Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome

Aspergers Syndrome:
How to Deal and Treat a Child with the Disorder
Alison Page
Axia College-University of Phoenix











    Autism Spectrum Disorder is the fastest growing mental disorder among children today.   Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) presents itself in a wide spectrum of abilities; including little or no language and social development.   One form of the Autism Spectrum Disorder is called Aspergers Syndrome which comes from an Austrian physician named Hans Asperger who first described the syndrome in 1944 (Aspergers.com; What is Asperger’s? p1).   A child with Aspergers syndrome will have severe impairment in social interactions, communication skills, and have a stereotypic behavior along with the inability to gain control of oneself, similar to that of a child with Attention Deficit Disorder.   This similarity tends to cause a misdiagnosis which can alter and delay the treatment of a child.   Being able to diagnose these children properly, earlier rather than later, will better benefit them and their families and will allow these children a better chance to function in our ever-changing society as they move into adulthood.   Although Autism Spectrum Disorder remains the fastest growing mental disorder among children today, these children will need to have the support and abilities to be successful in today’s society.
    The term “medical illness” implies the knowledge of a specific illness that is known and has specific remedies that are administered with some type of outcome.   Since there is no known single cause of Aspergers syndrome, there are no remedies that will predict an outcome (American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry).   Doctors call these disorders Pervasive because the disorder pervades or penetrates every aspect of a child’s development including; educational, social, emotional, and physical.   The range for Aspergers has a wide spectrum including high and low...