Autism and Asperger’s: The Mysterious Syndromes

At the time I met him, I was a relatively new teacher so I was not quite sure how to interpret his behaviour. His files were inconclusive and only stated that he was ADHD and that he was taking Ritalin twice daily. It did mention that he had difficulties interacting with peers and what I noticed justified this fact, as he was frequently alone. Academically, he was methodical and he immersed himself in tasks requiring repetition, especially if it involved numbers.

Years later, after taking additional education courses and through experiences with similar students, I believe that I understand much more about him. It is strange that after so many years, I can still visualize this boy.

Reflecting back, he may have fit into the category of Asperger’s Syndrome, but I cannot be exact as the lines of definition are so closely intertwined between this term and others. The reason is that there are many autistic disorders, referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders and they are diagnosed on the basis of behaviour. Unfortunately, there are no specific genetic or biological markers that accurately identify a person as being on this autism spectrum. People on the spectrum do have certain traits in common such as impairment in social interaction, impairment in communication, and restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. Autism in all forms tends to first manifest itself in childhood even before the age three and the differences within the autism spectrum are related to both severity and the presence or absence of some symptoms.

Communication skills

The focal disparity between Asperger’s syndrome and other forms of Autism relates to the individual’s capacity to communicate. Someone with Asperger’s may not experience the difficulties in verbal communication that others with autism do. Many researchers tend to categorize Asperger’s syndrome as high functioning and Autism as a lower functioning form. Critics from the autism community have also argued that those living with autism do not consider themselves as actually having any disease at all.

An incapacitating, life-long disability, autism is best described as a neurological dysfunction. Originally imagined as a rare disorder, recent Canadian studies have shown that the prevalence of autism and related disorders to be as high as 20 per 10,000 births, more commonly found in boys. To date there is no definitive medical test to identify autism and these individuals tend to be more diverse than similar. However, all autistic individuals share common behavioural characteristics and a diagnosis can be made based on the behavioural criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (fourth edition DSM-IV). Autistic individuals display the following; impaired social interaction, difficulty in communicating, preoccupation, resistance, short attention span, and abnormalities of mood, unusual fears, plus numerous other traits. On the “outside” most autistic individuals appear quite normal and any of their odd behaviours can alter with treatment. Although intensive behavioural intervention is no real cure, these individuals can lead happy and productive lives.

15,000 diagnosed with Asperger's

Asperger’s Syndrome is described as another pervasive disorder. Mostly found in boys as well, there are about 15,000 Canadians diagnosed. The differences between Autism and Asperger’s is that a child with Asperger’s is not as disturbed, is intelligent, has unique talents, and develops grammatical speech early on. In relation to education, both disorders require a regular organized academic routine. People with Asperger’s also appear more aware and interested in the social world, but interaction with others does not come naturally and must be taught.

Education and early intervention services for both conditions can be somewhat difficult and frustrating to obtain due to lack of knowledge, insufficient services, and endless waiting lists. Teaching through a rote fashion is usually recommended as these children succeed with memory tasks but detailed research must also be done to locate the appropriate school to suit the child.

Studies and clinical observation have tried to distinguish and accurately classify Autism and Asperger’s. To summarize, it has been noted that those with autism usually have a scattered cognitive profile with better overall abilities in the performance (nonverbal) range of tasks, people with Asperger’s also have a scattered cognitive profile but usually have higher overall scores on verbal tasks. Communication appears to be the main source of difference between the two syndromes and that is why Asperger’s is occasionally considered to be the higher functioning disorder. But with the labelling of any disorder there is a great deal of controversy especially when it comes to the ethics of treatment. Chances are that in the future, with more understanding of these conditions and through additional research, all the definitions will change drastically towards a more comprehensive and clearer understanding of either syndrome.

In Montreal, if a child exhibits the symptoms, the primary route parents should follow, under the supervision of their pediatrician, is to contact the Montreal Children’s Hospital/McGill University Health Centre at 514-412-4400 extension 23099. This program is a multidisciplinary one offering services for children of all ages with suspected spectrum disorders.