Aspergers

People with Asperger’s syndrome have difficulty understanding communication and social rules. Also, often only a few areas of interest can really interest them and they have repetitive behavior. Unlike people with classic autism, they do not have delayed language development, but are normal to gifted and have normal language development.

Hans Asperger
The first to report on Asperger’s syndrome was the Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger in 1944. He described a group of children who had quite a few of the following characteristics:

• Difficulty making and maintaining contacts and friendships.
• Difficulty looking an interlocutor straight in the eye.
• Difficulty expressing and dealing with emotions (for example, not being able to judge whether something is meant as a joke or serious).
• Lack of empathy (empathy).
• Difficulty understanding social rules and nonverbal communication.
• Monotonous voice and facial expression showing few emotions.
• Shutting off from the outside world.
• Being able to lose oneself completely in certain subjects and interests that can often be divided into species (such as birds, trains and plants).
• Stiff motor skills and coordination problems.
• Hypersensitivity to sounds, smells or touch.

1994
Because of its strong link with autism, it took a long time for Asperger’s syndrome to be recognized as a separate psychiatric illness. In the Netherlands, for example, this only happened in 1994. Before that time, patients were diagnosed with autism, behavioral disorder PDD-NOS or nothing at all. Further research led to the fact that positive characteristics can also be attributed to Asperger’s:

• A good eye for detail.
• A good, sometimes exceptionally good memory.
• Encyclopedic knowledge of certain subjects.
• Independence in thinking.

condition
It is often impossible to suppress the consequences of Asperger’s syndrome: patients are usually confronted with their condition every day. This can already start in kindergarten: preschoolers with the syndrome often have difficulty following instructions and are notable for their distinctive facial expressions, gait, language and speech.

Children
Primary school students also usually have trouble keeping to the rules. Furthermore, at these ages it often emerges that children with Asperger’s find it difficult to place themselves in the feelings of others or to assess the consequences of their actions. Social contacts are particularly difficult and they often have difficulty asking for help.

Precisely when social interaction really starts to become important – in puberty – adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome drop out. They do not understand social manners and hardly share interests with peers. Moreover, they are often so perfectionistic in everything they do that they work much slower and do not accept criticism.

Adults
In adults, the characteristics of the syndrome have evolved to such an extent that they often remain loners. Social communication is still a big problem, stress arises when one has to deviate from a fixed pattern and losing oneself in certain subjects or hobbies is increasing even more. Adults often find it difficult to express themselves and the separate way of talking and moving have remained. Fortunately, adults with Asperger’s – unlike, for example, people with autism – often manage well and live independently, with or without supervision.

hereditary
The cause of Asperger’s syndrome is unknown. However, it is almost certain that it is a hereditary disease. The condition cannot be cured. However, they can benefit from good guidance so that they themselves and their loved ones can better deal with their condition. Therapy can also sometimes lead to improvement of communication skills and behaviour.

Famous Aspergers
Because Hans Asperger only described the characteristics of the syndrome in 1944, it cannot be said with certainty, but it is assumed that history knows and has known quite a few well-known Aspergers. A few examples: scientists Albert Einsten and Isaac Newton, founder of the United States Benjamin Franklin, conqueror of Europe Napoleon Bonaparte, ruler of Egypt Cleopatra, artist/inventor Leonardo da Vinci, composer Ludwig von Beethoven, musician Elvis Presley, Microsoft- founder Bill Gates and actress Marilyn Monroe.