Are Asperger's and Autism the Same Disorder?

Asperger's syndrome (AS) belongs to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). It has the same barriers to social communication as autism, limited interest and repetitive, stereotyped activities. In terms of classification, it belongs to the autism spectrum disorder or generalized developmental disorder, but it is different from autism. The difference from autism is that it has no obvious language and mental retardation.

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2018-01-15 21:01 Asperger's syndrome: magical "genius disease", deciphering autism without mental retardation

Asperger syndrome and autism belong to the same disease subtype of autism spectrum disorder. It is a more common childhood developmental behavior disease. Its incidence is higher than that of typical autism. It is a high-end form and belongs to a high level. Functional autism. It is often misdiagnosed as common autism, and it is difficult to have a cure. ... more

Basic Information

nickname: Asperger syndrome, Asperger's disease, and Asperger syndrome
English name: Asperger syndrome
Visiting department: Department of Psychology

Multiple groups: male
Common symptoms: Difficult interpersonal communication, difficulty in language communication, stereotyped behavioral patterns, special interests and hobbies, and awkward movements.
Contagious: no

Causes of Asperger syndrome

The cause of the disease is currently unknown. But research has shown that genetics, biochemistry, filter viruses, problems during pregnancy and childbirth, and environmental issues may be the cause of Asperger's syndrome. The probability of developing Asperger's syndrome is 0.07%, which means that an average of 7 10,000 newborns will be patients.

Clinical manifestations of Asperger syndrome

1. Interpersonal difficulties

Patients are willing to interact with others and like to play with their peers, but they lack communication skills, do not understand non-verbal information such as facial expressions, body movements, etc. The communication method adopted is rigid, rigid, and stylized, so it is difficult to form and maintain good interpersonal relationships. , Can not develop friendship, can not flexibly deal with a variety of different situations, often isolated by peers. The difference from the performance of children with autism is that patients with autism are shrinking. They do not seem to be interested in the people around them and do not take the initiative to establish contact with their peers. However, people with Asperger syndrome often desire or even try to establish contact with others. But lack the skills to do it.

2. Language communication difficulties

Although the patient's language development is normal and the expression is fluent, the ability to use language to communicate is poor, the ability to observe and watch is poor during the conversation, does not pay attention to the other party s response, regardless of whether the other party is interested in the content being talked about, and does not care about others Feel. Use more written language in conversation, chew words, give people a sense of old-fashioned, rigid, exaggerated. For the conversation of the other party, the patient can only understand short, clear sentences, and it is difficult to understand humorous, metaphorical, pun intended sentences.

3. Stereotyped behavioral patterns, special hobbies and limitations

Behavioral patterns are ritualized as a stubborn process of maintaining daily activities. For example, school must follow the same route. If there are changes in the course of the day, traffic jams delay time, etc., patients will feel irritable. Some patients eat the same meal every day, defecate at a fixed time and place, go to bed regularly, use only the same quilt and pillow, and must cover their eyes with a handkerchief when they fall asleep. Once these behavioral procedures are changed, the patient will show anxiety and irritability. Patients often have certain special hobbies and collections, such as remembering train schedules, lottery winners, heights of famous mountains or buildings, and collecting phone cards, which seems more quirky. These hobbies of patients should be encouraged and used to enable them to pursue careers or research in adulthood.

4. Clumsy exercise

In addition to the above-mentioned diagnosis, there is another symptom that is not related to the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, that is, delayed motor development and awkward movement. People with Asperger syndrome may have a personal history of poor motor skills, such as learning to ride a bicycle, catch a ball, open a can, etc. later than their peers. Usually they are inflexible, have stiff gait, weird postures, poor operating skills, and have significant shortcomings in visual-motor coordination.

Asperger syndrome test

Parents with Asperger's syndrome can detect certain abnormalities through routine developmental screening within 30 months. For the diagnosis of this disease, several different measurement tools are needed, including the Asperger Diagnostic Scale (ASDS), the Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), and the Child Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST).

Asperger syndrome diagnosis

Definition of Asperger's Syndrome (known as "Asperger's Disorder") in DSM-IV (APA1994):

1. There are obstacles in social aspects, and qualitative judgment can be made by showing at least the following two situations:

(1) There are significant defects in the ability to use some non-verbal behavior for social interaction, such as gaze, facial expressions, body posture and gestures.

(2) Cannot establish appropriate partnerships commensurate with their age.

(3) Lack of the desire to spontaneously seek out others to share happiness or success.

(4) Lack of communicative and emotional reciprocity.

2. Stubbornly adhere to a repeating and constant pattern in behavior preferences and activities, exhibiting at least one of the following situations:

(1) It is always in one or more constant and limited interest patterns, and its intensity and concentration of interest are not normal.

(2) Remarkably and stubbornly adhere to some special and meaningless procedures and rituals.

(3) Repeat and maintain some special habits that you have formed.

(4) Pay attention to a part of the object for a long time.

3. The above obstacles have severely impaired children's functions in social interaction professions or other important areas.

4. There is no obvious clinically significant overall delay in language development (such as speaking a single word before the age of two, and using conversational phrases before the age of three).

5. There is no obvious clinically significant delay in the development of cognitive abilities, self-care ability, adaptive behavior (except social aspects), and curiosity of the external environment during childhood.

6. Does not meet other clear diagnostic criteria for extensive developmental delay and schizophrenia.

Asperger syndrome treatment

Overall treatment goal

The overall goal of treating Asperger's syndrome is to manage the patient's adverse symptoms and educate them to acquire age-appropriate social, communication and vocational skills to compensate for skills that were not naturally acquired during the development of Asperger's patients. Patients are evaluated in various aspects, and appropriate intervention measures are formulated according to the characteristics of each person. The ideal treatment focuses on improving core symptoms of Asperger's syndrome, including improving communication skills or stereotyped behavioral patterns. The earlier the treatment, the better the overall prognosis. Treatments for Asperger syndrome include:

(1) Social skills training is the most effective way to enhance interpersonal communication.

(2) Cognitive behavior training can enhance stress management of disease-related anxiety and explosive emotions, and reduce stereotyped interests and behavior patterns.

(3) Drug treatment, corresponding treatment for existing comorbidities such as major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder

(4) Occupational therapy or physical therapy improves sensory integration disorders and motor coordination disorders.

(5) Social intervention, focusing on speech therapy, and promoting normal dialogue between patients.

(6) Train and support parents, especially behavioral skills often used at home.

2. Drug treatment

No drug can directly treat the core symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. Nevertheless, the diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities with Asperger syndrome is very important. Drug therapy combined with behavioral intervention and environmental adaptation can effectively improve symptoms of anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, attention deficit and agitation. The atypical antipsychotics risperidone and olanzapine can reduce symptoms associated with Asperger's syndrome, and risperidone can reduce repetitive, stereotyped and self-harm behaviors, irritations and impulses that occur suddenly. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline are effective in treating stereotyped interests and behavioral patterns.