What does Asperger’s Syndrome look like in a teenager?
Teenagers with Asperger’s Syndrome may experience anxiety or rejection by their peers in social situations. These youths have difficulty navigating their social world due to deficits in interpreting social cues and reading the body language and facial expressions of others. Some youths with Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty demonstrating empathy or “putting themselves in others’ shoes.” As a result, they may not respond appropriately, or at all, in situations calling for an empathetic response. Their peers may view them as odd or different. Social rejection can cause them to experience feelings of loneliness or depression. In addition, young people with Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty responding flexibly to changes in routine and spontaneous events. They have a tendency to become visibly distressed when unexpected events or changes in routine occur. For this reason, it is important to notify them in advance of impending changes in routine, when possible, and respond patiently to
