Asperger's Syndrome is part of a range of conditions called Autism Spectrum Conditions, which includes both Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, amongst others. Recent estimates put the number of people with Autism Spectrum Conditions in the UK at about 1 in 100. This means that, if you include their families, over two million people in the UK are affected by Autism Spectrum Conditions, including Asperger’s Syndrome every single day of their lives (Figures from the National Autistic Society, 2007, www.nas.org.uk).

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is easily confused with high-functioning Autism, and some people don’t even recognise that there is a difference between the two. Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome share many common characteristics, such as the triad of impairments and a love of routine, see below for more details. However, AS differs from Autism in that people with AS don’t have an accompanying learning disability, and have a normal IQ. In fact, many people with AS have higher than average IQ’s, and are very intelligent. People with AS often desire social contact, but don’t know how to go about it, whereas those with Autism often prefer their own company.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a condition which affects the function of the brain. It was named after physician Hans Asperger, who published a paper in 1944 detailing his findings from studying a group of young boys. The boys had intelligence and language skills within the expected range for their age, but displayed some autistic behaviour, and had deficiencies in social and communication skills. Despite these findings, Asperger’s Syndrome was only formally recognised by the medical community in 1994, and is still relatively unknown today.

Although the exact cause of Asperger’s Syndrome is unknown, research has shown that it is very likely that it is genetic, although a child’s environment may be a factor too, (Marshall, 2004). Asperger's Syndrome affects more boys than girls, but can affect anyone, regardless of race or social class. As Asperger’s Syndrome is a ‘spectrum condition’, people are affected in different ways, and to different degrees. Some people with Asperger’s Syndrome can lead independent lives with jobs, relationships and social lives. Others may need more support to achieve a good quality of life, and may have more difficulty living in the social world.

What Difficulties do People with Asperger’s Syndrome Face?

Although all people with Asperger’s Syndrome differ, there tend to be some characteristics that they commonly display, which are usually grouped under three headings:

Social Communication
People with Asperger’s Syndrome may appear to have fantastic communication skills, as sometimes people with AS display a very correct and pedantic way of speaking. However, their understanding of the language that they’re using might be limited, or they might find it hard to understand that conversations are a two-way process, and might go on at length about their own interests.
People with AS may also find it hard to interpret gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice. Many of us take these non-verbal means of communication for granted, but people with AS may miss a large proportion of what is being conveyed due to their difficulty with non-verbal communication, and therefore have problems with social situations.

Sometimes, people with AS can take comments very literally. Therefore, they may find sarcasm and irony hard to understand, which can lead to misunderstandings. Phrases such as ‘pull your socks up’, or ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ might be taken very literally by someone with AS, when many other people would understand them as metaphors.

Social Interaction
Many of us abide by unwritten social rules. Things like when it is appropriate to touch someone, what things are OK to talk about in public and how openly to express our emotions may seem like second nature. However, to a person with Asperger’s Syndrome, these things may not come naturally, and may have to be learned. This can lead to problems with social interaction. Although people with AS often want to be sociable, these social issues can lead to them appearing aloof as they try to avoid embarrassing social situations. Unlike Autism, people with AS are often aware of the differences between them and their peers, which can lead to anxiety.

Social Imagination
Difficulties with imagination don’t just include imaginative play in children, or in being creative. People with Asperger’s Syndrome can find it hard to imagine how others feel, and empathise with other people. They might also find it difficult to imagine the consequences of their actions, or of how their actions might affect others, or perhaps predict how others are going to behave, all of which can lead to anxiety and misunderstanding.

A lack of imagination can also mean that people with AS prefer to follow set routines and rituals, to reduce the chance of confusing or embarrassing situations. These may help them to feel secure, and may appear obsessive to others, as someone with AS may become upset or agitated if their routine is disrupted.

Sensory Issues

People with Asperger’s Syndrome often have issues with sensory stimulation, in that their senses, sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, may be over-sensitive, or not sensitive enough. If a person’s senses are over-sensitive, known as hyper-sensitivity, they experience stimulation at a much higher level than most people. For example, what is a quiet humming from a fluorescent light to most people might be unbearably loud to someone with AS. Certain smells or tastes may make them gag, or they might hate the feeling of certain clothes on their skin. Sensory overload can cause physical pan to a person with AS. Hypersensitivity can lead to a person trying to block out sensory stimulation, for example by blocking their ears, or avoiding eye contact.

If someone’s senses are not as sensitive as you might expect, known as hyposensitivity, then they may not experience sensory stimulation that is going on around them. For example, they might not respond to someone talking to them, or they may have a very high pain threshold. Hyposensitivity can lead to a person seeking out sensory stimulation, which can result in behaviours such as hand-flapping or making loud noises.

What is Autism Please contact the Family Support Team for more information