Hans Asperger            
In 1944 a Viennese physician wrote a paper about a set of odd behaviors that he noticed in some of his young patients. Fifty years later, 14 years after his death, the American Psychiatric Association added his diagnosis to their mental health manual. Today, more and more children are recognized to have Asperger Syndrome (named for the Viennese doctor). Do you know any child with these symptoms:
   

• awkward and clumsy
• naive and gullible
• poor eye contact
• difficulty developing peer relationships
• at risk of victimization (being bullied) by peers
• inappropriate body language or facial expression
• problems recognizing the nuances of social interaction
• difficulty understanding other’s feelings or emotions, but once aware will have an
appropriate degree of compassion

These might some signs of Asperger Syndrome.

There are also communication challenges:
• inability to maintain reciprocal [give and take] conversation
• extreme literal use and interpretation of language
(Here's an example: Someone says, "It's raining cats and dogs..." and the child starts looking for pets!)
• unusual speech patterns: repetitive speech, abnormal tone and/or volume, irrelevant remarks, stilted/formal manner, tendency to lecture others

Here are some behaviors that are associated with Asperger Syndrome:
• easily upset by changes in routine
• rigid, ritualistic behavioral patterns
• fixation on one subject or object
• repetitive movements, thoughts and/or speech
• peculiar eating patterns

Finally, not all children with Asperger Syndrome will have all these behaviors, but many will have some:
• emotional sensitivity and under/overreaction
• fears and anxiety
• hyper/hypo-sensitivity to sensory stimuli (sounds, light, taste, touch, odors, pain)
• physical awkwardness
• problems with spatial awareness
• excellent creative thinking and unconventional problem solving
• exceptional skills (e.g., memory, music, art, math)
• sleeping difficulties

    

Response to Asperger Syndrome:

If you don't know any family with a child with Asperger Syndrome, please say a prayer for those who do. It's not easy for a family to help their child to cope with their inability to easily relate to the world. Thank God that your children or grandchildren have the normal relational abilities that we can take for granted.

If you do know a family with a child with Asperger Syndrome, you know
better than most, that this family needs prayers -- and more than prayers.
They need kindness and friendly support. Each week at Saint Brigid's we pray at Sunday mass, "For families with children with special needs..." and we continue to look for ways to support families whose children struggle with their development.

      

Some important questions about Asperger Syndrome & High Functioning Autism

1. Is there a difference between Asperger Syndrome and High Function Autism?
Actually, the two terms overlap and the medical community is still working on distinctions.
People with high-functioning autism have an average or above-average IQ. Although they typically have adequate vocabulary, their comprehension is generally behind neurotypical peers. Typically they use less emotional content in speech and are less able to interpret non-verbal cues, such as when listeners are bored with or distracted from the topic of conversation.

2. What causes these conditions?
There is a lot of debate and new research is taking place. No definite conclusions have been reached.

3. Is there a "cure" for these conditions?
There is no "magic pill" that makes these conditions go away. The most successful treatment is a controlled environment where children learn interactive skills. This cannot be done only in a classroom -- the interpersonal skills need to be taught and reinforced every waking hour. That is is why residential programs have had great success where day programs have been inadequate.

4. Are these children a threat to others?
On the contrary, children without these conditions often bully and tease children who have Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. It's important to have an environment free from harrassment and other emotionally disturbing behaviors. That is why children with emotional problems are not elegible for a residential program such as Westbrook Preparatory School -- their presence would upset the orderly environment that children with Asperger Syndrome need. Since children with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism are regularly placed in public schools, it's important for parents to teach their children not to tease children with these conditions. We need to work together to create stable and friendly environments for all of our children.

Find Out More about Asperger Syndrome

Some important Questions and Answers about the Proposed School
Some important Questions and Answers about the Next Steps

 

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