Aspberger’s Syndrome: The Mystery of a Disorder

Called Aspberger’s Syndrome it is like high-functioning autism only without the high intelligence factor among other elements.

Todd’s brother Lloyd is the exact opposite – much like Bart Simpson, highly intelligent, creative, and outgoing.

Todd, on the other hand, when once lost at an amusement park and separated from his family, denied being lost at all.

Another time when Todd’s step-grandpa was having health problems and Lloyd expressed concern over possibly losing him, Todd piped up and said, “I lost a tooth once!”

Aspberger’s is characterized by a significant impairment in social interaction as manifested by the following:

Marked impairments in the use of nonverbal behavior regarding eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate interaction;

Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental stage;

Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people;

Lack of social and emotional reciprocity;

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities as manifested by encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity, focus or inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines, or stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerism like hand or finger twisting or complex whole-body movements and persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

“I can put him in time-out and it doesn’t faze him,” said Stephanie.

One time Todd’s cousin Katie was trying to work with him on colors and when asked what they were working on Todd gave an answer that didn’t match the activity.

The disturbance causes clinically significantly impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Todd gets in fights at school a lot and has behavior problems involving teachers as well. It doesn’t matter how many times he’s disciplined. He continues to return to the conduct.

There is no delay in language with kids who have this problem according to stats or delay in cognitive development. They just seem to see things differently.

Linda, mother of a son who has Aspberger’s, said her son was five when he was potty-trained.

Sandy has a 14-year-old daughter with Aspberger’s who is in a Special Ed Class with other kids who have behavior problems. Sandy said she wonders what her daughter will be like when she’s in high school.

One mom said Aspberger’s isn’t a learning disability despite what some think. Her son was diagnosed with the disorder when he was seven.

Jo, mother of a 13-year-old with Aspberger’s, said her son’s propensity to violence when playing with his friends has limited his circle of friends.

One sign that a child has Aspberger’s which can be spotted as young as 2 Ã?½ is that they will not imitate what they see like toddlers who have normal developmental levels.