Asperger's syndrome in children: symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

The study of the causes of Asperger's syndrome continues to this day and is far from complete. The primary morphological substrate and pathogenesis of the disease have not yet been identified. As a working hypothesis, assumptions are made about an autoimmune reaction of the maternal body, causing damage to the fetal brain.

There is a lot of talk about the negative consequences of preventive vaccinations , the negative impact of mercury-containing preservatives in vaccines, as well as complex vaccinations, which allegedly overload the child’s immune system. The theory of hormonal imbalance in a child (low or high levels of cortisol, increased levels of testosterone) has not yet found reliable scientific confirmation; The connection between autistic disorders, including Asperger's syndrome, and prematurity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is being studied .

Possible risk factors for developing Asperger's syndrome are:

• genetic predisposition,
• male gender,
• exposure to toxic substances on the developing fetus in the first months of pregnancy,
• intrauterine and postnatal viral infections ( rubella , toxoplasmosis , cytomegaly , herpes , etc.).

Social difficulties

Asperger's syndrome is a complex general (pervasive) disorder that leaves an imprint on all aspects of the child's personality. The structure of the disorder includes difficulties in socialization, narrowly focused but intense interests; features of the speech profile and behavior. Unlike classic autism, children with Asperger's syndrome have average (sometimes above average) intelligence and a certain lexicographic base.

Typically, signs of Asperger's syndrome become noticeable by age 2-3 and can range from mild to severe. In infancy, Asperger's syndrome can manifest itself as increased calmness of the child or, on the contrary, irritability, mobility, sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, sensitive sleep, etc.), selectivity in nutrition. Communication disorders specific to Asperger syndrome appear early. Children attending kindergarten have difficulty parting with their parents, do not adapt well to new conditions, do not play with other children, do not enter into friendly relationships, preferring to stay apart.

Difficulties in adaptation make the child vulnerable to infections, which is why children with Asperger syndrome are classified as frequently ill . In turn, this further limits children's social interaction with peers, and by school age the signs of Asperger's syndrome become pronounced.

Social behavior disorder in children with Asperger syndrome manifests itself in insensitivity to the emotions and feelings of other people, expressed by facial expressions, gestures, and shades of speech; inability to express one's own emotional state. Therefore, children with Asperger syndrome often seem self-centered, callous, emotionally cold, tactless, and unpredictable in their behavior. Many of them do not tolerate the touch of other people well, practically do not look into the eyes of the interlocutor, or look with an unusual fixed gaze (as if at an inanimate object).

A child with Asperger syndrome experiences the greatest difficulties when communicating with his peers, preferring the company of adults or young children. When interacting with other children (playing together, solving problems), a child with Asperger's syndrome tries to impose his own rules on others, does not compromise, cannot cooperate, and does not accept other people's ideas. In turn, the children's team also begins to reject such a child, which leads to even greater social isolation of children with Asperger syndrome. Teenagers have a hard time with their loneliness; they may experience depression , suicidal tendencies , and drug and alcohol addiction.

Features of intelligence

The IQ of children with Asperger syndrome may be within or even above the age norm. However, when teaching children, an insufficient level of development of abstract thinking and the ability to comprehend, and a lack of independent problem solving skills are revealed. Despite having phenomenal memory and encyclopedic knowledge, children sometimes cannot adequately apply their knowledge in the right situations. At the same time, Asperger children often achieve success in those areas in which they are passionately interested: usually history, philosophy, geography, mathematics, programming.

The range of interests of a child with Asperger syndrome is limited, but they devote themselves to their hobbies passionately and fanatically. At the same time, they focus excessively on details, concentrate on trifles, “obsess” with their hobbies, and are constantly in the world of their thoughts and fantasies.

Features of verbal communication

Children with Asperger's syndrome do not experience a delay in speech development , and by the age of 5-6 years their speech development is significantly ahead of their peers. The speech of a child with Asperger syndrome is grammatically correct, but is characterized by a slow or accelerated tempo, monotony and an unnatural timbre of the voice. Excessive academicism and a bookish style of speech, the presence of speech patterns contribute to the fact that the child is often called a “little professor.”

Children with Asperger's syndrome can talk for a very long time and in detail about a subject that interests them, without tracking the reaction of the interlocutor. Often they are not able to be the first to start a conversation and maintain a conversation that goes beyond their area of ​​interest. That is, despite potentially high language skills, children are not able to use language as a means of communication. Children with Asperger's syndrome often have semantic dyslexia - mechanical reading without understanding what they read. At the same time, children may have an increased ability to express their thoughts in writing.

Features of the sensory and motor spheres

Children with Asperger's syndrome are characterized by a sensory sensitivity disorder, which manifests itself in increased susceptibility to various visual, sound, and tactile stimuli (bright light, the sound of dripping water, street noise, touching the body, head, etc.). Since childhood, Aspergers have been characterized by excessive pedantry and stereotypical behavior. Children follow routine rituals day after day, and any change in conditions or routine causes them confusion, anxiety and worry. Very often, children with Asperger's syndrome have strictly defined gastronomic preferences and categorically deny any new dishes.

A child with Asperger's syndrome may have unusual obsessive fears (fear of rain, wind, etc.) that differ from the fears of children their age. Moreover, in dangerous situations they may lack the instinct of self-preservation and the necessary caution.

Typically, a child with Asperger's syndrome has impaired motor skills and coordination. They take longer than their peers to learn how to button up buttons and tie shoelaces; At school they have uneven, sloppy handwriting, which is why they receive constant criticism. Children with Aspergers may exhibit stereotypical compulsive movements, clumsiness, and abnormal posture and gait.

Diagnostics

Traits of Asperger's syndrome in a child can be detected by parents, caregivers, teachers, doctors of various specialties who monitor the development of children ( pediatrician , pediatric neurologist , speech therapist , child psychologist, etc.). However, the final authority to confirm the diagnosis remains with the child or adolescent psychiatrist .

In the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, methods of questioning, interviewing parents and teachers, observing the child, and neuropsychological tests are widely used . The criteria for diagnosing Asperger's syndrome were developed by WHO and allow assessing a child's ability for various types of social contacts. To exclude organic diseases of the brain, neurological diagnostics ( EEG , MRI of the brain ) may be required.