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Asperger’s Syndrome
by Joan Gibbs-Joseph
On the 1st April 2004, the Autistic Society of T&T hosted a
lecture at the Department of Education at the University of the West
Indies on Asperger's Syndrome (AS). This which is a mild form of
Autism. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically
appears during the first three years of life. It is as a result of a
neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. It
affects the way a child communicates, interacts with other people,
and also affects the way the child perceives and reacts to the
world. Professor Brenda Smith Myles, of the University of Kansas, in
her presentation, stated that children suffering from Asperger's
Syndrome have an IQ that is about average although about 22% of
sufferers have IQs that are in the superior or very superior range.
The social maturity of children with AS is about one to two
thirds that of their peers. Children with Asperger's Syndrome
exhibit rote memory - they can speak about a topic of interest once
they have learnt about that topic, and will give the details word
for word from the source of learning, but they experience problems
when what they deem as facts differ from that of others.
Another challenge for the person suffering from Asperger Syndrome
is they can't use common sense reasoning, therefore cannot problem
solve. They find difficulty in taking the perspective of others,
which includes reading and reacting to other's interests. They also
experience difficulty in predicting events and reading intentions.
These children are unable to express emotions appropriately, are
unable to explain their own behaviour and have difficulty in
understanding social reactions.
The prevalence of the disease is unknown, but may be as high as
67 -71 per 10,000 (I in 140). Because no major family, twin or
adoption studies has been completed, the issue of heredity is
inconclusive, however clinical studies implicate a strong genetic
component where 50% of the cases have a close relative with Asperger
Syndrome or something similar. Of the 200 cases followed by Hans
Asperger, almost all had one parent with similar traits.
Asperger's Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder that
has its challenges for parents and sufferers; knowledge and
information can make the difference in the life of the child and the
parent. Strategies that assist in coping with the disorder are
available. Any parent that suspects that his or her child is
suffering from Asperger's Syndrome can contact the Autistic Society
of Trinidad and Tobago. Tel: 663-8397 or 669-0462. |
