| Asperger Syndrome is a neurological disorder | | | | non-verbal cues, they may go on and on about |
| where a person with normal language | | | | something, often unusual fascinations like |
| development and IQ also exhibits certain | | | | doorknobs or the history of cricket in India, that |
| symptoms of autism, such as poor social and | | | | fascinates them - another Asperger symptom - |
| communication skills. | | | | while the person they are talking at is bored to |
| For example, people with Asperger's have a really | | | | tears. |
| hard time reading body language, so respond | | | | Unlike people with autism, Asperger sufferers are |
| poorly to the non-verbal cues most of us give | | | | not withdrawn around others. Indeed, they have |
| off. They simply do not catch on, for example, | | | | feelings for others, and want to make friends and |
| when they are standing too close to someone or | | | | develop relationships. Their social awkwardness |
| a person is not interested in standing there | | | | and insensitivity tends to turn people off. |
| listening to them anymore. | | | | While there is no clear answer as to what causes |
| Individuals diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome | | | | Asperger Syndrome, it is generally thought to be |
| have a hard time making friends, particularly with | | | | genetic, quite possibly passed down through the |
| peers. They find it difficult to pay attention to | | | | male side of the family. Structural and functional |
| what others are saying unless it is of direct | | | | differences in specific regions of the brains |
| interest to them, and get easily bored. They also | | | | indicate problems during fetal development. |
| tend not to add to conversations even if only by | | | | There is no cure for Asperger Syndrome. Nor is |
| simple social mechanisms, such as asking | | | | there any effective medical treatment, although |
| someone a question, even if you do not really | | | | treatment for side issues like depression are |
| care about the answer, to show interest in the | | | | often indicated. However, as with autism, training |
| other person and what they have to say. | | | | in social skills and behavioral modification training |
| This does not mean that people with Asperger's | | | | can be effective, as can be training in |
| do not talk...some talk quite a bit...just that they | | | | problem-solving, step-by-step decision making, and |
| talk only about things that interest them. | | | | other skills to help people with Asperger's leave |
| Combined with their inability to recognize | | | | healthy adult lives. |