Aspergers Support Group
Update (July 2010): The Aspergers Support Group has disbanded, however, please feel free to get in touch.
Aspergers Syndrome (AS) is a form of Autism, a condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others.
A number of the traits of atism are common to AS. These may be:
Aspergers
These are the main features of AS but remember that every person is an individual and therefore characteristics will vary greatly. The features can also change over time.
Recognising the Signs
Because people with AS are not physically disabled, they look just like any other person. Due to this invisible nature it can be much harder to create awareness and understanding of the condition.
An individual with AS may:
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Show habitual and repetitive behaviours
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Take things too literally
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Tend to focus on minor things around them
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Have poor understanding of other people’s body language and/or gestures
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Appear aloof and indifferent to other people
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Passively accept social contact
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Approach other people in an odd, inappropriate way
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Be overly sensitive to touch, smell, sounds etc
Before and After Diagnosis
What Next? If you suspect your child has problems in any areas of social interaction, communication or if your child has developed a rigid repetitive way of coping with the world, the first step is to go to your GP and request a referral for a professional assessment.
From day one, before or after diagnosis, we have all been in a situation like, or similar to, the one you are in right now. We have been through appointments, referrals, discussions with the professionals and the education system.
Aspergers Syndrome does not have to be a life sentence—it just needs more understanding.