Overview of Asperger Syndrome Signs and Symptoms

Asperger Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to effectively communicate and socialize. Asperger Syndrome is considered a mild, high functioning form of autism (on the autism spectrum).

There are so many resources with wonderful information about Asperger Syndrome. Though finding detailed information outlining the specific signs and symptoms of Asperger Syndrome can become quite overwhelming, especially if you are a parent of a child who may have Asperger Syndrome. This is an inclusive list of many of the signs and symptoms of Asperger Syndrome.

1. Impaired Social Interaction - Your child may lack inborn social skills. The child may not "get" social cues. Some areas of confusion may be in: body language, conversations, and turn taking. He or she may talk a lot, usually about a favorite subject. One-sided, long-winded conversations are common for people with Asperger Syndrome. He or she often verbalizes internal thoughts without consideration of the appropriateness of these thoughts.

2. Speech and language peculiarities and Non-verbal communication problems - A child with Asperger Syndrome may not be able to recognize speech differences in the tone, pitch, and accent that change the meaning of others' speech. So, your child may not understand a joke or may take a sarcastic comment literally. Therefore, your child may have "flat affect" in his or her speech and be difficult to understand because their speech lacks tone, pitch, and accent. Peculiarities such as a formal style of speaking that is advanced for his or her age is also noted in children with Apserger Syndrome. They also tend to avoid eye contact.

3. Limited interests and unusual preoccupations - Your child may be preoccupied with one or a few interests (which he or she may be very knowledgeable about). They often have an intense focus on their chosen interests. Children with Asperger Syndrome may be preoccupied with their own agenda.

4. Repetitive routines or rituals - Children with Asperger Syndrome tend to dislike changes in routine. They thrive on specific routines and can become very agitated or upset if their routine varies (even something very small).

5. Excellent rote memory - A child with Asperger Syndrome may have advanced rote memorization and math skills. He or she may be able to memorize number patterns, phone numbers, and formulas in unusually accurate detail.

6. Clumsiness and Uncoordinated motor movements - A child with Asperger Syndrome often displays poor coordination, clumsiness and awkwardness in gait, balance, posture, and overall body control. Handwriting is often poor. Many children with Asperger Syndrome display repetitive self -stimulatory behavior (such as hand flapping) to reduce anxiety or stress, or to show pleasure.

7. Sensory Integration issues - Your child may have heightened sensory sensitivity and get over-stimulated by loud noises, lights, or strong tastes or textures. Sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, light, sight, smell, pain, temperature, and/or texture of foods are areas of sensory issues.

8. May appear to lack empathy - This is a difficult area to understand. Empathy relates to sympathy with the feelings of others. The problem arises because a person with Asperger Syndrome has difficulty reading social cues and often doesn't read another person's feelings. Therefore, the lack of empathy is not intentional though it is there.

9. Being "in their own little world" - Your child may appear to be "in their own little world". It's hard to describe but it's one of those things that if you've seen this, then you know what it means.

This list of signs and symptoms of Asperger Syndrome does not mean that your child has this developmental disorder. This is just the first step in the diagnosis of your child. If you suspect your child has Asperger Syndrome, consult your child's pediatrician for further evaluation.

All children are amazing and special. Whatever the outcome, celebrate your child's individuality and strengths!