Aspergers

Asperger's

What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a term for a group of developmental disorders described by:

Lasting problems with social communication and social interaction in different settings
Repetitive behaviors and/or not wanting any change in daily routines
Symptoms that begin in early childhood, usually in he first 2 years of life
Symptoms that cause the person to need help in his or her daily life

The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, strengths, and levels of impairment that people with ASD can have. The diagnosis of ASD now includes these other conditions:

Autistic disorder
Asperger’s syndrome
Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified

What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?

Not all people with ASD will show all of these behaviors, but most will show several.

People with ASD may:

Repeat certain behaviors or have unusual behaviors
Have overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
Have a lasting, intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
Be upset by a slight change in a routine or being placed in a new or overstimulating setting
Make little or inconsistent eye contact
Tend to look and listen less to people in their environment
Rarely seek to share their enjoyment of objects or activities by pointing or showing things to others
Respond unusually when others show anger, distress, or affection
Fail or be slow to respond to their name or other verbal attempts to gain their attention
Have difficulties with the back and forth of conversations
Often talk at length about a favorite subject but won’t allow anyone else a chance to respond or notice when others react indifferently
Repeat words or phrases that they hear, a behavior called echolalia
Use words that seem odd, out of place, or have a special meaning known only to those familiar with that person’s way of communicating
Have facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what they are saying
Have an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like
Have trouble understanding another person’s point of view, leaving him or her unable to predict or understand other people’s actions

What are the treatments for ASD?

Treating ASD early and getting proper care can reduce a person’s difficulties and increase his or her ability to maximize strengths and learn new skills. While there is no single best treatment for ASD, working closely with the doctor is an important part of finding the right treatment program.

Medications

There are a few classes of medications that doctors may use to treat some difficulties that are common with ASD. With medication, a person with ASD may have fewer problems with: