What is Asperger's syndrome?

The Asperger syndrome (AS) suffered by the charismatic Sheldon Cooper (the character, not the actor), from the television series The Big Bang Theory , is a disorder characterized by the patient showing limited interests or an unusual and obsessive preoccupation with a particular object or topic, even excluding other activities and conversation topics. People who suffer from it usually have normal or slightly above average intelligence, but they show repetitive routines or rituals, as well as a tendency to speak in a too formal or monotonous way and to interpret figures of speech and ironies in a literal way. Sometimes their body language is non-existent. They also exhibit socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and are unable to interact successfully with others. Physical clumsiness and lack of empathy for others are other characteristic features of the disease, which is usually diagnosed at school age.

It is estimated that around 3 out of every 1,000 children may have the disorder, which is more common in boys and is classified as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Scientists like Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton, artists like Michelangelo and brilliant musicians like Beethoven are believed to have suffered from Asperger syndrome.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms vary greatly. The first signs of Asperger syndrome can appear during the first year of life and include:

Restrictive and repetitive interests:for example, becoming an expert on a single subject to the exclusion of all others; something that usually involves tirelessly collecting, numbering, or enumerating.

Formal or distinguished speech:There may be a lack of rhythm or intonation when speaking. The speech may be flat, monotonous, unusually slow or fast – regardless of the topic of conversation – or the volume may be inappropriate for what we are used to.

Routines:People with Asperger syndrome may have rules and rituals that they keep methodically to reduce confusion. Changing the routine can cause anxiety.

Social isolation:The tendency to speak only about a particular field and their poor ability to relate socially can lead to isolation. They may appear distant and withdrawn. Making and keeping friends can be a challenge for them.

Delayed motor development:poor coordination can make it difficult to perform simple tasks like tying your shoelaces.

Problems with proximity:they may experience difficulty knowing how close they should be with another person while chatting.

The jokes, the sarcasm and the ironyThey can cause distress and confusion – they may have a very literal view of the world, hence irony and humor are not easy to understand, which can again lead to frustration and confusion.

Difficulties aside, everything related to logic and memory is fascinating to a person with Asperger’s. They can be exceptionally skilled in math, computer science, and music.

Diagnosis

There is no specific test for Asperger syndrome. Physical tests such as hearing, blood tests, or X-rays can rule out other conditions and determine if a physical disorder is causing the symptoms. Therefore, due to the wide variety of symptoms, it is difficult to have an early diagnosis of this developmental disorder.