What is Asperger's Syndrome?
 This
disability is sometimes difficult for specialists to
diagnose. Asperger's is part of the "autism
spectrum," and is one of the less-severe forms of
autism. Children with autistic disorders may have a
variety of behaviors that are at odds with what is
usually considered "normal," but a major part of any
autistic disorder is a problem with spoken language.
Delayed language is an early tip-off that
Asperger's, or another form of autism, may be
present.
When I was looking for help when
my son was a toddler, someone gave me a list of
about a dozen behaviors that were often found in
people with autism, such as twirling objects, and
echolalia - which means the person simply repeats
anything that is said to him. Actually, it was a
pictorial list, illustrated with little stick
people. My toddler didn't do all of the things
listed on that page, but he did enough of them to
make me suspect that he might have an autistic
disorder. I took him to a private autism center,
where I was relieved to learn after the evaluation
that he did not have autism. But at that time, when
Asperger's was almost unknown, his diagnosis
remained a puzzle.
Diagnostic reference
 The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders is the reference book used by
psychologists and other specialists to diagnose
various disabilities. Before Asperger's was included
in the DSM (it was listed in 1994), people with
behaviors that are now listed under Asperger's were
sometimes called, "high-functioning autistic" or HFA.
HFA is not listed in the DSM, but it is sometimes
used interchangeably with Asperger's.
Usually, people with Asperger's
can adjust with less difficulty to school, jobs, and
daily living than those with more severe forms of
autism. Some people with "classic autism" may never
speak at all, or have a very small set of words,
phrases, or sentences that they simply repeat. For
the most part, people with Asperger's experience
their disability in ways that are much less severe
than people with classic autism. Although
Asperger's, like other disabilities, is not
outgrown, disabling behaviors can be overcome with
the help of family members, teachers, and other
specialists. My son today is a very cheerful,
expressive, social young man, with circles of
friends at work and in his neighborhood.
Help for preschool-aged
children
 Parents
can go the local public school for help with having
their toddler evaluated if they think he might have
a disability, such as an autistic disorder. The
child does not have to be school-aged to get this
help. A federal law, the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act, requires
public schools to "search out and serve" disabled
preschool children. Having your child diagnosed at a
young age is an advantage, because he can get help
through the public school system before he starts
kindergarten or first grade. This early start, with
specialized help, will increase his chances of being
successful over his years of schooling.
A list of the most common signs of autistic
disorders can be found on the website of the Autism
Society of America, a nonprofit organization
supporting individuals with autistic disorders, and
their families. See links above for the ASA's
homepage.
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