Today February 18th It's the day International Asperger Syndrome Association and in VICON Method We want to make a special mention of all those children and adults who share their lives with us with their unique and special way of walking, communicating, and loving.
Is Asperger's Syndrome part of ASD? Asperger's Syndrome is part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) category. Although it was included in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994, it was removed from the list in the fifth edition and was included within the ASD category.
What is Asperger's Syndrome? It is a neurodevelopmental disorder; the brain of a person with Asperger's Syndrome functions differently than usual, especially in communication and social interaction and in adapting flexibly to daily demands. It shares the core characteristics of autism. People with Asperger's Syndrome have difficulties with social communication and flexibility of thought and behavior. However, they have fluent language skills and average, even higher, intellectual capacity than the general population.
How does a person with Asperger's Syndrome communicate? He has difficulty understanding nonverbal communication (gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.) and the subtle messages conveyed through this channel. He can talk for a long time about his topics of interest, but struggles to know when to end the conversation. He struggles to choose topics to "talk about for the sake of talking" or to have a "social" conversation with other people. He is very literal; he understands language based on the exact meaning of words, so he often fails to understand jokes, metaphors, or sarcasm. His verbal expression is correct, but he sometimes uses language in a very formal manner, being overly precise, technical, and even pedantic.
How does a person with Asperger's Syndrome relate? They find it difficult to recognize and understand "unwritten" social rules, which is why they may sometimes behave inappropriately without realizing it. They want to relate to others, but don't know how to do so, which is why they may sometimes find themselves alone. They find it very difficult to handle situations where they have to interact with many people at once, which may give the impression that they don't want to relate to or fit in with the group. They may appear to be inattentive to expressing their emotions or taking those of others into account, but in reality, they find it very difficult to intuitively grasp the feelings and emotions of other people. They find it difficult to express their own emotions in a conventional way, which is why they may sometimes appear to react inappropriately, disproportionately, or "out of place."
How does a person with Asperger's Syndrome think and behave? His rigid and concrete way of thinking helps him in activities that require attention to detail and repetition of patterns, but he struggles with tasks that require flexibility or searching for alternatives to solve problems. He is loyal to routines, which he sometimes follows rigidly and repetitively. Routines provide him with security and concrete guidelines for action, but they limit his behavior, making it difficult to adapt to changes, novel situations, or unpredictable situations. He has very specific and concrete interests, on which he gathers a great deal of information and devotes a great deal of time, sometimes becoming the main source of conversation and dedication. He can be extremely sensitive to some environmental stimuli, finding them annoying or painful (noises, lights, smells, tastes, etc.).
How can you help a person with Asperger's Syndrome? Reflect on the social challenges you face every day and try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who genuinely doesn't understand them or know how to deal with them. Try to empathize with their experience and try to understand it, even if it's sometimes very different from the "conventional" approach. Take an interest in getting to know the person well, their tastes and interests, their strengths and weaknesses, and the things that are important to them. You'll need to make explicit some concepts that are obvious to most people, especially those related to social relationships. Use direct and concrete language, without ambiguity or double meanings. This will make communication easier and more satisfying for the person. Understand that their behaviors aren't capricious or intentional. They reflect a different way of understanding and navigating the world. Understand the importance of their routines and "rigidities." They are important elements that provide security. You can help make them more flexible without imposing your way of seeing things. Ask them how you can best support them. He or she will be able to explain to you what their strengths and weaknesses are and how they prefer you to help them.
Cristina Oroz Bajo
Fountain: Autism Confederation of Spain