Asperger Fact Sheet

About AS:

  • It is a neurological disorder that affects the way information is processed in the brain.
  • AS is a hidden disability. Many people appear very competent, but have difficulties in the areas of communication and social interaction.
  • AS has a genetic and hereditary component and may have additional or interactive environmental causes as yet unknown.
  • AS is a developmental disability, all individuals have social/emotional delays but continued growth seems to be life-long
  • The incidence of AS is thought to be 1 in 250. As many as 50% of people with AS may be undiagnosed.
  • There are currently four males diagnosed with AS to every one female diagnosed with AS but the true ratio may be as high as one female for every two males.

AS affects each person differently, although there are a core set of features that most people with AS have, to different extents:

  • People with AS have normal to very high intelligence and have good verbal skills.
  • Challenges with the use and understanding of language in a social context
  • Trouble understanding what someone else is thinking and feeling (called theory of mind or perspective taking)
  • Needing to be taught social behavior that is learned intuitively by others
  • Difficulty understanding non-verbal cues such as hand movements, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
  • Challenges with organization, initiation, prioritizing, all called executive functioning tasks.
  • Focusing on small details rather than the bigger picture
  • Most people with AS have intense interest areas such as movies, geography, history, math, physics, cars, horses, dogs or reptiles. These interest areas change every 3 months to several years
  • Friendships are usually formed through mutual interest areas or activities
  • Most people with AS view the world in black and white with difficulty compromising or seeing the gray areas
  • Most individuals with AS describe themselves as feeling different, like aliens in our world
  • Anxiety and/or depression are major components for many people with AS and may affect their ability to function
  • Some individuals with AS have extreme and debilitating hyper or hypo sensitivity to light, noise, touch or taste. The environment can have a profound impact on their ability to function.

Other elements and traits some individuals with AS have:

  • Eye contact is difficult, sometimes painful, usually distracting (or if taught poorly, some individuals may stare)
  • Some people with AS are clumsy, most have poor fine motor skills although some excel in individual sports
  • Some individuals with AS have additional diagnoses, such as ADD, bi-polar, OCD.
  • Some have superior skill in a particular area such as painting, writing, math, music, history, electronics or composing.
  • People with AS may have difficulties working in a group
  • Children with AS may have meltdowns that last between 10 minutes and several hours, when the child is not in control of his/her behavior
  • Self-esteem can be an issue for individuals with AS, especially during middle school
  • Many are extremely good at memorizing facts and information
  • Some like to systemtize the world as a way of understanding it

A summary of some Basic Interventions that may be helpful for people with AS:

  • Accepting the diagnosis and leaning how it impacts who you are
  • Learn how and when to talk about it to others
  • Provide support-for adults in the area of budgeting and housekeeping
  • Look very carefully at the social and physical environment to ensure it is tolerable for the person
  • Learning social and communication skills
  • Learning social behavior
  • Working with skills and interest areas
  • Use of medication
  • Setting up Routines in the person's life and prepare for transition for all changes
  • Minimize transitions and social events with many unknown people
  • Provide organizational supports, visual may be better for some people