What is Asperger Syndrome and what should I do if I suspect my child has it?
• (Adapted from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Facts for Families) Asperger Syndrome is the term for a specific type of pervasive developmental disorder which is characterized by problems in development of social skills and behavior. In the past, many children with Asperger Syndrome were diagnosed as having autism, another of the pervasive developmental disorders, or other disorders. While autism and Asperger’s have certain similarities, there are also important differences. For this reason, children suspected of having these conditions require careful evaluation. In general, a child with Asperger Syndrome functions at a higher level than the typical child with autism. For example, many children with Asperger’s Disorder have normal intelligence. While most children with autism fail to develop language or have language delays, children with Asperger Syndrome are usually using words by the age of two, although their speech patterns may be somewhat odd. Most child
