Your Mind Your Body

I am quite pleased that the new NBC series “Parenthood” is raising public awareness of Asperger’s syndrome.  On this show, the parents, Adam and Kristina Braverman struggle to understand and  provide appropriate care and schooling for their young son, Max.

Typical struggles faced by parents of children with Asperger’s, such as getting through  family meals when your child tolerates very limited foods,  getting the child to transition from one activity to another or even deviating from only wearing certain items of clothing are realistically portrayed.  Also addressed are the feelings of confusion, fear and frustration parents experience when they realize their child is different from what they had expected and from other children. The Bravermans slowly begin to understand that different is not necessarily bad. Max is an adorable, smart, funny, though quirky little boy. “Parenthood” does a good job at showing what it’s like to have a child with Asperger’s.

Asperger’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects social skills, communication, language development, sensory function and cognitive development. It falls within a group of disorders generally identified as being on the autism spectrum. This is often very confusing and frightening for parents because the stereotypical concept of a child with autism is that of a youngster spinning in circles and essentially living within their own world. While there are still children who have the more severe types of autism, many more children are diagnosed with disorders in the spectrum that are far less severe. Asperger’s syndrome is one of these.

Many times children may seem to be developmentally quite normal until around the age of two or three.  Unlike children with autism, children with Asperger’s retain their early language skills.  Motor development delays – crawling or walking late, clumsiness – are sometimes the first indicator of the disorder.

It’s not yet known exactly how many people have Asperger’s, but studies conservatively estimate that two out of every 10,000 children have the disorder.  Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to have Asperger’s.

Certain symptoms  are common to Asperger’s. However, each case of Asperger’s is unique and not everyone experiences the same combination of symptoms. Here are a few of the symptoms common to Asperger’s.

• Difficulty in social interaction and communication with others, especially in maintaining eye contact.
• Difficulty interpreting social cues.
• Personal space issues, i.e. they do not want anyone too close to them or may get too close to another in a social interaction.
• Unusual gestures or facial expressions.
• Large vocabularies but may not always use words appropriately.
• Sensory difficulties and may have unusual reactions to certain sights, smells, sounds or tastes.
• Limited food choices based on taste or texture.

People with Asperger’s often have a limited range of interest and may seem to have bizarre behavior. They often require a very strict schedule and seem unable to show any flexibility.  Changing from one activity to the next may feel like an impossible task. They may appear obsessed with and become experts on certain topics such as types of storms or doing math problems (such as the “Parenthood” clip above, Max stated several facts about cockroaches that less-than-impressed his parents).

It’s important to remember that some children are just a bit less social than others. Some are just shy or may have some language or sensory difficulties. But if your child is exhibiting many of the symptoms listed above it is wise to speak with your pediatrician or a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist trained in treating these types of disorders.

Early identification and treatment are extremely important in helping children with Asperger’s develop their full capabilities and in helping you develop a positive relationship with your child.

Filed under: Children, Lifestyle & Behaviors, Parenting, Relationships