Asperger syndrome
Definition
Asperger's Syndrome is a form of autism. It is more common in boys than girls and is usually diagnosed after the age of four. Asperger's syndrome is characterized by difficult social interaction, such as a lack of or reduced empathy and a lack of understanding of emotional messages such as friends, sadness, anger or anger. It also leads to repetitive, compulsive behavior. This is characterized, for example, by a strict everyday routine that always runs the same or stereotypical play with always the same course of action.
Read more on the topic Autism tests
Often times, children with Asperger's Syndrome have one special talent (see also: Giftedness). Those affected have this talent above average and are very precise in carrying out their work. A high IQ compared to their peers is often diagnosed in children with Asperger's Syndrome.
Asperger's Syndrome can be associated with other mental illnesses. These are the most common depressions, fear-and Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tic disorders or schizophrenia.
causes
According to the current state of science, the causes of Asperger's Syndrome are like all other forms of autism genetic factors in the foreground. This means that Asperger's Syndrome is hereditary. It has been proven that siblings of a child suffering from Asperger's syndrome have an increased risk of developing the same disease. It can also be inherited from the father or mother.
There is also a discussion Environmental factors, for which there are no reliable results from studies so far. A Misbelief it was a long time that the Mumps vaccination Cause of autism is. This assumption has long been refuted in scientific studies. So there is no connection. In imaging procedures like the MRI were increased brain structural changes found.
diagnosis
The diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome is one Exclusion diagnosis. This means that other mental illnesses and developmental disorders must be excluded in order to be diagnosed. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical symptoms. An important diagnostic criterion is the age of the child. Asperger's syndrome is after fourth year of life posed. If the child shows abnormalities beforehand, it is usually a form of early childhood autism, which, however, is accompanied by different symptoms than Asperger's syndrome.
A noticeable feature of Asperger's syndrome is one that corresponds to the age of the child above-average talent for languagesthat comes up in conversation with the doctor or psychologist. Lack of empathy and misunderstanding of emotions other people can be recognized both in everyday life in dealing with other people, as well as through a so-called Face test be diagnosed. This is about recognizing emotions in pictures. A motor clumsiness and gross motor skills can be diagnosed through specific tests of coordination and mobility.
Test / face test
There are various tests to test for Asperger's Syndrome. Some of these are self-tests that At home can be answered using questions. But these can also be from Psychiatrist or psychologist be performed. The tests are all aimed at empathy and the recognition of emotions.
Even stereotypical acts or special ones Talent and giftedness are queried (see also: Test for giftedness). The intelligence quotient is determined with the help of a test. The face test is a test using pictures of people with different emotions. You can see faces of people laughing, crying, angry or angry. The person concerned must be able to name these emotions. If this is not the case, this is an indication of Asperger's syndrome.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome are very diverse. The children are usually noticed by one difficult communication with other people. Children find it difficult to have a conversation or respond to others. Also, these children often can do not interpret emotions and this in a conversation too not notice. For example, children with Asperger's Syndrome understand no irony. Also, children with Asperger's Syndrome can have theirs Not expressing emotions well. So the conversation is often emotionless and the facial expression is meaningless, which can be irritating for the interlocutor.
Asperger's patients prefer stereotypical actions. This can be seen in repetitive actions while playing or for older children and adults on one compulsively the same everyday life.
Often these children have one special talent and are very talented in this field. They lack interest in other things. Also a high IQ compared to peers is typical of Asperger's Syndrome. These children are very noticeable well developed language skills and are able to express themselves very precisely and selectively.
Another symptom of Asperger's Syndrome is one motor clumsiness. This is expressed in a Gross motor skills and Incoordination.
There is also an increased rate Comorbidities. This means that other mental illnesses can develop in the course of the illness. The main diseases associated with Asperger's are the depression and the Tic disorder. The already compulsive behavior of the patient can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder or Anxiety disorders come. In childhood it can be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder come. This can be done with Methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin, be treated.
In some cases, people with Asperger's Syndrome can have one schizophrenia develop. This clinical picture goes with you social withdrawal, Delusions and Hallucinations hand in hand. Symptoms can be relieved with antipsychotic medication and ongoing medical assistance.
Therapy / treatment
Asperger's syndrome cannot be cured. However, through targeted psychotherapeutic treatment and treatment of any accompanying psychological illnesses, a normal lifestyle can be achieved. In the treatment of children, the parents should always be firmly involved; in the case of adults, it makes sense to integrate life partners or loved ones into the treatment.
Behavior therapy is at the forefront of psychotherapeutic treatment. Here, the person affected is taught methods to recognize their social deficits and to get them under control in order to enable normal interaction with other people. In addition, the therapy aims at integration into the social environment. The person affected should be integrated into the social environment (kindergarten, school, job) in order to be able to lead an independent life.
Read more on the topic: Concentration training
Clear structures in everyday life are helpful when dealing with Asperger's patients. If possible, a fixed schedule of the daily routine should be adhered to with fixed dates and times. This leads to the fact that the person concerned feels comfortable and feels a sense of security. This behavior avoids conflicts and the person affected may be able to open up better to his fellow human beings.This is also an important point in the relationship between the sick child and parents.
Read more: Therapy and help for children and adolescents with behavioral problems
The treatment of the comorbidities takes place individually depending on the symptoms. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be treated with methylphenidate known as Ritalin. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are treated alongside regular psychotherapy with antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as is depression. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotics.
Read more on the topic: Therapy for depression
Duration
Aspergerger's Syndrome is incurable. The disease lasts a lifetime, but the person affected can completely symptom-free be. The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and the level of suffering of the person concerned and their family. Furthermore, there may be extensions of treatment due to other mental illnesses. It is possible that a completed therapy will be resumed due to effective behavioral therapy in the context of a life crisis or incidents such as the death of a close relative, divorce or change of job.
Problems in school
Children with Asperger's Syndrome often have one Above-average IQ. However, since they often have a special talent in a certain area, they usually lack interest in other areas. Since giftedness and specialization can only really be lived out in the job, this leads to problems at school (see also: Learning problems).
The lack of interest in other areas leads alongside Difficulty concentrating too bad school grades despite high intelligence. In addition, children with Asperger's Syndrome have social problems at school. Your behavior can be too social isolation and Exclusion to lead. Here is one professional behavior therapy very important to accompany everyday school life.
In childhood there is also the psychological concomitant disease, that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) really important. This is a mental illness in childhood that manifests itself in a lack of attention in class. In addition, these patients find it harder to concentrate than others and so tend not to get things done. In addition to psychotherapy, therapy consists of the administration of phenylphenidate, known as Ritalin. This drug belongs to the group of Amphetamines and by activating the sympathetic nervous system it can increase the patient's attention.
Asperger's Syndrome in Adults
The Asperger's Syndrome in adults is just as evident in childhood difficult social interaction, stereotypical acts and special talents marked. While Asperger's Syndrome was often diagnosed in childhood, there are also cases in which the disease only becomes noticeable in adulthood. Here the trigger can be a life crisis. The reasons for this are often the death of a close relative, divorce or unemployment. Often the social deficits in the job or in relationships show up here.
Again, it can psychological comorbidities come that may even precede the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome or make the diagnosis of the syndrome more difficult.
A therapy of Asperger's Syndrome is only at Suffering of the person concerned necessary. If this person is well integrated socially and professionally, therapy may not be necessary. A serious problem in adults with Asperger's Syndrome can be the lack of empathy be in relationships. Asperger's patients can tend to live out their sexual fantasies the way they want, regardless of their partner. In addition to the failure of relationships, this can lead to social exclusion.
Problems in the partnership
Asperger's patients feel at home in one regular everyday life very well. It is therefore of great importance not to tear the person out of their everyday life. In a partnership, it is important that the person affected by his partner in his lifestyle supported becomes. Furthermore, Asperger's patients tend to be mostly during puberty and discovery of the sexuality to live out their sexual preferences according to their wishes, regardless on the partner. If there is a lack of empathy, this can lead to conflicts. In stable patients with a corresponding Behavior therapy Asperger's patients can lead normal lives.
