Asperger's Syndrome
What is Aperger's Syndrome?
Asperger's Syndrome is part of the spectrum of autistic disorders. It is a condition which affects the way a person understands the world and their surroundings, and how they process information and communicate with other people.
People with Asperger's Syndrome struggle with social communication, interaction and imagination.
What is the difference between autism and Asperger's Syndrome?
People who have Asperger's Syndrome will share similar traits with those who have autism, but people with Asperger's Syndrome will have fewer communication problems and usually have an average or above average intelligence.
Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome
Social communication
Many professionals working with people on the autistic spectrum disorder will liken the life of a person with Asperger's Syndrome to how people feel when they travel to a foreign country which has a completely different culture. The language, the signs, the customs are all hard to understand.
They will struggle to understand sarcasm, jokes or complex words. People with Asperger's Syndrome are very literal - you could not, for instance, tell them that you had three best friends, because the meaning of the word 'best' is that there can only be one.
Social interaction
People with Asperger's Syndrome are usually aware of their condition and their apparent differences to their peers. They want to be socially included - whereas people with autism are usually happy in their own world - but initiating and maintaining social relationships is very hard.
They do not understand basic social rules, for example, personal space, and they can find other people's mood changes and temperaments unpredictable. They often insist on unreasonable routines that if not followed will lead to tantrums.
Social imagination
While people with Asperger's Syndrome usually have an above average intelligence and can be incredibly creative in writing, music and art, they can also have difficulty with social imagination.
As children, they will struggle with playing 'make believe' or dressing up and role play, but are rather drawn to logical games which have a definite answer they can find. They find it difficult to understand body language or facial expressions and do not like to be in unpredictable situations.
What causes Asperger's Syndrome?
The cause of Asperger's Syndrome, like all autistic spectrum disorders, continues to be researched. There is evidence to suggest a combination of genetics and environments can account for differences in brain development.
There are more than half a million people in the UK with an autistic spectrum disorder and while Asperger's Syndrome affects people of all nationalities and social backgrounds, the condition is more prevalent in men than women.
What is absolutely clear from research is that Asperger's Syndrome is not discriminatory and is not caused by a person's upbringing or socio-economic standing.
How Priory Education Services can help
Priory Education Services operates a network of schools and colleges throughout the country. It is the UK's leading specialist provider of education and care for children and young people aged four to 35 with a wide range of complex learning difficulties and disabilities. These include asperger's syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders, behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Almost all students admitted have a Statement of Special Educational Needs and will have experienced difficulties within mainstream and local authority special schools. Many will have been excluded from school or had problems at home because of their complex and challenging needs and behaviours.
Please click here for further information on the specific special educational needs our schools and colleges can address.
Please click here for a list of our schools and colleges that specialise in Asperger's Syndrome.
Contact us to find out if we can help. Telephone 0845 2 774679 or email education@priorygroup.com Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and between 10am and 8pm at the weekends.
Further Help
The National Autistic Society
www.autism.org.uk
0845 070 4004
Young Minds Parent Information Service
www.youngminds.org.uk
0800 018 2138