International Asperger Syndrome Day (AS) is commemorated every February 18th, for the birth of the Austrian psychiatrist Hans Asperger, who first described this syndrome. Although his studies were published in 1943, it would not be until the 1990s that have been took on value for scholars of autism and neurological diseases in general.

What is Asperger Syndrome?

Worldwide, an estimated 44 million people have Asperger syndrome. It is a developmental disorder that is included within the autism spectrum and that affects reciprocal social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, a resistance to accept change, inflexibility of thought, as well as having narrow and absorbing fields of interest.

People who suffer from it are generally extremely good at memory skills (facts, figures, dates, times, etc.), many excel in math and science, are fluent in language, and have an intellectual capacity even higher than the rest of the population. But it presents difficulties in the flexibility of thought; and they may also have repetitive and obsessive interests in certain topics or activities.

In addition, there is a range in the severity of the symptoms, the very mildly affected child often goes undiagnosed and may just seem odd or eccentric.

It is important to know that girls with Asperger show other symptoms than the common features of this syndrome. Often the diagnosis of ASD in women is confused with other diagnoses such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Diagnosis and causes

Currently, there is no laboratory study, blood, x-ray, etc. used to make the diagnosis. However, a development specialist assesses the person's behavior and abilities using specific assessment instruments.

When making a diagnosis, there are indicators such as:

• Emotional immaturity.
• Self-imposed routines.
• Limited interest.
• Feelings of misunderstanding and loneliness.
• Difficulty in thought flexibility.
• Difficulty working in a team and maintaining social relationships as friends or a couple.
• Anxiety and depression.
• perfectionism.
• Difficulty in decision-making.
• They are very direct and say what they think all the time.
• Problems understanding jokes, metaphors and ironies.

Early detection is key to a better prognosis

If something differentiates Asperger's syndrome from other disorders, it is that the symptoms have been present from the earliest moments of development, and this is essential for diagnosis. For this reason, relatives, teachers and pediatricians play a very important role when it comes to detecting it, to begin a therapeutic work in order to achieve the well-being of the child and family.

In general, it is diagnosed when the child is around four years old, and to define that has this disorder, he must meet a series of symptoms. It is important to understand that each child has its own characteristics, so they do not necessarily have to have all symptoms, most likely present a mixture of them.

Although Asperger's diagnosis is usually made in the early stages of life, it is increasingly common to find cases that are not diagnosed until adulthood. These people present some characteristics of the autism spectrum and decide to go to a professional to be diagnosed.

Treatment:

At the moment, there is no specific treatment. Even so, when necessary, support therapies are carried out to improve social skills, as well as controlling emotions and generating empathy.

This may include behavioral, occupational, language, and social learning therapies, among others; to ensure that patients can lead full and satisfying lives.