Asperger Syndrome

Imagination:

Some people may have:

• Difficulties with imagination (i.e. they can’t imagine things without having had direct experience of them)

• Generally prefer fact to fiction

Social relationships:

Some people may have problems with:

• Making eye contact 

• Interpreting other people’s body language (and feeling confident about their own)

• Making small talk and chatting

• Starting new relationships and keeping them going

• Empathy (i.e. finding it hard to understand other peoples thoughts, feelings, and opinions)

• Sharing (feelings and possessions)

• Showing emotions
  

Key features associated with Asperger syndrome

• A strong preference for routine and/or rituals

• Finding the idea of change disturbing

• Tendency to be preoccupied with particular topics (e.g. timetables, data, or historical records). These topics may fill much of people’s leisure time and general conversation

Treatment options

• There is no cure for Asperger syndrome

• Medication (and psychological therapies) can be used to try and help with anxiety or depression

• Eating a healthy balanced diet and taking regular exercise helps maximise people’s physical and mental health

 
What can you do to help people with Asperger syndrome?

• Keep your communication clear and to the point

• Avoid metaphors

• Think about the language you use (people tend to interpret things literally)

• Think about how you use humour

• Cognitive behavioural therapy can help some people who lack confidence or feel depressed

• Supportive counselling and practical problem solving therapies can help some people too

• Work (employment) can help some people as it can provide routine and structure

• Some people like feedback if they are doing something unusual
  

What else can help?

• Being supported and being believed about their diagnosis

• Being in control of who knows about the diagnosis

• Other people being patient and giving them time to think about and respond to questions

• Other people sticking to plans or arrangements they have made

• Remembering that people with Asperger’s tend to be perfectionists

• Being told about changes in their routine; make changes in stages; and make sure people know what the end result will be

• Always asking the person how best you can help them

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Written in 2007

This factsheet is reproduced with kind permission of Shropshire Primary Care Trust