Asperger's Syndrome -- An Overview
On April 5, 2007, ABC News ran a nice introductory article about Asperger's syndrome that I believe offers a good overview of the topic. The article,
Asperger's Syndrome: Separating Myth From Reality, includes this brief description of the condition:
In short, the syndrome is a developmental disorder most often characterized by certain social deficiencies or "quirks." This often includes an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject, repetitive routines or rituals, peculiar speech patterns, and other behaviors that may make interacting with peers difficult.
"Basically, you get an individual who might have a real restricted repertoire of things they are interested in," Roane said, adding that those with Asperger's may attempt to engage in conversations with others that focus only on their particular area of interest to the exclusion of all other topics.
However, what separates this disorder from many [autism spectrum disorders] is the fact that in most cases, those with Asperger's have normal, or even above normal, intelligence.
The rest of the article goes on to discuss ways Asperger's is diagnosed, common misconceptions about the condition, and provides a look at future directions for research.
Treatment for Kids with Asperger's Syndrome
The article was interesting to me because of our newly released book, School Success for Kid With Asperger's Syndrome by Stephan M. Silverman, Ph.D., and Rich Weinfeld. The most important feature of this book is its focus on interventions that help kids who have the disorder. With their wide ranging background in psychology and exceptional education, the authors have written a book that focuses on practical, effective ways that parents and teachers can help kids with Apsperger's syndrome.