Please look through our Links for information and services relating to Autism and Asperger's.
We would like to thank Tony Attwood for kindly giving us permission to use the information below. If you would like to see more information about how to help your Asperger's Syndrome child you can go to his website: www.tonyattwood.com.au or follow the link to his site from our Links page.
What is Asperger's Syndrome (now called Autism Spectrum Disorder - Level 1)?
Children with Asperger's syndrome have the following characteristics:
· Delayed social maturity and social reasoning.
· Difficulty making friends and often teased by other children.
· Difficulty with the communication and control of emotions.
· Unusual language abilities that include advanced vocabulary and syntax but delayed conversation skills, unusual prosody and a tendency to be pedantic.
· A fascination with a topic that is unusual in intensity or focus.
· An unusual profile of learning abilities.
· A need for assistance with some self-help and organizational skills.
· Clumsiness in terms of gait and coordination.
· Sensitivity to specific sounds, aromas, textures or touch.
The advantages of a diagnosis can be:
· Being recognized as having genuine difficulties coping with experiences that others find easy and enjoyable.
· A positive change in other people's expectations, acceptance and support.
· Compliments rather than criticism with regard to social competence.
· Acknowledgement of confusion and exhaustion in social situations.
· Schools can access resources to help the child and class teacher.
· An adult can access specialized support services for employment and further education.
· Greater self-understanding, self-advocacy and better decision making with regard to careers, friendships and relationships.
· A sense of identification with a valued ‘culture'.
· The person no longer feels stupid, defective or insane.