Asperger's Disorder is a specific type of Pervasive Development Disorder and has grown steadily in the last twelve years. Individuals who have Asperger's Disorder are characterized by possessing the following traits:

• The inability to make eye contact with others.

• Inability to engage peers in a reciprocal fashion

• Inability to make friends; A demonstrated lack of empathy with their peers

• Social isolation and somewhat eccentric behavior with narrow interests

• All consuming nature of certain interests

• Exhaustive knowledge of and encompassing preoccupation with certain subjects.

• Very verbal and intellectually adept

• Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior

• Ritualistic behavior

• Clumsy or uncoordinated motor movement, i.e., inability to catch a ball, pedal a bicycle, climb play equipment

Asperger's Disorder looks very much like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Schizophrenia. It is closely aligned with Autism but is distinguished by a severe and sustained impairment in social interaction but without the clinically significant delay in language acquisition characteristic of Autism (Psychiatric News, Vol. 41; Number 19; October 6, 2006.) Individuals with Asperger's Disorder usually retain their early language skills which distinguishes them from those with Autism. Boys are generally three times more likely than girls to have Asperger's Disorder and it is often identified before the age of 3 years old.

There are three "bell-ringer traits" that clinicians should look for when considering a diagnosis of Asperger Disorder.

• Impaired social interactions, especially difficulty in social reciprocity

• Idiosyncratic interest or activities

• Odd or mechanical or socially inappropriate speech patterns (D. Hoover, PhD. Baylor College of Medicine.)

Effective treatment involves early-intervention psychological counseling, behavior modification and social skills training in specific, rudimentary social rules with highly structured activities. Learning how to respond to different social situations and learning other social skills cognitively so they can approximate an intuitive sense of how to behave are also important in the treatment of individuals with Asperger's Disorder. Treatment also may involve medication intervention (to manage anxiety and depression), in addition to talk therapy, to manage secondary symptoms.

Asperger's Disorder often presents comorbidly with other psychological disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Depression (Major Depressive Disorder or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood), Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD.)

Learning to cope with disabilities is a very important task for individuals with Asperger's Disorder. Many adults with Asperger's Disorder are able to function well in a contemporary work environment but will require moral encouragement and support in order to maintain their independence.

Kathleen R. Madison, MRC, CRC, LPCI
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor/Intern
Certification in Psychiatric Rehabilitation