Features & Signs of Aspergers

Dr. Xxxxx:
Features of the Aspergers Syndrome includes such Symptoms as:

Social Behavioural Features / Symptoms:

Failure to cuddle
Indifference or aversion to affection or physical contact: They really do not like being touched.
Reduced nonverbal behaviours: eye to eye gaze, reduced facial expression, reduced social interactive gestures: they do not "connect" to other people or other kids.

Cuddly Koala Cuddling is difficult for autism / Aspergers kids.

Kinkajou: In our personality site, we talk about how some of these behaviours to some extent may be normal. Self-Pres kids are not generally overtly social. The same behaviour can be normal and abnormal in different kids depending on their genetics.

Asocial behaviour in a social child is always a problem. But asocial behaviour in a self-pres child can to some extent be normal. Genes are the key.

Dr. Xxxxx: Yes. Look at the parents as a guide to what behavioural genetics should be present. And remember genetics are digital. You either have one specific geneset or not. They do not blend to vanilla.

Kinkajou: Keep going Dr. Xxxxx about
Social Behavioural Features / Symptoms of Aspergers:

Dr. Xxxxx: Other symptoms are Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to the developmental level: They just don't get on with other kids like they should. Other children do not like playing with them because they are perceived as selfish, different or childish.

Lack of social or emotional reciprocity: They don't seem to relate "back" to carers or significant others, like most other children do. They often become loners.
Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people. They are self-absorbed and do not seek to involve themselves with the activities of other people except where they may want something for themselves.

Dr. Xxxxx: Speech, Language or Communication Issues:

Delay in spoken language with no attempt to communicate by alternate means such as gesture or mime.
Repetitive Language: these children often like to say the same things over and over again, for no obvious reason than they seem to like to do so.
Use of language unique to the individual (Idiosyncratic). No one other than close personal carers such as their mothers may understand aspects of their speech.
Reduction of varied or spontaneous make belief play, or Reduction of socially imitative role-playing. They seem to lack imagination. They are linked inexorably to the presence of here and now, what they see, not what may be, not what they imagine could be. :%-]
Unusual Behaviours:
- Inflexible addiction to specific routines of activity: Many of these children become very upset when there are changes in their daily routine. Things just have to be done in just such a way, exactly as they are used to, or there will be trouble.
- Unusual repetitive or stereotyped movements, interests or activities.
  Typically they bang their heads against the wall, hit themselves, rock themselves or do specific movements or activities again and again and again, for no obvious gain.
  E.g. head banging, self-hurting, hand flapping
Unusual stereotyped or self stimulatory behaviours are common in Aspergers / Autism kids

Erasmus : So children with Aspergers have problems with social behaviour, speech and language as well as unusual repetitive behaviours.

The Paill Spectrum model of disease as pioneered by Dr. Xxxxx points out that the Paill Spectrum syndrome affects development. The changes in development are unique to the age at which they occur, so the medical conditions that Paill Spectrum causes look different at the different age ranges.

The standard medical model fails to appreciate the degree of mood changes and other Paill Spectrum symptoms that are common in patients with Autism or Aspergers.

The Paill Spectrum model suggests that the symptoms of autism and Aspergers can be treated with a change in the long term outlook for these patients.