Asperger's Syndrome: Top Model Contestant Exhibits Sign

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a mild form of autism. It was recently brought to light on America's Next Top Model, on which one of the new models, Heather, has this syndrome. With Asperger's, a person still can learn at the same level of other average students, if not more. Where this disease presents itself most is in social situations and physical awkwardness.

A person with Asperger's Syndrome have troubles relating and empathizing with others. They cannot always transition from one subject to the next successfully and choose most time to speak only on certain subjects. Their routine usually needs to stay the same to help them cope with the day. Another reason why socially they have troubles is due to the inability to read body language in others. They may also pause frequently to help them transition from one thing to another.

Other issues that seem to plague people with Asperger's are the need for soft clothes, foods with less textures, and sameness is their routine and family. Loud noises and strong smells can also bother individuals with this syndrome. People who suffer from Asperger's Syndrome can be shunned even more so than someone with a severe case of Autism. Due to the individual not "looking" like there is anything wrong, the blank stares and inability to communicate in large groups can be looked at as being nasty or uppity when it is truly an internal struggle for that person to even be in that situation.

Naiveté seems to be something seen rather often with this syndrome. Even though people with Asperger's have the same IQ as the everyday person they always seem to hold an innocence and lack of knowledge for the nasty parts of life. Since they also tend to want to be alone they can be seen as eccentric or wall flowers which is really untrue. It is almost impossible for people with Asperger's to overcome the awkwardness and clumsy behavior that comes with this disease. Depending on the doctor you can hear people call Asperger's a "dash of autism" or "an echo of autism". AS can be severe but still at its most severe it is not as debilitating as autism in its true form is.

Heather on America's Next Top Model actually exhibits a lot of these symptoms, and you can tell the struggle she has dealing with the constant cat fights and nastiness within the house that all the models are living in. However the fact that she is pushing through this disease and pursuing such a lofty career is honorable to say the least.

Seeing someone experience this disease first hand on national television can also help assist others in realizing that friends or family members may have this syndrome and as of yet they had not known. Due to most of the symptoms of AS being social and not physical it makes it very difficult to assess where the issue lies, whether it be medical or just choice.