Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger.org is a very informative website on Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). The term AS has only come out in the last fifteen years.

This website says that many children with AS are often in mainstream educational settings and often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Children are commonly misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Emotional Disturbance (ED). Children with AS are said to be "normal but different" which can lead to not being diagnosed. Children suffering from AS typically have at least normal IQ and have more average language function compared to other Sensory Integration Dysfunctions.

AS is the term “applied to the mildest and highest functioning end of what is known as the spectrum of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” (Bauer, 2008)

Christopher Gillberg, a Swedish physician developed six criteria for diagnosis that is said to “capture the unique style of these children.” (Bauer, 2008)

• Social impairment with extreme egocentricity (caring only about self)
• Limited interests and preoccupation (playing repetitively with same toy)
• Repetitive routines or rituals
• Speech and language peculiarities (odd voice characteristics)
• Nonverbal communication problems (limit use of gestures)
• Motor clumsiness
  (Bauer, 2008)

The biggest difficulty with children with AS is related to socialization and behavioral adjustment. People tend to overlook these children as just being “strange”. They also have additional trouble being understood by teachers and other students which makes the situation even harder.

This website also has a section on management in schools. It talked about things teachers can to do help the child and help teachers understand their needs better. I won’t go into the details here, but if you are interested in education this is a MUST READ!


What I think:

First I want to start out with the section about management in the school. I absolutely love that the author included a section about this. I always wondered what I would do with someone with a Sensory Integration Dysfunction in my own classroom. One line I must quote is from Asperger himself who says, “These children often show a surprising sensitivity to the personality of the teacher.” (1944) WOW! That is such a great quote. Children pick up on attitudes and behaviors and if you are special needs and you feel like you are making someone else do more work or something special for you it makes you feel horrible. Children always follow the mood that adult in the environment set whether they have AS or not. I think all teachers need to be made aware of this.

It makes me sad that these children have such social and emotional issues. I was shy when I was younger and felt like an outcast a majority of the time and I hated it. I felt like I would never fit in with anyone and something had to be wrong with me. I can not imagine how these children must feel. Especially knowing that you are looked at as being “strange” before you even talk to anyone. I think interaction with peers is critical to any child and I am happy that most of these kids are mainstreamed so they have the option at least to be social.

I think it is very important that the author put in a section about the misdiagnosis or undiagnosis. I think that this goes for all Sensory Integration Dysfunctions. Many doctors just push things off as what ever is convenient for them. ADD is a diagnosis that is used too often. I am the type of person that likes to get to the cause and the specific facts, doctors should do that too. I also think doctors say it's "normal" kid behavior before doing a full investigation. We pay all this money for health care and get such little service.

References

Bauer, S. (2008). Asperger Syndrome. In The Source. Retrieved June 3, 2008, from Cambridge University & Stanford Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Web site: http://www.asperger.org/Publications/Stephen_Bauer_Article.asp

Autism

When I was reading the newspaper I found a great article on autism.

Autism is a "neurodevelopmental disorder that can have a profound effect on socialization, communication, learning and other behaviors." (Nardone, J., 2008)

This newspaper article lists warning signs to be:

• No big smiles or joyful expression by 6 months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No gestures (pointing, showing, reaching, waving, etc.)
• No words by 16 months
• No two-word meaningful phrases by 24 months
• Loss of speech or babbling at any age
• Overly sensitive to sounds, texture or light
• Repetitive movements (lining up toys)
• Need for predictable routines
• Self-stimulatory behavior

(Nardone, J., 2008)

This article also brings up a good point about Early Intervention (EI). It is a "federally funded program that offers developmental assessments and services for children birth to 3 years of age." (Nardone, J., 2008)

It is a well known fact that the earlier the intervention for any disorder or disease the better the diagnosis.

What I think:

First I want to address the Early Intervention program. I think it is great that there is a program to help children at such a young age, and the fact that it is federally funded so the families pay nothing, its amazing. My question is what happens after 3?

J.C. was lucky enough to live in a district that started FREE preschool at 3 AND had a special needs 3-year-old preschool program. Though he did have to be evaluated and accepted into the program it was great. If my sister and her husband did not live in that district or he wasn't accepted into the program he could have went a year or more without any kind of special services, unless they paid out-of-pocket for it.

I know that everything costs money but for special needs children it's unethical to just drop them at 3 and pick them up again when they get to preschool or kindergarten. I couldn't believe it when I learned this. I know there must be some sort of limitations, but what about having the program run until they are in preschool or kindergarten so the children's progress continues.

J.C. had a lot of the characteristics of autism. One symptom I am happy to say J.C. does not exhibit is no smiling or expression of joy. J.C. smiles all the time and is very loving. I call him my "love bug". One of the technics the physical therapist taught us was to hold J.C. tightly to calm him down. This has made him much more affectionate because he likes feeling calmed when we hold him. This is very enjoyable because this is the time when you can talk to him and he will actually listen. It creates a bond you couldn't imagine.

J.C. was and still is very senstive to sound. He would hold his hand up to cup his ear and crotch down like he was straining to hear something, but I heard nothing. Now he can tell you almost 10 minutes before the ice cream truck comes that it's close by. He also has a problem with bugs. I think he hears so well that the buzz of a fly or bee sounds so loud it sounds close to him and it scares him. You can tell when there is a bug around because J.C. starts running in circles and covering his ears. It looks funny but I feel horrible to think that he may be like that the rest of his life.

In a previous blog I had discussed his self-stimulatory behavior or "shaking". I never had a name for it before this article. I also discussed earlier about his delay in speech. He has made a lot of progress, but nothing is "cured".


References

Nardone, J. (2008, May/June). Know the early signs of an autism spectrum disorder. Medford Sun, p. 13.