| > | | | | One issue for many children with Aspergers is |
| An article on the options for Aspergers | | | | that they may well become prone to anxiety or |
| Treatment? | | | | depression in life. Often this can occur around the |
| This is a question that I am regularly asked by | | | | time of adolescence when they are really |
| the readers of the newsletter that I write for | | | | beginning to notice differences with their class |
| parents who have children with Aspergers. The | | | | mates and peers. So as with anyone experiencing |
| first point to say is that in my opinion the signs of | | | | such issues there may be treatments that can be |
| Aspergers can't be "cured" outright. Nor do I think | | | | helpful. Some medications may improve specific |
| that focusing on "cure" is helpful for parents or | | | | behaviors, such as anxiety, depression or |
| children. As to "cure" someone applies that they | | | | hyperactivity. This is obviously one to talk to your |
| are somehow ill or sick in the first place. Children | | | | general medical practitioner about. Although I |
| with Aspergers are not sick or ill but just different | | | | personally am not big on medication (although in |
| — but only in the way that we are all | | | | more severe cases it definitely has it's place) so |
| different and have our own "certain ways". And | | | | would also look at other forms of treatment such |
| isn't that what makes the world such an exciting | | | | as herbal approaches (like St. John's Wort), |
| place? But that is a whole discussion in itself and | | | | homeopathy, helping your child to voice their |
| not the focus of this article, so I won't go further | | | | problems, getting regular exercise etc. to combat |
| off topic now! | | | | the issues. |
| That said about "cures", there are a number of | | | | Treatment for Aspergers often involves a team |
| options to look at when it comes to Aspergers | | | | of professionals that may include a speech and |
| Treatment. Most children benefit from early | | | | language pathologist, a psychologist, a social |
| specialized interventions that focus on behavior | | | | worker, a psychiatrist, or a developmental |
| management and social skills training. Many children | | | | pediatrician, in addition to your child's primary care |
| with Aspergers can learn the unwritten rules of | | | | physician. It's often possible for children with |
| socialization and communication when they are | | | | Aspergers to succeed in mainstream schools, with |
| taught in an explicit and rote fashion. Similar to the | | | | the help of teachers and special education |
| way students learn foreign languages. Because for | | | | instructors. However, make sure your child's |
| children with Aspergers the main challenge is that | | | | teachers understand how he or she learns best |
| these types of social skills (such as what to say in | | | | and what situations might be troublesome. In |
| certain situations) don't come naturally to them. | | | | children with Aspergers, high intelligence and good |
| But children with Aspergers tend to have | | | | verbal skills can mask areas of real deficiency, so |
| excellent cognitive ability so can learn these skills | | | | teachers may not realize that special teaching |
| just fine with the right "teachers" (this can be in | | | | techniques, support services and extra attention |
| school but even more so at home with family and | | | | are really necessary. |
| friends). | | | | So to summarise this article I would say that |
| Children with Aspergers may also learn how to | | | | there are definitely a number of important |
| speak in a more natural rhythm, as well as how | | | | Aspergers treatments that can be used to help |
| to interpret communication techniques used by | | | | improve the quality of life for the child and their |
| others, such as gestures, eye contact, tone of | | | | family. However to my knowledge there is no |
| voice, humor and sarcasm. Behavior therapy | | | | "cure" for Aspergers and it is my belief that |
| describes numerous techniques aimed at curbing | | | | Aspergers is not something that needs to be |
| problem behaviors, such as interrupting, | | | | cured anyway. But treatments such as behavior |
| obsessions, meltdowns or violent outbursts. | | | | management, social skills training, speech and |
| Behavior therapies usually focus on training a child | | | | language therapy, and appropriate medical |
| to recognize a troublesome situation - such as a | | | | alternative treatments can be very helpful indeed. |
| new place or an event with lots of social demands | | | | Both school and home life play a crucial part in |
| - and then select a specific learned strategy to | | | | co-ordinating and organizing these treatments. |
| cope with the situation. | | | | |