Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder. It is classified as an autism spectrum disorder and is often referred to as "high-functioning autism." People with Asperger’s lack social skills, have language and speech problems, and develop highly specialized interests.
People with Asperger’s find it difficult to develop relationships.
It is not known yet what causes Asperger’s but it is believed that genes play a role in a person’s susceptibility to the disease. Environment also plays a key role as certain environmental factors can act as triggers. For instance, pollution, food allergies, and childhood vaccinations like MMR.
Asperger’s treatment strategies are still in the developmental stages. An ideal treatment program for Asperger’s patients would include several interventions that improve their quality of life. These are various therapies that address the important symptoms of the disorder like lack of communication skills, speech problems, repetitive routines, and lack of coordination. Experts including therapists and psychiatrists take patients through a range of exercises.
Here are the top five treatment therapies for Asperger’s:
1. Speech/Language therapy: This helps those suffering from Asperger's conduct a normal conversation.
2. Social skills therapy: People with Asperger’s cannot understand body language, facial expressions, gestures, and their connotations. Social skills therapy helps them understand people and the outside world. Recently, researchers at the University of Texas used the well-known virtual game "Second Life" to teach patients basic social skills like asking people for a date or taking part in a virtual job interview.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy: This helps treat problematic behavioral patterns like sudden and explosive tantrums, repetitive and obsessive behavior, meltdowns, and anxiety disorders related to Asperger’s.
4. Sensory integration training: Those suffering from Asperger's are sensitive to sound, light, and touch stimuli. Sensory integration therapy helps desensitize them to these stimuli.
5. Diet control: Changes in diet can help some Asperger’s patients. Research suggests that some food intolerances may cause Asperger’s. Likely culprits include preservatives and additives, gluten, and dairy products. Some supplements like ginkgo biloba are believed to be beneficial for Asperger's treatment.
Apart from these therapies, you can also make some changes at home that helpsomeone with Asperger’s. Keep the home calm, free from clutter, and cut out unneccesary noise. Anything that has a detrimental effect on behavior or symptoms should be stopped immediately.
Remember, it can take several months before you see any changes in an Apserger’s patient. Don’t lose heart!
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