Asperger's Symptoms

The symptoms of asperger’s vary from person to person. The most prominent asperger’s symptoms are the inability to function well socially. Although a child may show some of the same symptoms of asperger’s as others, chances are each child will have his or her own set of asperger’s symptoms. The symptoms vary from mild to severe, depending on the particular patient.

Early Symptoms of Asperger’s

Although children may exhibit signs earlier, symptoms of asperger’s are not generally detected until the child starts school. If the child enters daycare early on, asperger’s symptoms may be apparent earlier than usual. The reason signs are not as noticeable prior to the start of school is the fact that this is the first place that children are required to be more sociable.

Conversation

Asperger’s symptoms include the inability to hold a normal conversation with another child. For instance, the child is unable to start a conversation or take turns while attempting to hold a conversation. The child is also unable to understand what the other child’s body language is telling him or her.

Routine

Children exhibiting symptoms of asperger’s prefer a regular routine without change. They do not like any type of change and will likely display his or her displeasure when it occurs.

Empathy

Asperger’s symptoms include lack of empathy. Empathy is understanding and feeling the way the other person feels. It is often used in cases where someone is feeling upset about something. Asperger’s patients often do not seem to exhibit this trait.

Speech and Tone

Children with Asperger’s may find it difficult to distinguish different tones and inflections when listening to others speak. These asperger’s symptoms make it difficult for the child to understand that he or she is not hearing things properly, making it hard to distinguish between types of speech. The child may not understand that something is a joke or meant to be sarcastic.

Formality of Speech

Children with symptoms of asperger’s tend to use more formal speech than other children. For example, the child might use the word beckon rather than call. Most small children do not use such formal speech and may raise red flags to adult onlookers.

Sight

The symptoms of asperger’s include the polar opposite actions of eye sight. The first is that asperger’s kids avoid making eye contact with others. The opposite of that is when the child stares at others. This is a particularly unnerving attribute of asperger’s.

Expressions/Posture

Asperger’s also appears to cause some children to make odd facial expressions and exhibit unusual posture. The symptoms of asperger’s appear as very odd at times and these two symptoms are evidence of that.

Unusual Interest in a Particular Subject

These children often exhibit strong interest in only one particular subject. It sometimes expands to a few other areas though. For instance, the asperger’s child may find astronomy of extreme interest. The interest is generally narrowed down to one area of the subject. For instance, in astronomy, it may be the study of the constellations. The child will usually have a great deal of knowledge in that particular area of interest.

Obsession about Subject Matter

Talking incessantly about the subject the child is interested in is another symptom of asperger’s. The example of astronomy above works in this situation as well. The child will often speak out words that he or she is thinking to him or herself instead of holding the information inside.

Motor Skills

Asperger’s symptoms appear to cause a delay on motor skills for patients. It may take longer for a child to learn how to grasp and hold on to objects such as a ball, kitchen utensils and crayons. Asperger children often exhibit poor writing skills and have difficulty walking properly.

Sensitive Senses

The early symptoms of asperger’s come to a close with a high level of sensitivity within the five senses. The child will often experience a keen sense of smell, sight, touch, hearing and taste. This particular symptom may make it difficult for the child who may get distracted by the senses more easily than other children.

Children with symptoms of asperger’s will generally exhibit more than three of the above traits. They must also exhibit extreme difficulty in socializing. If parents are concerned that their child may have asperger’s, it is important to have it diagnosed as soon as possible. Asperger’s symptoms often ape those of autism. The two syndromes are very similar but there are major differences. Children with asperger’s syndrome are able to speak normally as well as learn normally. They also make a great effort to be involved in social situations with other children.

Teen and Adult Years for Asperger’s patients

The symptoms of asperger’s continue into the teen and adult years. The symptoms of asperger’s lessen through the years for most patients. There are actually benefits to an apserger’s personality. For instance, an asperger’s teenager may not be a leader, but he or she is not a follower either. They are generally honest and will follow the rules. The ‘in thing to do’ for other teenagers will not be a concern for asperger’s patients. They just do not worry about going with the flow because it is often too difficult for them to try to fit in. The fact that they concentrate on one subject more than others means they will have a greater success rate in their careers as adults.

Many famed geniuses have been greatly successful despite having asperger’s syndrome. Mozart, Einstein and Thomas Jefferson are just a few of them. Asperger’s may present a great deal of difficulty to the young person who has it. It can also be the thing that helps them excel as teenagers and adults in areas that other more ‘normal’ people would never consider.

People with symptoms of asperger’s syndrome may have other conditions that exist as well. These include, ADHD, anxiety disorder, depression, non-verbal learning disorder, OCD and social anxiety disorder. If your child has already been diagnosed with one or more of these issues, asperger’s could be lurking in the background.