Asperger Syndrome

From WikiGenetics

1 Name of Condition
2 Definition
3 Description, Signs and Symptoms
4 Inheritance
5 Demographics
6 Diagnosis
7 Treatment and Management
8 Prognosis
9 Resources
10 References

[edit] Name of Condition

Asperger Syndrome, also AS.

[edit] Definition

Asperger Syndrome is a neurobiological, developmental disorder that is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASDs are characterized by impairment of communication skills and language, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior.

[edit] Description, Signs and Symptoms

The most distinguishing symptom of AS is the obsession with a certain topic or object to the point of exclusion of other things. Asperger children have a high level of vocabulary and expertise about this topic; however, are often isolated because of their narrow interest and poor social skills.

Other symptoms include:

peculiarities in speech and language
socially/emotionally inappropriate behavior
difficulty reading nonverbal cues
inability to interact well with peers
repetitive routines/rituals
difficulty with transitions and changes
developmental delays in motor skills
poor coordination
stilted or 'bouncy' walk
oversensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, tastes

About fifty percent of AS patients suffered oxygen deprivation during birth, leading to the hypothesis that the syndrome is (in part) caused by brain tissue damage before or during birth.

[edit] Inheritance

Although there is still ambiguity about the inheritance of AD, several chromosome regions that may be involved have been identified. It is clear that multiple genes are involved in this complex syndrome.

[edit] Demographics

The incidence of AS has been variously estimated between 0.024% and 0.36% of the general population in North America and northern Europe; however, numbers remain ambiguous due to the broad spectrum of presentation in people with AS.

AS appears to be more common in boys, with some studies showing a 4:1 diagnostic ratio for boys to girls.

[edit] Diagnosis

As of now, no brain scans or blood tests can diagnose AS.

The DSM-IV criteria for AS diagnosis can be found here.

[edit] Treatment and Management

AS treatment includes therapies to address the three main symptoms of the disorder: poor communication skills, repetitive or obsessive routines, and physical clumsiness.