Aspergers Syndrome Symptoms

Due to the varied components of Aspergers Syndrome evident in each individual, it can be a difficult disorder to diagnose. Each person exhibits a different combination of symptoms although when a certain amount are present, a professional can correctly determine whether they have Aspergers.

If you don’t find the below conclusive, you may want to consider taking the free online Asperger’s Syndrome Test from our website.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome:

Symptoms of Aspergers SyndromePoor communication skills are a common trait in those with Aspergers. The lack of natural awareness regarding social clues and voice tones is one of the most obvious and common symptom a child with Aspergers portrays.Verbal communication is taken at face value and hence a sarcastic tone of voice or an evident joke can be totally missed; those with Aspergers translate all communications literally. In this manner, they are also direct in vocalising their own thoughts, being unaware of the social standards or consequences of speaking their mind. They find it more difficult to initiate conversations with their peers and have difficulty in listening or knowing when it is their turn to speak.Non verbal communication is another factor which is difficult to comprehend for those with Aspergers. Facial expressions and body language are almost unreadable and hence they misread what is actually being communicated.  Personal space is an alien concept and therefore they are often seen as invading ones personal space or not honouring others privacy, unfairly being seen as rude as they join in private conversations or do not respect personal boundaries or property.Another detectable symptom of Aspergers is the avoidance of eye contact or engaging in inappropriate staring, even when this has been addressed by parents or peers repeatedly.  Generally those with Aspergers are unaware of the non-verbal and unwritten rules of social interacting which come naturally to those without the syndrome. These create difficulty in social situations as children can feel self-conscious and appear unnatural as they miss out on the usual cues and are unable to form acceptable responses.Using advanced vocabulary or exhibiting formal speech patterns not common in children is a further symptom of the disorder.  They can place intense focus on one or two subjects which interest them but may express extreme disinterest in other subjects or topics.The third category to be aware of is that children with Aspergers often display a lack of fine motor skills or these develop at a much slower pace than their siblings or peers. Signs of poor coordination become evident if they have difficulty in mastering bike-riding or completing complex puzzles, as is difficulty with hopping on one leg that children generally master quickly.

If your child exhibits intense dislikes for certain situations or noises, this can be an indicator as is becoming upset by bright lights, crowds or unexpected events. These have been known to trigger tantrums or fits in children with Aspergers.  Changes in their regular routine can be a very upsetting experience for those with Aspergers, and may behave inappropriately to the smallest of changes at home or in school.

Combinations of these factors which make social interaction difficult are usually a sign of Aspergers syndrome. These include a display of limited interest in other people and social events being more self-occupied and indifferent to the needs of others.  They may display a more eccentric personality and be excessively focused on unusual activities. Those with Aspergers tend to require rigid routine and repetitiveness with lack of interest in games involving imagination and role-playing.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

 

 

Mark Blakey

Mark Blakey is the founder of the Aspergers Test Site, after a successful career working in IT Mark wanted to share what he learned from his own diagnosis. He is the author of "Emotional Mastery for Adults with Aspergers" and "An Introduction to Aspergers Syndrome". Having received lots of questions from parents with autistic children, Mark went on to found Autism Parenting Magazine. The magazine has become an essential resource aimed at improving the quality of life for families effected by Autism. Its a monthly publication containing lots of helpful articles to help develop social skills, manage challenging behavior and improve communication.

  • jill says:

    my husband possibly has Aspergers Syndrome. When we play bridge and I make an error, I find him staring me down with what looks like a very hostile almost demonic glare. I will avert my eyes, but when i look back 20 -30 sec later he is still staring. I have always felt that he does it out of anger and to embarrass me as he doesnt relent for a long time. When I’ve mentioned it to him, he says that he is unaware that he does it.
    The last time he did it, i leaned forward and stared back at him and said stop staring at me, and he didnt seem to understand, even though we had discussed it previously. He then continued to stare. Is this within the spectrum of Aspergers or is he just behaving like a brat?

  • Mercer says:

    All this sounds familiar to me , and two women at work with relatives with aspergers syndrome have noticed this in me , but a man of 51 years old doesn’t want the embarrassment of being given this label. And its difficult knowing how to go to the doctors and asking for help/advice.

  • Emily L. says:

    I might have aspergers… I love finding connections within numbers and letters, but I’m pretty well coordinated, so I’m kind of confused. I took the online test and scored a 31, so maybe??

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