AspienGirl: A book series on girls and women with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism

Tania Marshall, M.Sc. is a psychologist who specializes in Autism Spectrum Conditions.

In particular, Girls and Women with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism.

Tania is currently undertaking doctoral studies and is excited to be releasing her book series, designed specifically for females on the Autism spectrum and their carers, friends, family members and professionals.

Tania currently spends her professional time divided between private practice, research, and writing and looks forward to releasing the next installment in her AspienGirl™ book series.

Scientist find Gene linked to Asperger Syndrome and empathy

Scientists have confirmed that variations in a particular gene play a key role in the autism spectrum condition known as Asperger Syndrome.

They have also found that variations in the same gene are also linked to differences in empathy levels in the general population.

A study to be published later this month in the journal Molecular Autism confirms previous research that people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are more likely to carry specific variations in a particular gene.

More strikingly, the study supports existing findings that the same gene is also linked to how much empathy typically shown by individuals in the general population.

The research was carried out by a team of researchers led by Professor Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University.

Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum condition. The researchers looked for sequence variations (called single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) in the gene known as GABRB3 in a total of 530 adults - 118 people diagnosed with AS and 412 people without a diagnosis.

The team found that certain SNPs in GABRB3 were significantly more common in people with AS.

They also discovered that additional genetic variations in the same gene were linked to scores on an empathy measure called the Empathy Quotient in the general population.

AS is diagnosed when a person struggles with social relationships and communication, and shows unusually narrow interests and resistance to change, but has good intelligence and language skills.

Most genetic studies of autistic spectrum conditions treat autism as if they are all very similar, whereas in reality there is considerable variation (e.g., in language level and intellectual ability).

Rather than studying people on the autistic condition spectrum, this new study looked only people with AS, as a well-defined subgroup of individuals within this range.

The researchers examined the gene GABRB3 which regulates the functioning of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and which contains a number of SNPs that vary across the population.

The volunteers were tested for 45 SNPs within this key gene. The team had previously found that SNPs in this gene were more common in adults with AS and also showed a relationship with empathy levels and tactile sensitivity (how sensitive people are to being touched) in the general population.

Testing a new sample of volunteers who had not taken part in previous studies, the researchers found that three of the SNPs were again more common in adults with AS, and two different SNPs in the same gene were again related to empathy levels in the general population, confirming that the gene is involved in autism spectrum conditions.

Professor Baron-Cohen said: "We are excited that this study confirms that variation in GABRB3 is linked not just to AS but to individual differences in empathy in the population.

Many candidate genes do not replicate across studies and across different samples, but this genetic finding seems to be a solid result.

Research now needs to focus on where this gene is expressed in the brain in autism, and how it interacts with other genetic and non-genetic factors that cause AS."

The team was co-led by Dr Bhismadev Chakrabarti from the Department of Psychology at Reading University. He commented: "Genes play an important role in autism and Asperger Syndrome."

"This new study adds to evidence that GABRB3 is a key gene underlying these conditions."

"This gene is involved in the functioning of a neurotransmitter that regulates excitation and inhibition of nerve cell activity so the research gives us vital additional information about how the brain may develop differently in people with Asperger Syndrome."

Varun Warrier, who carried out the study as part of his graduate research at Cambridge University, added: "The most important aspect of this research is that it points to common genetic variants in GABRB3 being involved in both AS and in empathy as a dimensional trait."

"Although GABRB3 is not the only gene to be involved in this condition and in empathy levels, we are confident that we have identified one of the key players."

"We are following this up by testing how much protein GABRB3 produces in the brain in autism, since a genetic finding of this kind becomes more explanatory when we can also measure its function."

More information: "Genetic variation in GABRB3 is associated with Asperger syndrome and multiple endophenotypes relevant to autism." Varun Warrier, Simon Baron-Cohen and Bhismadev Chakrabarti. Molecular Autism 2013, 4:48 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-48

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.

The UK National Autistic Society - What is Asperger syndrome?

The National Autistic Society - What is Asperger syndrome?

What is Asperger syndrome?

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people. Autism is often described as a 'spectrum disorder' because the condition affects people in many different ways and to varying degrees. (For more information about autism, please read our leaflet What is autism?)

Asperger syndrome is mostly a 'hidden disability'. This means that you can't tell that someone has the condition from their outward appearance. People with the condition have difficulties in three main areas. They are:

* social communication
* social interaction
* social imagination.

They are often referred to as 'the triad of impairments' and are explained in more detail below.

While there are similarities with autism, people with Asperger syndrome have fewer problems with speaking and are often of average, or above average, intelligence. They do not usually have the accompanying learning disabilities associated with autism, but they may have specific learning difficulties. These may include dyslexia and dyspraxia or other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy.

With the right support and encouragement, people with Asperger syndrome can lead full and independent lives.