Laura Debenham Asperger’s Syndrome

"People with autism spend more time doing things they are not good at than anyone else." Toni Atwood

Definition Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is a developmental disability that is defined by impairments in social relationships, verbal and nonverbal communication, and by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities.

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is a developmental

disability that is defined by impairments in social relationships, verbal and nonverbal communication, and by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities.

Background Identified in 1944 by Hans Asperger. (Austria)‏ Brought to the attention of the English-speaking world in 1980 by Dr. Lorna Wing. Was not added to the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of the American Psychiatric Association until 1994. “ Autism’s Shadow”

Identified in 1944 by Hans Asperger. (Austria)‏

Brought to the attention of the English-speaking world in 1980 by Dr. Lorna Wing.

Was not added to the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of the American Psychiatric Association until 1994.

“ Autism’s Shadow”

Causes There seems to be a hereditary component Environmental factors that affect brain development might play a role Not caused by: Emotional deprivation Bad parenting

There seems to be a hereditary component

Environmental factors that affect brain development might play a role

Emotional deprivation

Bad parenting

Incidence Rates 48 out every 10,000 children (Kadesjo, Gillberg, & Nagberg, 1999)‏

48 out every 10,000 children (Kadesjo, Gillberg, & Nagberg, 1999)‏

Increasing Prevalence Autism, strictly defined 4-6 in 10,000 prior to 1980’s (Lotter 1967)‏ 16-20 in 10,000 today (Chakrabarti & Fombonne 2001)‏ Autism spectrum disorders 10 in 10,000 in 1990’s (Bryson et al 1988)‏ 60-70 in 10,000 today (Chakrabarti & Fombonne 2001)‏

Autism, strictly defined

4-6 in 10,000 prior to 1980’s (Lotter 1967)‏

16-20 in 10,000 today (Chakrabarti & Fombonne 2001)‏

Autism spectrum disorders

10 in 10,000 in 1990’s (Bryson et al 1988)‏

60-70 in 10,000 today (Chakrabarti & Fombonne 2001)‏

Famous Aspies... · Albert Einstein · Henry Ford · Thomas Edison · Thomas Jefferson · Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Isaac Newton · Henry Thoreau · Mark Twain · Vincent Van Gogh · John Denver · Alfred Hitchcock · Howard Hughes

· Albert Einstein

· Henry Ford

· Thomas Edison

· Thomas Jefferson

· Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

· Isaac Newton

· Henry Thoreau

· Mark Twain

· Vincent Van Gogh

· John Denver

· Alfred Hitchcock

· Howard Hughes

Andy Warhol Woody Allen Bill Gates Al Gore John Nash Keanu Reeves Alex P. Keaton Cliff Clavin from Cheers Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern Mr Bean Steve Urkel Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes Frankenstein's Monster Ludwig van Beethoven Andy Warhol Woody Allen Bill Gates Al Gore John Nash Keanu Reeves Alex P. Keaton Cliff Clavin from Cheers Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern Mr Bean Steve Urkel Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes Frankenstein's Monster Ludwig van Beethoven Andy Warhol Woody Allen Bill Gates Al Gore John Nash Keanu Reeves Alex P. Keaton Cliff Clavin from Cheers Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern Mr Bean Steve Urkel Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes Frankenstein's Monster Ludwig van Beethoven Andy Warhol Woody Allen Bill Gates Al Gore John Nash Keanu Reeves Alex P. Keaton Cliff Clavin from Cheers Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern Mr Bean Steve Urkel Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes Frankenstein's Monster Ludwig van Beethoven

Andy Warhol

Woody Allen

Bill Gates

Al Gore

John Nash

Keanu Reeves

Alex P. Keaton

Cliff Clavin from Cheers

Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern

Mr Bean

Steve Urkel

Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

Frankenstein's Monster

Ludwig van Beethoven

Andy Warhol

Woody Allen

Bill Gates

Al Gore

John Nash

Keanu Reeves

Alex P. Keaton

Cliff Clavin from Cheers

Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern

Mr Bean

Steve Urkel

Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

Frankenstein's Monster

Ludwig van Beethoven

Andy Warhol

Woody Allen

Bill Gates

Al Gore

John Nash

Keanu Reeves

Alex P. Keaton

Cliff Clavin from Cheers

Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern

Mr Bean

Steve Urkel

Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

Frankenstein's Monster

Ludwig van Beethoven

Andy Warhol

Woody Allen

Bill Gates

Al Gore

John Nash

Keanu Reeves

Alex P. Keaton

Cliff Clavin from Cheers

Lisa Simpson and Moe from Mo's tavern

Mr Bean

Steve Urkel

Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes

Frankenstein's Monster

Ludwig van Beethoven

Think S P E N C E R S Sensory Sensitivities P Pragmatic Language Skills Impaired E Emotional Connection N Narrow Interest Range C Clumsiness with Motor Skills E Environment that is Predictable R Rigidity of Thought

S Sensory Sensitivities

P Pragmatic Language Skills Impaired

E Emotional Connection

N Narrow Interest Range

C Clumsiness with Motor Skills

E Environment that is Predictable

R Rigidity of Thought

S Sensory Sensitivities Don't excuse it or make the child feel bad about feeling bad Intense or under reactive to a sensation Clothing Slight bump by another Florescent lights Hug = squeeze

Don't excuse it or make the child feel bad about feeling bad

Intense or under reactive to a sensation

Clothing

Slight bump by another

Florescent lights

Hug = squeeze

P Pragmatic Skills Impaired They see language as a way to share information They want to receive information correctly, sussincly and without emotion. May use diologue from pop culture to communicate They have a profound interest in words. Challenge him to memorize Provide music, theater and nonfiction books

They see language as a way to share information

They want to receive information correctly, sussincly and without emotion.

May use diologue from pop culture to communicate

They have a profound interest in words.

Challenge him to memorize

Provide music, theater and nonfiction books

E Emotional Connection Impaired He was not born with the “sixth” sense. Since you cannot teach him to emote, appeal to other senses. Conversation turn-taking Perspective taking They can be overly dependent on care-giver Point out how he slips up Explain what others are doing socially

He was not born with the “sixth” sense.

Since you cannot teach him to emote, appeal to other senses.

Conversation turn-taking

Perspective taking

They can be overly dependent on care-giver

Point out how he slips up

Explain what others are doing socially

Alyson Bradley's self-portrait, Full Circle, representing some of her feelings about living with Asperger's Syndrome.

N Narrow Interest Range Few interests but they dominate Special interest Encourage reading Use his special interest to teach social skills An enriched environment will encourage broadening of the interest range Protect him. Be aware of the special dangers of early sexuality.

Few interests but they dominate

Special interest

Encourage reading

Use his special interest to teach social skills

An enriched environment will encourage broadening of the interest range

Protect him. Be aware of the special dangers of early sexuality.

C Clumsy Motor Skills Let the schedule work for you Encourage trying new things

Let the schedule work for you

Encourage trying new things

E Environment Predictability Importance of structure and routine Talk about changes way before they happen so he can plan. If you have to be spontaneous, communicate to him the reasons so he can have some control.

Importance of structure and routine

Talk about changes way before they happen so he can plan.

If you have to be spontaneous, communicate to him the reasons so he can have some control.

R Rigidity of Thought Mindblindedness – inability to determine what others are thinking. They tend to take things literally. Need for time alone to reconstruct social interactions.

Mindblindedness – inability to determine what others are thinking.

They tend to take things literally.

Need for time alone to reconstruct social interactions.

Instructional Ideas Be careful in classroom seating assignments Use the “peer buddy” system Avoid self-selection in group work Carefully consider the maturity of the group members involved Provide “safe haven” or quiet area Explain metaphor and sarcasm use concretely Use “social stories” for providing directions Vigorously but respectfully maintain class rules and other boundaries

Be careful in classroom seating assignments

Use the “peer buddy” system

Avoid self-selection in group work

Carefully consider the maturity of the group members involved

Provide “safe haven” or quiet area

Explain metaphor and sarcasm use concretely

Use “social stories” for providing directions

Vigorously but respectfully maintain class rules and other boundaries

Other treatments Parent education and training Social skills training Language therapy Sensory integration training for younger children, usually performed by an occupational therapist, in which a child is desensitized to stimuli to which he is overly sensitive Psychotherapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy for older children

Parent education and training

Social skills training

Language therapy

Sensory integration training for younger children, usually performed by an occupational therapist, in which a child is desensitized to stimuli to which he is overly sensitive

Psychotherapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy for older children

Technology Visuals Graphics Models, manipulatives Computers The Internet

Visuals

Graphics

Models, manipulatives

Computers

The Internet

Resources continued Hoopmann Kathy (1998). All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, 2006 Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Hoopmann Kathy (1998). All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, 2006 Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Resources continued Sohn, A. (1998). Parenting Your Asperger Child: Individualized Solutions for Teaching Your Child Practical Skills. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Ltd.

Sohn, A. (1998). Parenting Your Asperger Child: Individualized Solutions for Teaching Your Child Practical Skills. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Ltd.

Resources continued Attwood, T. (1998). Asperger’s Syndrome:A guide for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Ltd.

Attwood, T. (1998). Asperger’s Syndrome:A guide for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Ltd.