What is life like for someone with Asperger’s syndrome? What are the symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome? Despite the best efforts of various organizations in spreading awareness, many people still can’t answer these and other related questions confidently.
This lack of understanding sometimes leads to a disconnect between people with Asperger’s Syndrome and those around them. With the identified prevalence of ASD growing over the years, it is important to keep the conversation about autism going.
Based on the latest medically reviewed data on autism spectrum disorders, one out of every 54 children has ASD. The good news is that many of them lead normal lives and are doing fairly well in school. Still, it is important to understand them better so we can help with the timely diagnosis of autism.
In the old days, people used to think that Asperger’s is a separate condition. However, as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), a medically reviewed handbook written by the American Psychiatric Association, Asperger’s is actually a part of the broader ASD category.
The DSM 5 manual can provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that could help improve the health and quality of life for people in the spectrum.
What Jobs Are Best for Persons With Asperger’s Syndrome?
People with Asperger’s Syndrome may have the ability to focus on a specific topic or a small range of activities. While this can sometimes turn into an obsession, it can also give them a specialised skill set if managed well, making them suitable for one of the following career paths:
Animal Science
Children with autism often have an aversion to loud noises, too much stimulation, and eye contact — things that animals also try to avoid. This allows them to develop a strong bond with their pets early on, which is something that they carry well into adulthood and can help them have a successful career in animal science.
Research
People with Asperger’s Syndrome can take advantage of their interests and passion for facts by going into the field of research. Additionally, they are often logical and unemotional, traits that are essential when presenting information without bias.
Manufacturing
Many people with autism lack social skills but thrive in a structured environment where everything can be predicted or anticipated, which is why they would be great in the manufacturing setting.
Information Technology
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome are also interested in facts and how things work behind the scenes. With this trait, they will be excellent in web development, software engineering, and other IT positions.
What Are the Characteristics of a Person with Asperger’s?
Asperger’s Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that is considered high-functioning. It is true that Aspergians often have difficulties with communication, often using restrictive rules or patterns that are self-imposed.
In some cases, they even face challenges when it comes to their motor skills. Still, they often have more than average intelligence and exhibit the following helpful characteristics:
- Interested in intellectual topics
- Signs of artistic interest
- Attention to detail
- Persistence
- Affinity to routine
- Honesty and a high level of integrity
With all these advantages, it is easy to see why a person with autism can be successful in many situations, especially after getting social skills training and cognitive behavioral therapy.
What Are the 3 Main Symptoms of Asperger’s?
Kids and adults with Asperger Syndrome often show a wide range of behaviors that do not seem normal. However, there are three main symptoms that most of them share.
Lack of Social and Analytic Skills
One of the most obvious symptoms of kids and adults with Asperger Syndrome is the lack of ability for effective communication, which disrupts their social interactions. They have trouble interpreting subtle body language or facial expressions and recognizing sarcasm, irony, social cues, or humour. Aspergians also have cognitive behaviors, in such a way that they have trouble absorbing abstract information.
Physical Symptoms
Kids with Asperger’s often experience a delay in the development of motor functions, leading to problems with coordination. That is why they sometimes appear clumsy or awkward until they become adults. In addition, they are sensitive to loud noise and strong odours and display odd behaviour when it comes to clothing and food texture.
What is an Asperger’s Meltdown?
This behaviour happens when a person with Asperger’s loses control for a moment after being exposed to several environmental factors, not just a specific incident. More often than not, these triggers elicit small responses that accumulate over time until it becomes unbearable.
When a meltdown happens, it is best to separate them from the situations that triggered the extreme anxiety and to take them to a place where they feel safe. While it may look like a regular tantrum, it cannot be stopped by simply giving the Aspergian their way.
Can You Have Mild Asperger’s?
Autism spectrum disorder has many levels, and it is perfectly possible for an autistic person to have a mild version of this mental health disorder. However, mild Asperger’s is difficult to detect and its symptoms are not diagnosed until later in childhood or even well into adulthood.