WHAT IS ASPERGER’S DISORDER OR SYNDROME? The Asperger syndrome is a severe disorder of development belonging to the disorders of the autistic spectrum (ASD) . The origin of the disorder is in a neurobiologically determined alteration in the processing of information. Affected people have a normal appearance and intelligence but present particularities in the social, communicative and behavioral area.
The Asperger syndrome manifests itself differently in each individual, however, detect some common features in all of them:
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- They have a hard time relating to others, especially people their own age.
- They show restricted interests and can become experts in the topics that interest them.
- They are inflexible in their way of thinking and behaving, sometimes presenting inappropriate and repetitive behaviors.
- His thinking is logical, concrete and hyper-realistic.
- They focus more on the details than the global concept.
- They make a literal interpretation of language and show difficulties in using language for communication purposes.
- They have difficulties in executive and planning functions.
- The interpretation of their own and others’ feelings, emotions and intentions is difficult for them.
- They usually show motor clumsiness.
It is important that family members and educators are informed and guided in the education of children with Asperger’s Syndrome to promote and facilitate their development.
Here are some guidelines that may be helpful:
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- They appreciate structured and stable routines and schedules. It is convenient to avoid unexpected changes. They are not people with the facility to face new or continually changing situations.
- They benefit from visual images in any teaching, academic learning or life skills situation. Lists, drawings, schedules, etc., help their comprehension process.
- People with Asperger’s Syndrome are perfectionists and become frustrated and unmotivated if they don’t learn something quickly. To avoid abandonment, offering them error-free learning can help. Once they have learned the task, we will progressively eliminate the aid provided.
- Providing them with a task broken down into small, consecutive steps will make it easier for them to perform.
- Help them organize their free time by avoiding spending too much time on their restricted interests or isolating themselves.
- Help them interpret the intentions and emotions of others and develop empathy in an explicit and constant way.
- Encourage positive reinforcement (rewards, praise, compliments, etc.) and avoid punishment and criticism as much as possible.
Alexa Clark specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has experience in listening and welcoming in Individual Therapy and Couples Therapy. It meets demands such as generalized anxiety, professional, love and family conflicts, stress, depression, sexual dysfunction, grief, and adolescents from 15 years of age. Over the years, She felt the need to conduct the psychotherapy sessions with subtlety since She understands that the psychologist acts as a facilitator of self-understanding and self-acceptance, valuing each person's respect, uniqueness, and acceptance.