Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - (Page 58) Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions Does Your Child Have Asperger Syndrome? By Laura Fisher, PsyD About Asperger Syndrome Asperger syndrome is a recent addition to the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continuum. Although it was first described in the 1940s by physician Hans Asperger, it was not included in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a “diagnosable” disorder until 1994. While the symptoms of children with Asperger syndrome are similar to those exhibited by children with autism, there are several key differences. One difference is that children with Asperger’s do not have language delays. In fact, toddlers with Asperger’s may be hyper-verbal, labeling everything in their world, and weaving words into sentences at a very young age. Children with Asperger’s also do not have adaptive delays. For example, they do not have difficulty dressing themselves, using utensils, or understanding community expectations, such as looking both ways before crossing a street. In addition, most children with Asperger’s have average to above average cognitive skills; some are considered “gifted.” Diagnosing Asperger Syndrome Diagnosing Asperger syndrome can be challenging for clinicians who are not familiar with the disorder. Oftentimes, school or mental health professionals may suspect that a child has Asperger’s when they observe his or her behavior difficulties and/or social idiosyncrasies. Unfortunately, these observations can easily be misinterpreted. For instance, a professional may not know that children with Asperger’s can exhibit extreme rigidity in following rules. As a result, a child may be considered “defiant” for arguing with a teacher about rules in the classroom. Or a child may want to talk obsessively about the sinking of the Titanic, dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era, or train schedules at Central Station. As a result of this obsessive chatter, peers may avoid the child, causing him or her to become isolated. Professionals may interpret the isolation as depression instead of Asperger’s. Because the core symptoms of Asperger’s are often misunderstood, it is not uncommon for children and families to receive multiple incorrect diagnoses prior to obtaining an accurate diagnosis. Although many children are diagnosed as early as age five, many are mislabeled well into their adolescent years. A proper and thorough diagnostic evaluation completed by a specialist in the field of ASD is often the quickest way to discover if your child has Asperger syndrome. Seek a Specialist Not all diagnostic evaluations have equal merit. A specialist in the field of ASD will use specific testing instruments such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). This assessment tool enables the evaluator to look closely at a child’s communication, social, and behavioral functioning and compare results to those of typically developing peers to see if the child meets diagnostic criteria. This requires that the clinician not only be well versed in typical development, but also knowledgeable in ASD and other disorders commonly seen in children and adolescents (e.g.: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and learning disabilities), since many disorders can mimic the symptoms of an ASD. Families seeking an evaluation should feel comfortable questioning evaluators about their experience level and whether they are using “gold standard” approaches to diagnostic assessment, such as the ADOS. Families should also ask their evaluators if they will be assessing for cooccurring disorders (especially with adolescents) such as depression or anxiety disorders, as these symptoms can go unnoticed in a child with Asperger’s and become problematic as he or she ages. The following questions may be helpful to families looking for a qualified professional to assess their child: • What is your level of experience in assessing children, both with and without an ASD diagnosis? • What assessment tools will you be using to evaluate my child? • Will you be able to tell if my child is depressed or anxious? How will you determine that? • My child has behavioral problems. How will you be able to explain the cause of his or her difficulties through diagnostic assessment? • When this evaluation is complete, can you give me recommendations that I can start using right away? Laura Fisher, PsyD, is Director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Clinic at the National Autism Center. Dr. Fisher has extensive experience in diagnosing ASD in toddlers and adolescents 18 months to 22 years. • Work on behaviors sequentially, not simultaneously • Provide frequent reminders and cues of the expectation • Provide frequent and clear feedback OCD and Asperger Syndrome While neither Jose nor Justin has a cooccurring diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many children with Asperger’s struggle with this condition. Children and teens diagnosed with Asperger’s and OCD often engage in repetitive obsessions (persistent thoughts) and compulsions (behavioral rituals). Individuals with both disorders share a 58 August 2009 • EP MAGAZINE/www.eparent.com http://www.eparent.com Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Contents Ancora Imparo What's Happening Further Reading New Products 2009 Disability Awareness Night Schedule 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities Close Encounters of the Medical Kind Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month! Newborn Screening Saves Babies, One Foot at a Time Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation Incontinence Education Series Part 7 Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions EP Bookstore Special Needs Alliance Specialcare AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry Organizational Spotlight Living with a Disability Exceptional Parent - August 2009 Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page Cover1) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page Cover2) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Exceptional Parent - August 2009 (Page 1) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 6) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 7) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 8) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Ancora Imparo (Page 9) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - What's Happening (Page 10) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - What's Happening (Page 11) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Further Reading (Page 12) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Further Reading (Page 13) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 14) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 15) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - New Products (Page 16) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Disability Awareness Night Schedule (Page 17) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession (Page 18) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - 2009 Models of Excellence in the Healthcare Profession (Page 19) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family (Page 20) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Preterm Birth: How It Affected My Family (Page 21) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 22) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 23) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 24) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Treatment of Neurosensory Disorders Improves Psychological Well-Being in Children (Page 25) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities (Page 26) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Federal Program Encourages Health Service Innovations on Developmental Disabilities (Page 27) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 28) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 29) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 30) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Close Encounters of the Medical Kind (Page 31) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success (Page 32) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Sitting on top of the World: One Physician's Journey to Success (Page 33) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child (Page 34) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Raising a Noonan Syndrome Child (Page 35) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT (Page 36) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - When We Found Out Our Daughter Had CMT (Page 37) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month! (Page 38) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Newborn Screening Saves Babies, One Foot at a Time (Page 39) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 40) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 41) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 42) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Another Day in the Life of the National Children's Study (Page 43) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation (Page 44) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Evidence Based Humanity Must Be Part of the Equation (Page 45) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 46) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 47) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Incontinence Education Series Part 7 (Page 48) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 49) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 50) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Emergency Preparedness Series Part 4 (Page 51) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 52) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 53) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 54) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - On the Road to Recovery - Self-Deiscovery: The Crown Jewel of Psychotherapy (Page 55) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 56) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 57) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 58) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Asperger Syndrome and the Difficulties of Diagnosing and Treating Related Conditions (Page 59) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - EP Bookstore (Page 60) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - EP Bookstore (Page 61) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 62) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 63) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 64) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 65) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 66) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Specialcare (Page 67) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 68) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 69) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - AADMD - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (Page 70) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 71) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 72) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 73) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page 74) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page Cover3) Exceptional Parent - August 2009 - Living with a Disability (Page Cover4) http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201009 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201008 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201007 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201006 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201005 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201004 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201003 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201002 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/2010rg http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200912 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200911 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200910 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200909 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200908 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200907 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200906 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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