Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term for neurodevelopmental disorders that, as of May 2013, include what was formerly known as Asperger Syndrome (AS), PDD-NOS, and classic autism. An individual’s symptoms can range from mild to severe. Asperger Syndrome may still be used as a descriptive term to identify those on the higher end of the autism spectrum, and this is the population that ASPEN serves.
Individuals on the high end of ASD and related disorders exhibit serious deficiencies in social and communication skills. Their IQ’s are typically in the normal to very superior range. They are usually educated in the mainstream, but require special education services. Because of their naivete, those on the high end of the spectrum are often viewed by their peers as “odd” and are frequently a target for bullying and teasing.
They desire to fit in socially and have friends, but have a great deal of difficulty making effective social connections. Many of them are at risk for developing mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression, especially in adolescence. Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders should be made by a medical expert to rule out other possible diagnoses and to discuss interventions.
Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Higher End)
Each person is different. An individual might have all or only some of the described behaviors to have a diagnosis of ASD.
These behaviors include the following:
- Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as: eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
- Extreme difficulty in developing age-appropriate peer relationships (e.g. children with higher end ASD may be more comfortable with adults than with other children).
- Inflexible adherence to routines and perseveration.
- Fascination with maps, globes, and routes.
- Superior rote memory.
- Preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of all others. Amasses many related facts.
- Difficulty judging personal space, motor clumsiness.
- Sensitivity to the environment, loud noises, clothing and food textures, and odors.
- Speech and language skills impaired in the area of semantics, pragmatics, and prosody (volume, intonation, inflection, and rhythm).
- Difficulty reading others’ feelings.
- Pedantic, formal style of speaking; often called “little professor,” verbose.
- Extreme difficulty reading and/or interpreting social cues.
- Socially and emotionally inappropriate responses.
- Literal interpretation of language; difficulty comprehending implied meanings.
- Extensive vocabulary. Reading commences at an early age (hyperlexia).
- Stereotyped or repetitive motor mannerisms.
- Difficulty with “give and take” of conversation.
