Wonder why the fellow you’re trying to make conversation with doesn’t meet you eye to eye. Ever worried that the good-looking fellow you would like to know better seems to give everyone the cold shoulder even when folks are friendly.
Turns out the individual may have
Asperger's syndrome. A recent scientific study reveals how these individuals may be diagnosed and treated during adulthood that may help individuals and families understand why certain people respond the way they do.
Not all autistics are diagnosed in childhood. In fact there are high-functioning individuals who have Aspergers syndrome who may go undiagnosed throughout a lifetime. There are ways, however, of finding out about this so that people can begin to understand that some people may not be able to change in easy, predictable ways.
What causes Asperger’s syndrome is being discussed and studied widely. The most prevalent hypothesis is that it is genetically caused. To make the diagnosis, however, a series of tests of social ability function, fluctuations in attention, ability to determine detail and attend, communication and fantasy can be administered.
Another diagnostic procedure is to do an inventory of the individual’s background. This would include asking parents and brothers and sisters, or other members of a household, about any unusual or different characteristics that they have noticed in the person about whom there is concern. There are certain behavioral patterns associated with Aspergers that include monotonous facial expressions and intonation, even in the context of sophisticated conversation. Often direct eye contact is avoided. A joke or smile doesn’t get the predicted response. In addition the person may not feel empathetic towards others.
Those with Asperger’s syndrome often are loners and can appear aloof or egotistical. They may focus on private or professional targets, but not those involving close relationships. Medical personnel recommend drug treatment and psychotherapy for severe cases. Some people speculated that
John Travolta's son, Jett, had this disorder, however there are strong denials from the parents and others that he did not.
Asperger's is considered a
mild version of autism.
It is within the larger category of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The term comes from the Austrian doctor Hans Asperger who first diagnosed the syndrome. In childhood the individual is often socially isolated and may be considered eccentric by others. Clumsiness with either speech or motor skills or both may be observed. The person may have very specific interests in one thing like cars, trains or collections and not be interested in more age-appropriate activities.
People with Asperger’s syndrome can make high achievements in life in spite of their differences. Some who have been listed among the
more famous include the following :
• Dan Aykroyd, comedian and actor: Aykroyd stated he has Asperger's, but some feel he was joking. [11]
• Richard Borcherds, mathematician specializing in group theory and Lie algebras [12]
• William Cottrell, student who was sentenced to eight years in jail for fire-bombing SUV dealerships [13]
• Craig Nicholls, frontman of the band The Vines [14]
• Gary Numan, British singer and songwriter [15]
• Dawn Prince-Hughes, PhD, primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author of Songs for the Gorilla Nation [16]
• Judy Singer, Australian disability rights activist [17]
• Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Laureate in Economics [18]
The new information about diagnosis and treatment of individuals with Asperger's syndrome can be helpful to many people. It also explains why that cute guy doesn’t respond to the good-looking gal who winks and flirts and why she just might have to take up economics or song-writing to get his attention.
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