Asperger syndrome

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Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome or Asperger's, is a term formerly used to describe a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.[5] Asperger syndrome has been merged with other

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The exact cause of Asperger syndrome is not well understood.[5] While it has high heritability, the underlying genetics have not been determined conclusively.[19][20] Environmental factors are also believed to play a role.[5] Brain imaging has not identified a common underlying condition.[19] There is no single treatment, and the UK's National Health Service (NHS) guidelines suggest that "treatment" of any form of autism should not be a goal, since autism is not "a disease that can be removed or cured".[21] According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists,[22] while co-occurring conditions might require treatment, "management of autism itself is chiefly about the provision of the education, training, and social support/care required to improve the person's ability to function in the everyday world". The effectiveness of particular interventions for autism is supported by only limited data.[19] Interventions may include social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, parent training, and

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In 2015, Asperger syndrome was estimated to affect 37.2 million people globally, or about 0.5% of the population.[9] The exact percentage of people affected has still not been firmly established.[19] Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in males more often than females,[24] and females are typically diagnosed at a later age.[25][26] The modern conception of Asperger syndrome came into existence in 1981 and went through a period of popularization.[27][28][29] It became a standardized diagnosis in the 1990s[30] and was merged into ASD in 2013.[12] Many questions and controversies about the condition remain.[23]

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Social impact

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Children with AS often display advanced abilities for their age in language, reading, mathematics, spatial skills, or music-sometimes into the "gifted" range-but this may be counterbalanced by considerable delays in other developmental areas, like verbal and nonverbal communication or some lack of motor coordination. This combination of traits can lead to problems with teachers and other authority figures. A child with AS might be regarded by teachers as a "problem child" or a "poor performer". The child's extremely low tolerance for what they perceive to be ordinary and mundane tasks, such as typical homework assignments, can easily become frustrating; a teacher may well consider the child arrogant, spiteful, and insubordinate. Lack of support and understanding, in combination with the child's anxieties, can result in problematic behavior (such as severe tantrums, violent and angry outbursts, and withdrawal).[54]

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Employment of autistic people may be difficult. The impaired social skills can be likely to interfere with the interview process-and people with often superior skills can be passed over due to these conflicts with interviewers. Once hired, autistic people may continue to have difficulty with interpersonal communications.[55] Homelessness is very common among autistic people.[55]

While some researchers have suggested that autistic individuals are less likely to self-enhance their reputation compared to those without autism, others argue that autistic individuals do not have less of a desire for self-enhancement than non-autistic individuals.[56]