ASPERGER SYNDROME

Erika Paredes
ECD 440
12/18/17
 WHAT IS ASPERGER’S SYNDROME?
• A developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by higher than average
intellectual ability coupled with impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of
interest and activities.
• Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder that is on the high-functioning
end of the autism. Some people refer to it as “ a dash of autism.”
• Asperger’s Syndrome is diagnosed more often in males than females.
• Autism affects individuals in different ways but general symptoms include impairments in
speech or communication skills that are usually recognizable from an early age.
• The disorder can affect the individuals motor skills as well, and those affected are usually
less likely to make eye contact and may have a fixation on specific parts of objects.

Asperger Syndrome. (2013, December 09). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/asperger-syndrome
 SYMPTOMS OF ASPERGER'S
• Lack of social awareness.
• Lack of interest in socializing/ making friends
• Difficulty making and sustaining friendship
• Inability to infer the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of others
• Either gazing too intently or avoiding eye contact
• Lack of changing facial expression, or use of exaggerated facial expression
• Lack of use or comprehension of gestures
• Inability to percieve nonverbal cues or communications
• Failure to respect interpersonal boundaries
• Unusually sensitive to noise, touch, odors, tastes, or visual stimuli
• Inflexibility and over-adherence to or dependence on routines and stereotypical and repetitive
motor patterns such as hand flapping or arm waving.

Balance, B. (n.d.). Signs and Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
http://blog.brainbalance.com/blog/2012/02/signs-and-symptoms-of-asperger-syndrome
 ASPERGER’S SYNDROME MOVIE
New York taxi driver Donald Morton (Josh Hartnett) has
Asperger's syndrome, a type of autism.

Proficient with numbers but shy around people, Donald

organizes a support group for others with with his condition.

Isabelle Sorenson (Radha Mitchell), who is direct to a fault and

practical, but easily upset by any perceived insult, joins the
group.

The two fall in love, but their mutual difficulty in coping with their
condition threatens their fragile relationship.

Mozart And The Whale: Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, Gary Cole, Sheila Kelley: Amazon
Digital Services LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Whale-Josh-Hartnett/dp/B003YZPGGQ
HOW IS ASPERGER SYNDROME DIAGNOSED?
Asperger syndrome often remains undiagnosed until
a child or adult begins to have serious difficulties in
school, the workplace or their personal lives.

Diagnosis:

Present from infancy or early childhood

Variable degree of disability

May respond to sensory aspects of the environment

with : unusual indifference or excessive interest

Asperger's Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and

Diagnosis. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017,
from https://www.healthline.com/health/asperger-
syndrome#diagnosis
 TIPS AND STRATEGIES
• Use visual organizers for daily routine, and highlight any changes in routine.
• Consistent routine and structure reduces stress for the student and the organization and consistency of your
classroom environment is one of the key factors in managing the student’s deficits .
• As much as possible, try to stick to a structured routine. Wherever possible prepare the student for potential
changes or transitions.
• Prepare the student for any changes in routine. Because students with Asperger’s Disorder generally do not
handle transitions well, extra verbal and visual cues may need to be employed in the classroom, as well as
providing direct instruction in how to make a transition.
• Verbal skills tend to be a strength or relative strength, so whenever possible, use verbal cues that are short,
direct, and concrete
• When presenting multi-step directions, pause between instructions on multi-step tasks and check for
comprehension.
• Because abstract thinking is challenging, incorporate visual cues and graphics organizers for written
expression tasks. Visual editing strips, like those described in the executive dysfunction section of this site, can
help the student remember what to do and in what order.
• If the student appears to be getting agitated or headed for a “melt-down,” it may be due to stress from the
particular situation or frustration. Avoid situations that might produce “sensory overload” for the student.
• If the student is getting overwhelmed, help the student make a “graceful exit” to go to some safe place that
you’ve agreed upon where they can relax and calm themselves for a while.
Classroom Tips for Students with Asperger's Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from http://www.schoolbehavior.com/disorders/aspergers-
nld/classroom-tips-for-students-with-asperger%E2%80%99s-disorder/
 MELTDOWNS & SHUTDOWNS
Meltdown Shutdown
What is it? A fierce rage against a A retreat
situation
Personality type more likely More independent or sure of More passive
to be affected. themselves
How does it present itself? Anger, screaming, outburst, Completely close off from the
aggression , crying world, exhausted
What’s the best way to Leave them alone in a room Approach and talk to calmly
respond? to calm down. and soothingly.
An Aspergic meltdown or shutdown is an extreme reaction to external stimuli.
Asperger’s Meltdown-They depend on predictability in a world that is often random. They are constantly
surrounded by other people whose social and emotional reality they don't truly understand.

Asperger's Syndrome and Meltdowns. (2008, October 30). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://iancommunity.org/cs/about_asds/aspergers_syndrome_meltdowns
Doctor, H. (2016, October 20). Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved December 17,
2017, from https://howshealth.com/aspergers-syndrome/

• GRASP, the Global and Regional Asperger
• People with Asperger syndrome often have
Syndrome Partnership, is a non-profit 501(c)3
organization providing support, education, and
programs for individuals with autism spectrum
disorders and their families.
GLOBAL SOCIETY
• Autistic people, including those with Asperger
syndrome, often do not 'look' disabled. Some
parents of autistic children say that other people
simply think their child is naughty, while adults
find that they are misunderstood.
difficulty 'reading' other people - recognising or
understanding others’ feelings and intentions -
and expressing their own emotions.

• GRASP collaborates with regional and • appear to be insensitive

national organizations to provide community
programs that benefit, teens, adults, families, • seek out time alone when overloaded by other
and the Autism community people
What is Asperger syndrome? (n.d.). Retrieved December 18,
2017, from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-
is/asperger.aspx • not seek comfort from other people
(no title). (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2017, from https://grasp.org/
• appear to behave ‘strangely’ or in a way thought
to be socially inappropriate.
 REFERENCES
• Doctor, H. (2016, October 20). Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://howshealth.com/aspergers-syndrome/
• Asperger's Syndrome and Meltdowns. (2008, October 30). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://iancommunity.org/cs/about_asds/aspergers_syndrome_meltdowns
• Asperger Syndrome. (2013, December 09). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/asperger-syndrome
• Balance, B. (n.d.). Signs and Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
http://blog.brainbalance.com/blog/2012/02/signs-and-symptoms-of-asperger-syndrome
• Asperger's Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from
https://www.healthline.com/health/asperger-syndrome#diagnosis
• Mozart And The Whale: Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, Gary Cole, Sheila Kelley: Amazon Digital
Services LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2017, from https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Whale-Josh-
Hartnett/dp/B003YZPGGQ
• What is Asperger syndrome? (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2017, from
http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asperger.aspx
• (no title). (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2017, from https://grasp.org/