Asperger Syndrome:Identification and Treatment

Catherine Jones-Hazledine,Ph.D.

Munroe-Meyer Institute

University of Nebraska Medical Center

What is Asperger Syndrome?

A Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits, unusual and intensely restricted interests, and relative preservation of language skills and cognitive functioning.

First described by Austrian physician Asperger in 1944.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)

A. Qualitative Impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction

2. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level

3. A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people

4. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

1. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

2. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

3. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting ,or complex whole-body movements

4. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language

1. Single words used by age 2

2. Communicative phrases used by age 3

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

F. Criteria is not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)

Other Diagnostic Issues

Tends to be diagnosed after age 3– Diagnosis more certain in older children (past preschool)

More common in males Some controversy about independence from autism Motor delays or motor clumsiness often noted

(though not required for diagnosis) Increased frequency of Asperger’s, as well as

“unusual traits” in family members

Clinical Presentation

Preoccupations with unusual interests that may become central focus of life

– E.g. postal delivery routes, train schedules, personal information about Supreme Court Judges

Difficulty dealing with feelings (their own or others)– Poor empathy– Tendency to intellectualize emotion

Impaired Social Interaction– Inappropriate Conversations– Non-reciprocal interactions– Difficulty making or keeping friends

Motor awkwardness, odd posture– Odd posture, gait– Poor handwriting

Other Diagnostic Concepts Which Share Similarities

Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder– Characterized by adequate speech, but reduced communication

value Right Hemisphere Learning Disability

– Problems processing social/emotional information Nonverbal Learning Disability

– Neuropsychological profiles of strengths and weaknesses– Problems with Social and Communication Skills– Asperger’s associated with NLD, but not the reverse

Study of Neuropsych profiles – 18 of 21 consistent with NLD Schizoid Disorder

– Social Isolation, emotional detachment, unusual communication, rigid thought and behavior

– Social Disability tends to be more severe in Asperger’s

Comparison with Autism

Similarities– Lack of adequate social

relationships– Problems with emotion– Restricted Interests– Poor social language

skills

Differences– Later age of onset– Language absent or

delayed in autism– More social interest in

Asperger Syndrome– Motor deficits more

common in Asperger Syndrome

– Opposite neuropsychological profiles

Language and Communication in Asperger Disorder

Abnormal inflection and voice quality Abnormal rate and volume (e.g. talking too fast or

too loud) Tangential speech Trouble with turn-taking in conversation Difficulty self-censoring Verbosity Non-verbal deficits

– Facial expression, posture, eye contact

Neuropsychological Testing Results

Deficits– Fine and gross motor

skills– Visual-motor integration– Visual-spatial perception– Non-verbal concept

formation– Visual memory

Strengths– Articulation– Verbal Output– Auditory perception– Vocabulary– Verbal Memory

School Related Problems

Organizational deficits Problems completing tasks Graphomotor problems Specific Academic Deficits Behavioral problems

– Rudeness– Noncompliance

Performance By Setting

Worst– Unstructured social

situations– Novel situations– Situations requiring “off

the cuff” problem solving

Best– Highly structured– Routine– Academically driven

Treatment

Mostly supportive and focuses on addressing problematic symptoms

Special Education Services can be helpful Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy may be needed Vocational Training Psychological services may address comorbidity issues

(depression, obsessions, thought disorder) Encouragement to access social contact Medication sometimes used, but not routine

– Little evidence of efficacy– Side effects can be problematic

Problems

More research about, and resources for, Autism– May not be helpful for Asperger’s children due to

different profiles Children with Asperger Syndrome sometimes

denied services– Higher IQ– More verbal skills– Sometimes not overt behavioral problems

Treatment Guidelines (Klin and Volkmer, 2000)

Small setting or use of trained paraprofessional Communication Specialist with social skills training expertise

– Blended throughout school day Frequent social opportunities

– Structured and supervised Focus on daily life skills as well as academics Adaptability of curriculum Availability of mental health assistance

– Monitoring– Resource to staff– Liaison with parents

Treatment

General Teaching Strategies– Compensatory strategies (usually verbal)– Use of explicit methods and rote memorization– Move toward Generalization

Social Skills Protocols– e.g. “Social Stories” (Carol Gray)

What to Teach?(Klin & Volkmer, 2000)

Problem solving skills Behavioral routines

– “First I do this, then I do/say this”– Verbal instruction– rehearsal

Specific strategies for frequent problems Preplanning for “new” situations

– What is the situation?– What do I know about this?– Step by step decision– Use of resources (who to call for assistance)

What to Teach?

Social Awareness– Differences in perception highlighted

Self-evaluation Link between certain situations and negative feelings Adaptive Skills

– Adaptive Behavior Assessment System – II (ABAS II)

Address specific strengths/weaknesses– Motor, visual-motor, problem-solving, auditory attention,

reasoning

What to Teach?

Social and communication skills training– Basic skills in social interaction– Appropriate nonverbal behavior– Verbal decoding of nonverbal behavior– Social awareness and perspective taking– Increasing vocabulary of emotion

Generalization

References

American Psychiatric Association (APA). (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Klin, A., Volkmer,F. , & Sparrow, S. (Eds). (2000). Asperger Syndrome. New York, New York: Guildford Press.

Klin, A., Sparrow, S., Volkmar, F., Cicchetti, D., and Rourke, B. (1995). Asperger Syndrome. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 93 – 118).

Reese, P., & Challenner, N. (2001). Autism and PDD: Adolescent Social Skills Lessons. East Moline, IL: Linguisystems.

Internet Addresses(From Klin, Volkmar,& Sparrow, 2000)

Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States, Inc. (ASC-U.S.) (http://www.asperger.org)

ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network, Inc) (http://www.aspennj.org)

Autism Society of America (http://www.autism-society.org) Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autism and related

Communication handicapped Children , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (http://www.unc.edu/depts/teacch)

OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) (http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger)

Yale Child Study Center (http://www.autism.fm) (http://www.autism.fm)