Asperger’s Syndrome, once considered a distinct diagnosis, is now included under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). However, many people still use the term to describe individuals who exhibit certain characteristics traditionally associated with Asperger's. Here’s an overview:
Key Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome
Social Interaction Challenges: Individuals may have difficulty understanding social cues and norms, which can lead to challenges in forming and maintaining relationships.
Restricted Interests: People with Asperger’s often have intense, focused interests in specific subjects or activities, often becoming highly knowledgeable in those areas.
Communication Style: While they may have good verbal skills, individuals might struggle with the nuances of conversation, such as understanding jokes, sarcasm, or figurative language. Inferences are hard but this gets better with practice.
Repetitive Behaviors: Similar to other forms of autism, individuals may exhibit repetitive movements or routines and may resist changes to their environment or schedule.
Cognitive Abilities: Many individuals with Asperger’s have average to above-average intelligence, and some may excel in fields that require strong analytical skills.
Support and Interventions
Support for individuals who may have been diagnosed with Asperger’s can include:
Therapies: Behavioral therapy, social skills training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help improve social interaction and communication.
Educational Support: Individualized education plans (IEPs) can provide accommodations to help students succeed in school.
Occupational Therapy: This can assist with daily living skills and sensory integration.
Current Understanding
The shift in terminology reflects a broader understanding of autism as a spectrum, recognizing that individuals can have a wide range of abilities and needs. While Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer a formal diagnosis, the experiences and characteristics associated with it remain relevant for many individuals and families. For example, very often, asperger’s goes un-noticed because there are not the same challenges with language and expressing feelings as those with Autism have. It may just look from the outside to be social anxiety, social awkwardness, or someone being shy. However, these difficulties are very apparent to the person struggling because they feel they don’t fit in and are often left behind as a result. Isolation, feelings about “not getting it”, the world, and people, sensory issues and often motivational issues leaves people faced with the conflict of moving out into the world where it feels unsafe, there is often rejection, fear of rejection and misperceived rejection, or staying home where it is safe. Unfortunately, many stay home where it is safe, and create their own world of fantasy, sometimes decathected, disconnected from time and space of the here and now. One thing that can help people venture out into the world more easily is having tools to deal with what comes at them unexpectedly socially in order to know they can manage. One tool is a mindfulness one where they breathe through the social interaction, focusing in part on their breath, particularly when they get an internal signal that they are indeed getting overwhelmed. The focus on the sensation of breathing, whether just noticing the breath, or noticing the sensation in the body during the breath. Breath work stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing heart rate and fostering a sense of calm. It affects the prefrontal cortex involved in decision making and self regulation, because when we get anxious, and cortisol is released, that blocks us from being able to think.It also affects the amygdala, associated with emotional processing, and the limbic systems related to emotions and memory. The hippocampus for memory and learning, and the vagus nerve are stimulated. Finally, breathwork stimulates relaxation of the musculoskeletal system, which is helpful for overall health.
Understanding and supporting individuals with these traits is essential for fostering inclusivity and helping them to thrive in various aspects of life.
Comments