Conditions
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Autism and its milder form Asperger Syndrome, often referred to together as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are conditions which make it hard for sufferers to communicate or interact with others, or to develop what most people would consider ‘normal’ emotional responses. Around half a million people – that’s one in a hundred – have ASD in the UK. The condition can be mild, in which case the impact on ordinary life is low, or so severe that sufferers struggle to function in social situations. It can make the world seem a strange and scary place.
So what are the main symptoms of ASD in kids? Often they will be late learning to walk and talk, and have difficulties communicating their feelings or needs. Even after they have learned to talk, they will have difficulty maintaining a conversation. As they get older they may seem distant and detached, uninterested in affection, come out with unexpected or inappropriate things in social situations and struggle to do what they’re told.
ASD sufferers lack what’s called a ‘social imagination’. This doesn’t mean they have no imagination at all. Far from it! Instead they tend to take jokes, slang and phrases like ‘that song is wicked’ literally. They won’t be interested in making friends or playing games, may become obsessed with things or routines, and will appear insensitive to other’s people’s feelings.
There are no specific medical tests to confirm ASD, but a doctor will be able to give a diagnosis by the time a child is three years old. Nor is there any specific cure but, depending on the severity, kids will be assigned a range of specialists who will help your child as he or she develops.
All of this can make living with an ASD-sufferer challenging, yet many kids with mild Aspergers cope fine in ordinary schools and go on to live fulfilling, independent lives. Your doctor or specialist will be able to recommend support groups, and for an insider’s view of the condition, the acclaimed novel The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night by Mark Haddon describes the world from the perspective of a 15 year old by with Aspergers.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
i had aspergers my name is karel
i have been diagnosed with other conditions however i took this tested and scored 32 i wonder if im i am be treated for the right medical condition as i find it hard to explain myself when my doctors asks me question.i stuggle everyday with my conditions because it really does not make sense why i am how i am,sometime to understand who ya are is to know what you are.
I am OUTRAGED with the fact that this article suggests that The Curious Incident book explains the views of someone with Aspergers!! If you know about the condition well, you'll certainly realise that this "Christopher Boone" boy clearly isnt Aspergers.. he is low functioning autistic! Most people think that the low functioning/lower side of the spectrum are directly related to academic intelligence, when really it means the scale of how one can survive life in the real word without constant supervision- People who have Asperger's can however low functioning can't and neither could Christopher. In the real world it is very hard to tell whether one has Aspergers, or if they have something wrong with them. If Christopher was real, you could easily tell that there was something psycologically wrong with him. Christopher puts his hands to his ears, and makes a noise when he doesn't get his own way which is NOT how aspergers syndrome person behaves. This clearly shows the behaviours of someone of low functioning as this shows very serious problems. Christopher being afraid of his father murdering him, just because he murdered thier neighbour's pet dog, and on top of that decides to go and live with his mother on short notice, without even telephoning the number she had provided him in the letter, He waited in the train station in the freezing cold groaning all day when really this does not solve anything when he was trying to get to his mothers house. He walks away in mid conversation. All these behaviours are not that of Aspergers, because unlike Christopher, they can tell the cause, effect and consequences of their actions. If Christopher was left to fend for himself, he would probably get hurt and not survive as much whereas an Aspergers and High Functioning and Neuro typicals (people who aren't autistc) could Given that this is an Embarrasing Bodies website and that this is a doctors website full of conditions, I'd say that it is outrageous that you have got your facts wrong and that you think that The Curious Incident is a resource for explaining autism, because it isn't. Absolutely disgusting! Also
im 28 and was once were you are my parents put there head in sand because they didnt want to admit i had problems,accepting a problem is the first step in dealing with them,for your own peace of mind be honest to them and yourself dont hide who you are as it will only make things worse x
on the online test i scored 49 which i know is very high i also have dyslexia as well as a few health issues i want to try and get diagnosed but i dont want my parents to find out as i am only 16 and there is a long history of mental problems in my family wondering what to do
My mum and I beleive I may have a mild form of Aspergers but I have been diagnosed as having a personality disorder instead is there anyone or anywhere I can go to know either way?? The Work Psychologist I went to at the Jobcentre has suggested to me that I may have it.
This is severe autism (an example of self injurious behaviours and non responsiveness): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gXqHEB564s
I have a problem with this and I don't know where to raise it. Going to an ASD specialist school (specialising in non/mildly intellectually impaired children on the spectrum) I know many individuals with ASD. The embarrassing bodies articles only really adress high functioning individuals, creating an incorrect image of ASD. 40% of individuals on the spectrum have intellectual impairments, ranging from mild to profound. Some individuals never develop communicative abilities (and I have personally met such individuals) and even more develop no functional speech. I understand that parents of individuals on the moderate to low functioning end of the spectrum probably know their child has autism, but members of the general population are getting the wrong image of ASD. How many people are going to donate to a charity that provides therapy to a condition that only gets "so severe that sufferers struggle to function in social situations?" Autism spectrum disorder, by definition, must at least "limit and impair everyday functioning" in the areas of social communication and restrictive and repetitive behaviours.
Hi my name is Ana I'm 22 years old and I think I may have ASD. I always had problems with communication has a child and I also have dislexia.I never had friends and I have problems communicating with other people I'm having counsiling for the past one year and a half but it's not helping. I'm too embarrassed to go and see my GP please help me.
Please join my facebook page Asperger syndrome. I have people that offer support http://www.facebook.com/kazzyg0505?sk=wall&filter=1
After 2 years of searching and in the absence of local help from NHS/PCT/LA how many site users would be interested in the following service which we are planning to pilot "We are planning to establish a local centre in xxxxx for adults who have Aspergers Syndrome. The purpose of the centre is to provide, on one or two days each week, for eight to ten weeks, a series of seminars, workshops, social discussion, practical activities, talks and demonstrations on living life skills. The aim is to inspire attendees, build self-confidence and self esteem and help them develop community relationships for their long term personal development. If you or your family or friends have an interest in learning more about this new initiative please contact us thru xxxxx""
The information given about Autistic Spectrum Differences on this site is overgeneralised as well as highly inaccurate. I'm a verbal Autie author who cannot cook or food shop successfully on my own, so I know.
Thank you (implied emphasis). This website only explaines the very mildest cases, and the cases so mild they don't even meet the severity required for a diagnosis. It also uses a figure at the higher end of the estimates (1 in 100). The prevailence is generally considered to be 1 in 166. Autism is listed as a "serious developmental disability."
The phrase 'serious developmental disability' is also incorrect. Autism is actually a condition of atypical sensory perceptions which may or may not be disabling. Also, the 1 in 100 figure is quite correct if you take into account all the undiagnosed adults for whom the 'Pathway to Diagnosis' just does not exist in this age of economic catastrophe.
I believe you are confusing your conditions. Sensory processing disorder is a condition of atypical sensory perception. Most individuals with ASD also have SPD so I suppose this is an easy mistake to make. But then there are a minority who only have the triad of impairment (social behavour, social communication and rigidity of thought, behaviour and play) who have clear autism. Also, by definition, any ASD must cause "qualitative impairment" in the areas the triad of impairment covers (therefor being disabaling). And that is in the current diagnostic manual, the planned revision is even more restrictive in how severe the symptoms must be to constitute this form of disability.
I'm not confusing my conditions. Yes, Sensory Processing Disorder can be present without Autism, but all Autistics have it to a greater or lesser degree, and that's what causes the behaviours described by the Triad of 'Impairments.' For example, I prefer to look at someone's mouth because eye contact is physically painful, whereas an Aspie might seek too much eye contact because that's the only way he/she can receive a certain type of stimulus. This is from 'the inside looking out,' remember.
Sorry Jim as I did not mean to cause offence I didn't see your answer before I wrote my comment and I was merely epressing an opinion.
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