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Home > Mental Health in the United States > Behavioral Disorders > Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome

Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome and the related care and accompaniments. 

Autism spectrum disorder - definition and symptoms

From the first years of his life, the subject with Asperger’s Syndrome is distinguished by his rare communication with his parents (little chattering, gestures, smiles, laughs …).
 
After three years, children with Asperger’s Syndrome communicate, most often by demonstrating particular interests. They usually have difficulty decoding non-verbal language, innuendo or even humour.
 
These subjects, therefore, generally find it difficult to form social relationships and cannot tolerate noise and very stimulating environments. They can perform repetitive movements regularly and sometimes find it difficult to locate themselves in time and space.


The “symptoms” or difficulties differ significantly from one individual to another. Likewise, they may or may not have high intellectual potential, making the characteristic signs previously mentioned more or less visible.

Asperger syndrome - key figures and data

Asperger syndrome is a family disorder of autism, affecting between 350,000 and 600,000 people worldwide.
 
It is estimated to affect 4-5 times more boys than girls. However, as with all Autism Spectrum Disorders, the ability of female subjects to adapt by mimicry could explain this imbalance in diagnosis.


350K

Asperger syndrome is a family disorder of autism, affecting between 350,000 and 600,000 people worldwide.

4x

It is estimated to affect 4-5 times more boys than girls

31M

people in the world would be affected by this form of autism

Asperger's syndrome - risk factors

The precise causes of Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder in general are still unknown. Like the majority of pervasive developmental disorders, genetic and environmental factors could influence the development of the subject’s brain before and after birth, and cause these disorders.
 

Several genes are thought to be involved in the development of autism in a child. These are considered to play a role in fetal brain development. There may be genetic predispositions that may increase a child’s risk of developing autism.
 

It also seems that exposure to toxic substances before or after birth, or even complications during childbirth, could favour the onset of these disorders.

What support for people with Asperger's Syndrome ?

There are no treatments to cure Asperger’s syndrome. The adaptation of the family and school environment to the subject’s thought mechanisms is essential, to allow it to develop, to express its potential and to avoid the patient’s isolation. These adaptation measures will mainly aim to reduce his or her anxiety (especially in the face of social or hyper-stimulating environments) and his or her frustration.
 

Behavioural therapies can allow the subject with Asperger’s Syndrome to compensate for his difficulties in decoding behaviour and communication. They can learn to behave like others by learning what is innate or natural for most people.