Understanding Asperger’s Symptoms in young Adults

 

Understanding Asperger’s Symptoms in young Adults

 Mr A, age 29 years, has been an "eternal outsider and loner" since childhood. He has never developed any deep friendship. Although he intensely read books about human social behaviour to gain a better understanding of his environment, he used and understood speech in the most literal manner, which often resulted in misunderstandings. He had understood only as an adult that his parents always called him a couch potato.

Professionally, he had found his niche. As a child he had spent almost all his time building "technically complex constructions" from Lego building blocks or solved most difficult mathematical problem. As a teenager he had taught himself computer programming and, although he did not actually undergo a professional training, he was now very successful in the computing business. Developing programs gave him "deep satisfaction" whereas the "inevitable social interaction" with colleagues posed a substantial strain on him.

Routines were important to him; he disrupted these rarely. Since childhood he had always put his clothes on in a certain sequence. He started his working days always by performing certain actions in the same order. Even minute disruptions to these routines disturbed his day to such an extent that he felt "derailed".  All in all, the biggest strain for the patient was participating in life "outside his own private sphere".

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a low prevalence autism spectrum disorder characterized by significant impairments in social interaction, social communication, and restricted patterns of interest in the presence of intact language. The first known description suggestive of this condition was reported by Hans Asperger in 1944.

Adults with AS, typically show marked social difficulties with unusual preoccupations, low empathy, reduced understanding of social norms, and difficulties in dealing with their own emotions and poor motor co-ordination. Despite adequate linguistic skills in areas of semantics and syntax, subjects have poor nonverbal and pragmatic language skills and poor understanding of social rules of behaviour.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in multiple communities in the United States which is 30 per cent higher than the last time it was checked in 2012. However, the condition is extremely difficult to identify among adults.

But Asperger’s often bestows unique gifts, too. Some of the most inspiring and influential people we know and love have Asperger’s. Elon Musk recently shared that he has Asperger’s syndrome.

No two people experience AS in quite the same way. You may have only a few of these symptoms, or you may experience all of them at different times.

Given that a lot of Indians still opt for arranged marriages or meet via the Internet or have long-distance relationships, the challenges and traits of the person with ASD might at first go unnoticed, many adults with autism spectrum disorder develop anxiety and depression as they struggle to understand others and fit in.

Strategies to improve relationship skills

Chilodren with autism spectrum disorder who are diagnosed and treated early in life have an increased chance of being successful in school and later in life.

 

People with Asperger’s syndrome will require guidance in relationship skills at each point on the relationship continuum and probably throughout their lives. Children will need guidance from a speech pathologist in the art of conversation, and strategies to improve friendship skills throughout the school years from an occupational therapist or psychologist. The development of friendship skills must be a priority for educational services that support a child with Asperger’s syndrome, as greater maturity and ability in friendship skills will improve self-esteem, reduce incidents of being teased or bullied, lay the foundations for adult relationship skills, and encourage teamwork abilities for successful employment.

While most individuals with Asperger’s syndrome or an autism spectrum disorder will be diagnosed as children, some adults will not find a solution to their symptoms until adulthood. With a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, you can find occupational therapies and treatments to help you cope with any challenges you face and live a healthy, productive life that’s fulfilling and happy.

The following therapeutic principles can be applied for patients with Asperger’s syndrome:

·         Practicing and discussing social perceptions

·         Stepwise and structured training/coaching in problem solving skills and life skills

·         Practicing behaviours in unfamiliar situations

·         Practicing the transfer of certain insights to other situations

·         Promoting a concrete development of identity that is based on everyday behaviours

·         Analysing situations that trigger frustrations and analysing how patients may affect others

·         Facilitating further helpful measures, such as ergo therapy or physiotherapy.

In some, structured, directive interventions that discuss situations with the help of concrete, real-life examples, seem beneficial.

By

Dr. Mona Shah

Occupational Therapist, Clinical Psychologist.