Individuals with Asperger syndrome, or AS, are at the high functioning end of the autism spectrum. Patients with this disorder show impairment in social behavior and motor skills and are also marked by clumsiness. Because it can resemble other forms of autism, it can sometimes be misdiagnosed. While the treatments can be similar, it is important to get a correct diagnosis as there are certain individual treatments that are added for individual patients.
Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, was the first to pinpoint the disorder in 1944, when he described his patients as failing to demonstrate empathy, as well as lacking nonverbal communication skills. It wasn’t until 50 years later that this syndrome was finally recognized and classified as an actual disorder. Today, there are still many questions about the autistic disorder-like impairment. There has long been doubt about the differences in high functioning autistic individuals and those that have AS.
Many physicians use individual treatment plans, depending on the age of the individual, to help manage the lives of those who have Asperger syndrome. The plans vary depending on the development and functioning of the person and can be changed as the person progresses in development. Treatments for AS are very similar to those used to treat highly functioning patients with autism.
Experts still do not fully understand asperger syndrome. Even with all of he studies that have been done on this disorder, there is still little known about it to offer a complete understanding. AS experts and physicians who treat this disorder know that the symptoms are very similar to those of the high functioning autistic disorder. It is truly not known if there will ever be a cure found, but new information is being found all of the time, yet unfortunately, there is still much to learn. Physicians have been able to make great strides in helping those affected with this disorder to increase their ability to be social and to stop certain repetitive behaviors. Hopefully, in the near future there will be enough information to totally eliminate this disorder and help those who are suffering to live far more productive lives.
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