Minimal transitions Remove student from stressful situations if necessary Provide personal space for relaxation or sensory integration exercises

How can I help this student with his behavior? Use timer or other visual cues Give student choices (not too many: 2-3) Provide immediate, concrete reinforcement Do not discipline because of behaviors related to Asperger’s

Always remember: Be positive Be creative Be flexible

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