Recognizing Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome in Children

Children are generally active and able to interact with the surrounding environment. You should be vigilant if your child tends to be passive and difficult to interact with the environment, it could be that he has Asperger's syndrome. Children with Asperger's syndrome generally experience disturbances in these three areas: social interaction, behavior that repeats certain activities, as well as a rigid mindset and focused on routines and regulations. In general, this syndrome is first diagnosed in children aged 2-6 years. Boys are generally four times more at risk of developing Asperger's syndrome than girls.

Does Your Child Suffer Asperger's Syndrome?

Symptoms of Asperger's syndrome generally vary according to severity. Even so, there are some common symptoms that can be recognized to help you detect the presence or absence of these abnormalities in children. Symptoms include:

• Social disorder

A child who has a social disorder generally feels difficulty interacting with others, and difficulty establishing so that the child becomes less able to show empathy. He is also reluctant to look into the eyes of his interlocutors, difficulty understanding other people's body language, and difficult to express feelings through body movements and expressions.

• Behavioral disorders

Children who experience Asperger's syndrome often repeat an unnatural behavior many times, such as playing fingers or wringing hands. In addition, he also has habits such as wearing clothes in a different order from people in general. Therefore, he also does not like changes in daily routine.

• Language Disorders

Children with Asperger's syndrome usually have difficulty understanding the context in language in a social environment, speak in a tone, accent and flat expression, speak repeatedly, speak in a loud, formal and rigid voice like a robot. Children with this syndrome generally have a broad vocabulary, but can not use it properly.

• Physical impairment

People with Asperger's syndrome can experience coordination coordination so that they often look awkward, more sensitive or sensitive to stimuli, such as loud sounds, textures, light, slow development of motor skills, such as being late with a spoon, difficulty catching the ball, or unable to ride a bicycle .

Apart from all the symptoms that tend to be negative, sufferers of Asperger's syndrome are generally very talented in certain fields, such as mathematics or music. Although similar to autism, but children with Asperger's syndrome can usually move in a better way than children with autism. In some cases, sufferers of this syndrome do not experience interference in cognitive abilities or language. Some of them can even have normal and above average intelligence so that they can learn with other children in ordinary classes and can work like normal people, despite having disabilities in communicating with others.

Still Can Live Normal

If a child is suspected of having Asperger's syndrome, the doctor will conduct an evaluation of studying the history, doing a physical examination, doing a neurological examination (nerve), and maybe doing a CT scan accompanied by a blood test. It is possible that doctors will also ask for time to discuss with parents, relatives and teachers. Although there is no cure for Asperger's Syndrome, there are a series of therapies that can be done to improve the quality of life of sufferers. Some therapies that can be undertaken include:

• Behavior modification therapy

Behavior modification therapy is needed to support positive behavior and children's ability to communicate, while reducing negative behavior.

• Social ability therapy

Needed to teach how to interact with others and build social relationships properly.

• Speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy

These three therapies are carried out to improve children's functional abilities in communicating and undergoing activities.

• Special Education

To meet the needs of every child with Asperger's syndrome and teach it social skills.

• Drugs

Medication may be needed to deal with the specific symptoms of this syndrome, such as hyperactivity, depression, fatigue, and obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Until now, the cause of Asperger's syndrome is not known with certainty. However, there are a number of things that are thought to be the cause, including genetic factors, the influence of environmental factors such as viral infections and chemicals, or due to abnormalities in the brain. Asperger's Syndrome cannot be prevented and there is no drug that can cure it. Even so, early diagnosis and treatment can help people with Asperger's syndrome to improve their quality of life as they age. Check your child to the doctor if he experiences signs of Asperger's syndrome. With proper treatment, children with Asperger's Syndrome can live independently as adults, although they may need to struggle to establish normal social interactions.