Tweet
    • Cancer
      • Brain Cancer and Tumors
      • Breast Cancer
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Colon Cancer
      • Head and Neck Cancer
      • Living with Cancer
      • Lung Cancer
      • Lymphoma
      • Non-Malignant Tumors
      • Other Cancers
      • Ovarian Cancer
      • Pancreatic Cancer
      • Prostate Cancer
      • Skin Cancer
      • Surgical Procedures for Cancer
    • Heart Disease
      • Congestive Heart Failure
      • Coronary Artery Disease
      • Heart Attack
      • Heart Surgery and Procedures
      • Heart Valve Conditions
      • High Blood Pressure
      • Keeping the Heart Healthy
      • Kids' Heart Conditions
      • Palpitations and Arrhythmia
    • Health Care Technology
      • Bioinformatics
      • Cell Technology in Health
      • Devices and Instruments
      • Health Informatics
      • Health Software and Apps
      • Nanotechnology
      • Prosthetics / Bionics
    • Women's Health
      • Birth Control
      • Breast Health
      • Endometriosis
      • Fertility Issues
      • Labor and Delivery
      • Menopause
      • Menstruation
      • Osteoporosis
      • Pregnancy
      • Reproductive Health
      • Uterine Fibroids
      • Women's Health and Wellness
      • Women's Sexual Health
    • Diabetes
      • Diabetes Complications
      • Diabetes Facts and Prevention
      • Diabetes Nutrition and Exercise
      • Diabetes Symptoms and Diagnosis
      • Diabetes Treatment
      • Juvenile Diabetes
      • Living with Diabetes
    • More Areas
      • Depression  
        • Bipolar Disorder
        • Diagnosing Depression
        • Major Depression
        • Other Mood Disorders
        • Personality Disorders
        • Postpartum Depression
        • Teen and Child Depression
        • Treating Mood Disorders
      • ADHD-ADD  
        • ADHD Symptoms and Diagnosis
        • Adult ADHD
        • Causes of ADHD
        • Childhood ADHD
        • Treatment of ADD / ADHD
      • Diet and Nutrition  
        • Children and Infant Nutrition
        • Diet Reviews
        • Dieting Tips
        • Eating on a Budget
        • Food Safety
        • Healthy Cooking Tips
        • Healthy Eating Tips
        • Nutrition Information
        • Restaurant Nutrition
        • The Basics of Nutrition
        • Vegetarian Diet
        • Vitamin Deficiencies
        • Vitamins and Minerals
        • Weight Loss Surgery
      • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      • Eating Disorders
      • Autism / PDD
      • Anxiety and Panic Disorders
      • Heartburn and Digestive Disorders
      • Arthritis and Related Conditions
      • Allergies and Asthma
      • Conditions and Treatments
      • Alternative and Natural
      • Fitness and Exercise
    Asperger's Syndrome Symptoms: What Are They? How Do They Impact Daily Life?

    Popular Pages

    • Home
    Skip to content
    768

    Asperger’s Syndrome Symptoms: What Are They? How Do They Impact Daily Life?

    Aspergers / By Debbie Roome / Autism / PDD

    Symptom Groups of Asperger’s Syndrome

    Asperger’s syndrome symptoms are similar to the general symptoms of autism, but include traits specific to Asperger’s. According to the Gillberg diagnostic criteria, the main symptom groups are as follows:

    • Social impairment
    • Narrow interests
    • Compulsive need for routines and interests
    • Speech and language peculiarities
    • Non-verbal communication problems
    • Motor clumsiness

    Social Impairment

    People with Asperger’s have problems with social skills and often find it difficult to interact with their peers. Although they desire friendship, they often behave in an inappropriate manner that others find offensive or strange. Social skill problems are connected to some of the other Asperger’s symptoms such as speech and non-verbal communication which will be discussed shortly.

    Narrow Interests

    Another sign of Asperger’s syndrome is a narrow interest that may develop into an obsession. The person often spends an inordinate amount of time researching this interest, collecting items associated with it, and talking about it. It may reach a stage where this behavior interferes with daily life and employment. The person may corner others and talk incessantly about their interest, causing people to avoid them.

    Routines

    People with Asperger’s syndrome like repetition and routine and may become quite distressed if something out of the ordinary happens. Routine helps them to cope with daily life, and they may enjoy structure to the point of ordering what to eat on certain days and what clothes to wear. Children sometimes like a written timetable that they can follow each day. Most people with Asperger's find it hard to engage in spontaneous activities.

    Asperger’s Syndrome and Speech and Language

    Many people with Asperger’s have problems with speech. While there is generally no delay in language development, they may speak in a stilted or monotonous manner. Their academic grasp of language is often excellent, but the delivery may be formal and pedantic, coming across as odd or inappropriate for the setting. They also struggle to understand figures of speech, sarcasm and humor. This can leave them floundering in conversation as they miss the point of what the other person is saying. Confusion is common as they take everything literally. Some people with Asperger's will leave long silences in conversation while they try and work out what the other person means. If they are not sure, they may abruptly change the subject, rather than ask for clarification.

    Asperger’s Syndrome and Non-Verbal Communication Problems

    Body language is weak in a person with Asperger’s and they find it difficult to interpret what a person is thinking by the way they stand and their facial expressions. This can lead to miscommunication and awkwardness in conversation. In a similar fashion, people with Asperger’s may stand stiffly when talking to others and their facial expressions are limited. They struggle with eye contact and may appear uninterested in the other person when this is not the case at all.

    Asperger’s Syndrome and Motor Clumsiness

    Asperger’s syndrome symptoms include muscular weaknesses. This is apparent in gross and fine motor skills and the person may appear clumsy and uncoordinated. This affects them in many ways such as on the sports field and in the classroom. As children, they may struggle to master skills such as writing neatly, tying shoelaces and riding a bicycle.

    While some Asperger’s people are clearly affected by all the above symptoms, there are others who are weaker in some areas than others. Each case is unique, and with therapy and training, there is always room for improvement.

    References

    The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome by Tony Attwood, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007

    https://www.aspergers.co.nz/whatIsAsperger.shtml

    https://www.asperger-advice.com/asperger-motor-skills.html

    Post navigation

    ← Previous Post
    Next Post →

    Recent

    • Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome in Girls
    • Facts About Asperger’s Therapy
    • The Aspie Patient and Medication Options
    • Spotlight on Asperger’s Treatments for Adults
    • Understanding Old Men With Asperger’s Syndrome
    • Treatment for Asperger’s Syndrome: An Introduction to Current Trends
    About | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

    The material on Healthguideinfo.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a physician or other qualified health provider.

    Copyright © 2019 Health Guide Info. All Rights Reserved.

    More To Explore
    • Home
    privacy policy