Signs of Asperger Syndrome

Detecting the Symptoms

The signs of Asperger Syndrome are subtle in many cases. The mysterious nature of the disorder makes identifying the condition
very difficult. Recognizing the symptoms of Aspergers can be challenging, but it's a necessary step to getting help.

The primary similarities of Aspergers and other pervasive development disorders are stereotyped repetitive movements, known as "stims" and impairments in social developments.

I'd like to know more about the social development of AS.

Most everyone has some difficulties in social situations. Human interaction and communication is very complex, and the rules of socialization can be confusing, no matter who is in the mix. Most people develop adequate coping skills to help ease the fear and anxiety that can emerge during many situations.

Individuals with Asperger syndrome have deficits in social development that interfere with their ability to navigate through their environment without anxiety and behavioral outbursts.

As your child ages, Asperger symptoms might become easier to identify.
Do you have a teenager who has AS? The teen years present their own
set of challenges. There ARE ways to deal with those issues.

In order to diagnose Asperger syndrome, at least two significant impairments in social development for a diagnosis to be made.

Self-stimulatory behavior, or "stims" are useful in helping children and adults with the Asperger disorder regulate themselves. Common stims include hand-flapping, spinning, rocking, and shifting weight from one foot to the other.

Just as most of us have anxiety in certain social situations, everyone engages in self-stimulatory behavior. These behaviors include nail biting, tapping pencils, and nodding excessively. The difference is that people with Aspergers tend to have stims that are exaggerated and easily noticeable.

No one likes unpleasant surprises. Dealing with the unknown can be overwhelming. For individuals who have pervasive developmental disorders, changes in routine can be unbearable. Many of these individuals exhibit a profound need for sameness and order, which is one
of the signs of Asperger syndrome.

What are the basic Asperger symptoms?

• lack of facial expression and lack of eye contact

• limited interests

• obsessions with specific subjects

• desperate need for order

• seeming indifference to other people’s emotions

• inability to read social cues

• difficulty understanding humor or figurative language

• odd body posture and rigid movements

Even snoring comes into play with Asperger syndrome!

Some of the anxiety and stress caused by dealing with the
unknown can lead to significant tantrums. Outbursts can occur
during transitions and when entering new situations.

While many people readily recognize the other four pervasive developmental disorders on the autism spectrum, the signs of Asperger syndrome are more difficult to detect.

Return to "Asperger Symptoms" from "Signs of Asperger Syndrome"