Asperger’s syndrome is named after Dr. Hans Asperger, the first doctor to provide known documentation about a developmental disorder he observed in some of his younger patients. Dr. Asperger actually labeled this disorder as “autistic psychopathy”. It wasn’t until some years later when his work was reviewed and other children were noticed to have this disorder that it became known as Asperger’s syndrome.
This syndrome is one of the syndromes that fits into the autism spectrum, a class of disorders that commonly cause patients to exhibit a lack of social skills such as empathy and verbal communication. While this may seem like a simple thing to someone who has never experienced it, parents who have children with this disorder know just how debilitating it can be. Parents may experience serious behavior problems with the child as they try to understand the world around them.
There are some great resources for parents with children who have Asperger’s syndrome. These resources can be used not only to help the parent understand the child, but some of them also give those afflicted with Asperger’s syndrome a chance to speak out and let the world know how they see things. This goes a long way toward helping parents to see the positive aspects of the autism spectrum and to understand that Asperger’s is not a reason to excuse negative behavior in a child. It simply requires that the parent use specific methods to curb the behavior.
Autism Society of America: I personally love this resource. They always have a variety of events going on and they are a wealth of information. Membership is free and anyone can join. This is one of the resources that provides a format for those with Asperger’s and other disorders on the autism spectrum, to speak out and give others a glimpse into the world of autism. They are the founders of Autism Awareness Month. Not only is this society a great resource, but they also provide access to local resources for those with Asperger’s and their loved ones to use.
Asperger’s Society: The creation of this society was prompted by the frustrations of Craig Kendall, a parent of a child with Asperger’s syndrome. He has written several books on the syndrome and what parents can do to cope with it. Mr. Kendall offers information on medications, techniques and information that he obtained directly from people of all ages who have this syndrome and his own experience.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: This institute provides detailed information on the syndrome and the developments made concerning this syndrome. Since this is run by the National Institutes of Health, you can get the latest in findings, laws passed, conventions and other resources.
While it’s difficult to diagnose Asperger’s syndrome due to the nature of the disorder, there are some classic symptoms that parents and others can look for. These resources provide quality information so that parents can help their doctors to identify specific behaviors. They also help parents and others to understand the disorder and find some specific ways to help their children so that they can become productive and happy members of society as they grow and develop.
References
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm
http://www.aspergerssociety.org/
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_home
