Asperger's and The Characteristics That Are Seen in an ASD Child

Asperger's and The Characteristics That Are Seen in an ASD Child

Parents with children who are on the Autism Spectrum or who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome can benefit from knowing the traits and characteristics of someone who has Asperger’s. Knowing this information can better help someone communicate and find outside recourses that will benefit not only the family but the Asperie person himself to a better and more fulfilling life.

These Characteristics or Traits are:

* Difficulty with Reciprocal Social Interactions.
* Impairments in Language Skills.
* Narrow Range of Interests and Insistence on Set Routines.
* Motor Clumsiness.
* Cognitive Issues.
* Sensory Sensitivities.

Difficulty with Reciprocal Social Interactions

* They to not understand the give and take in a conversation.
* They talk about a subject that perhaps only interests them. Examples would be to talk excessively about trains, volcanoes, or the Bermuda Triangle, etc.
* They do not perceive or understand the verbal cues of a conversation, such as facial expressions and body language.
* They do not perceive or comprehend that conversation includes things like eye contact, taking turns, talking about what others are talking about, and responding in kind.

Impairments in Language Skills

* They see language as a way of sharing facts and interests not of sharing interests, feelings, and emotions.
* Some Asperger’s children have what they call a problem with “prosody.” This means that a child with Asperger’s may have a problem with the way speech is spoken. His stress and rhythm, or melody of speech may be impaired.
* Some children with this disability have a problem with understanding spoken words that have a different meaning. They take things literally.

Narrow Range of Interests and Insistence on Set Routines

* Because change causes anxiety an Asperger’s child will want to live by rigid rules. They want things to go the same way day after day. A change in school routine can cause major stress.
* They tend to only hold on to a few interests but those interests are very important and may help them alleviate anxiety.
* Asperger’s children have their own rules and have a very difficult time understanding why society has their own rules. They have their own rules they can want to be the “king” or “ruler.”

Motor Clumsiness

* Asperger’s children have a problem with both fine and motor skills.
* Problems can show themselves in handwriting, playing ball, and riding a bike.
* Throwing a ball, swinging a bat, balancing on a bike, or holding a pencil can be difficult and frustrating for an Asperie (short for Asperger’s person).

Cognitive Issues

* At the heart of many of the issues that Asperger’s person has is the inability to understand the inferences or the logical facts or premises that others make.
* They have difficulty with empathy.
* Say things without considering the other persons feelings.
* Think everyone thinks like they do.
* Think in black and white.
* They are rigid in their thinking and think everyone should do it their way.

Sensory Sensitivities

* Sensory problems are common. Asperger’s children can have difficulty in any sensory area. This includes; sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.
* An Asperie can be over or under sensitive in any of these sensory areas.
* With sensory issues it is important to learn if the problem is a learned behavior or a product of his or her anxiety.

Of course these are the negative sides of ASD and there are some very positive sides to ASD children, which I would like to describe in a later article.