Asperger Syndrome (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder that is widely described as a mild form of autism. People with ASD tend to have many of the social and sensory issues of those with more severe forms of autistic disorder but have average to above average IQs and vocabularies. They often have trouble picking up on subtle forms of communication like body language, humor, and sarcasm.
Find below some common signs of Asperger Syndrome (ASD):
- difficulty making friends of the same age, children with ASD may feel more comfortable with adults or much younger children
- engages in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is still listening or trying to change the subject
- displays unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures
- does not empathize with or seems insensitive to others’ feelings and has a hard time “reading” other people or may have difficulty understanding humor
- doesn’t understand the give-and-take of conversation or engage in “small talk”
- seems egocentric or self-absorbed
- may speak in a voice that is monotone, rigid, jerky or unusually fast
- may be extremely literal or have difficulty understanding the nuances of language, despite having a good vocabulary
While all children with ASD are different, their unusual social skills and obsessive interests tend to set them apart from their peers. They may have in common some or all of the following symptoms:
- may have an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects
- may strongly prefer repetitive routines or rituals and becomes upset at any small changes
- may memorize information and facts easily, especially information related to a topic of interest
- may have clumsy, uncoordinated movements, an odd posture or a rigid gait
- may perform repetitive movements, such as hand or finger flapping
- may engage in violent outbursts, self-injurious behaviors, tantrums or meltdowns
- may be hypersensitive to sensory stimulation such as light, sound, and texture
- may "day dream" or "zone out" when overstimulated
Want to hear first hand from a parent about what it's like to have a child with issues related to Asperger Syndrome (ASD) and how Brain Balance can help?
MEET CASEY: "He used to not be connected in what we were doing. He'd want to do it his way. He'd want to do it very silly or just not be involved with what we're doing at all. Now, he's right with me." - Sara W., Brain Balance Parent*
If your child struggles with symptoms similar to Asperger Syndrome (ASD) or has already been diagnosed with the disorder, get started with Brain Balance today.
