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What is Asperger's Syndrome?
 Asperger Syndrome is considered a disorder at the higher end of autistic continuum. Van Krevelen (cited in Wing, 1991) noted that the low-functioning child with autism “lives in a world of his own,” whereas the higher functioning child with autism “lives in our world but in his own way” (p.99).
Insistence on Sameness
Children with AS are easily overwhelmed by minimal change, are highly sensitive to environmental stressors, and sometimes engage in rituals. They are anxious and tend to worry obsessively when they do not know what to expect; stress, fatigue and sensory overload easily throw them off balance.
Impairment in Social Interaction
Children with AS show an inability to understand complex rules of social interaction; are naive; may not like physical contact; talk at people instead of to them; do not understand jokes, irony or metaphors; use monotone or stilted, unnatural tone of voice; use inappropriate gaze and body language; are insensitive and lack tack; misinterpret social cues; cannot judge “social distance,” exhibit poor ability to initiate and sustain conversation; have well-developed speech but poor communication, are sometimes labeled “little professor” because speaking style is so adult-like and pedantic; are easily taken advantage of (do not perceive that others sometimes lie or trick them); and usually have a desire to be part of the social world.
Restricted Range of Interests
Children with AS have eccentric preoccupations or odd, intense fixations (sometimes obsessively collecting unusual things) and sometimes refuse to learn about anything outside their limited field of interest.
Poor Concentration
Children with AS are often off task, are disorganized; and have difficulty learning in a group situation.
Poor Motor Coordination
Children with AS are Physically clumsy and awkward; have stiff, awkward gaits; are unsuccessful in games involving motor skills; and experience fine-motor deficits that can cause penmanship problems, slow clerical speed and affect their ability to draw.
Academic Difficulties
Children with AS usually have average to above- average intelligence (especially in the verbal sphere) They tend to be very literal; Their images are concrete, and abstraction is poor. Problem-solving skills are poor.
Emotional Vulnerability
Children with Asperger Syndrome have the intelligence to compete in regular education but they often do not have the emotional resources to cope with the demands of the classroom. These children are easily stressed due to their inflexibility. Self-esteem is often low. Rage reactions/temper outbursts are common in response to stress/frustration. Children with AS rarely seem relaxed and are easily overwhelmed with things are not as their rigid views dictate they should be. Interacting with people and coping with the ordinary demands of everyday life take continual Herculean effort.
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Children with Asperger Syndrome are so easily overwhelmed by environmental stressors. Everard (1976) wrote that when these youngsters are compared with their non-disabled peers, “one is instantly aware of how different they are and the enormous effort they have to make to live in a world where no concessions are made and where they are expected to conform” (p.2).
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