Identifying Asperger Syndrome Behavior

Asperger Syndrome is a disorder on the Autism Spectrum with similar symptoms to autism, but usually to a lesser degree. Identifying Asperger syndrome behavior is often difficult until a child is at least five years old. A child with Asperger syndrome may be very interested in his/her environment, extremely verbal, and have average/high intellectual functioning.

Usually an individual with Asperger syndrome behavior may have a hard time establishing social relationships, have a limited array of interests, poor coordination and poor concentration. There may also be some less noticeable self-stimulatory behavior, such as running around a room for no apparent reason or flipping objects between the fingers.

As one of the five pervasive developmental disorders, it distinguishes itself with an impairment in social skills, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and/or activities. Although individuals with Asperger's disorder may be very verbal, speech may have an unusual inflection, tone, rate, rhythm, or emphasis (e.g., tone of voice may be monotonous or may not sound appropriate in the context that it is used). They may also have an impairment in nonverbal communication, such as little eye contact, appropriate facial expressions, or appropriate body gestures/postures.

Asperger's disorder becomes more noticeable as the child gets older and fails to develop appropriate social relationships. It may also be recognized as a child becomes inappropriately fixated on certain activities or objects. An individual may also have difficulty understanding certain types of humor, sarcasm, or other underlying information involved in socializing or communicating.

Treatment options for Asperger's disorder may vary depending on the child's level of need. A child displaying Asperger syndrome behavior may receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior analysis services using behavior intervention plans to increase social skills and decrease any problem behaviors.

The child may also have support from special education services within the school system to focus on specific social skills at school or other challenges the child may be facing. If you suspect your child may be showing symptoms of Asperger's speak with your pediatrician to learn how to have your child evaluated and what services are available in your area.

Rachel Skinner is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. She has over 15 years of experience working with children, including children with pervasive developmental disorders and behavior disorders. For more information on help related to Asperger Syndrome or other child behavior visit Child Behavior Guide - A free online resource for parents and professionals.

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