Asperger's syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder grouped within the family of autism spectrum disorders. These types of conditions generally involve problems with social skills and communication. Asperger's syndrome is generally thought to be one of the milder forms of these types of conditions.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551

Asperger's Syndrome is more commonly diagnosed in boys rather than girls. It is not usually recognized until at least the age or three.http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/Articles/What-is-Asperger-s-Syndrome-.aspx Those afflicted with it display difficulties with social interaction, in addition to repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Unlike people with autism, speech development in children with Asperger's syndrome begins before 2 years of age, approximately the age when speech typically starts to develop.http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-topic-overview Motor milestones, however, may be delayed and clumsiness is often noted.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001549.htm Children with this condition may find it difficult to make friends due to their social awkwardness.

While a lifelong condition, symptoms improve with time. Patients are taught to adapt by understanding their individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as working to improve their social skills.

• Specific forms of nonverbal communication, including lack of eye contact, limited range of facial expressions, awkward body language and gestureshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551/DSECTION=symptoms
• Extreme obsession with specific, narrow subjects that manifests as repetitive behavior patternshttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001549.htm
• Lack of empathy or sensitivity to other's feelingshttp://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-topic-overview
• Monotonous, rigid or unusually fast speech patternshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551/DSECTION=symptoms
• Clumsy movements and poor coordinationhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001549.htm
• Singled out by other children as "weird" or "strange," and frequently bulliedhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001549.htm

Asperger's cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed. The effectiveness depends on the individual,

1. Cognitive behavior therapy and communication and social skills training can be effective, particularly if started with children at a young age.
2. Some patients with Asperger's also have conditions such as anxiety, depression, or ADD, which, when treated with medication, can make the other Asperger's symptoms easier to cope with..http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs>
3. Some studies have shown the the lack of ability to focus may be successfully treated with neurofeedback, although there have been no large clinical studies to support this.http://www.drakeinstitute.com/clinical_effectiveness_autism_treatment.asp

Public perception of Asperger's Syndrome is based on how the condition is portrayed in novels, movies and television shows. These portrayals are not always accurate, contributing to a wide gulf between public perception and the clinical reality of Asperger's. For example, in the 2005 film, Mozart and the Whale, the opening scene provides four clues that one of the lead characters is afflicted with Asperger's. Two of the four clues regard savant skills that sometimes accompany the condition. Despite the fact that savant skills, such as those outlined in this movie, and those exhibited by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, are treated as a commonplace skill that accompanies autism spectrum disorders, most people afflicted with Asperger's are not savants.

On the NBC television series Parenthood, the character of Max, portrayed by Max Burkholder, is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. His parents Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina (Monica Potter) immediately begin to learn all they can about the disease so they can better help their son cope with it. The airing of this episode led to many viewers searching various misspellings of the term to find out more about the disease.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/assburgers-syndrome-tops_n_492929.html

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information on Asperger's syndrome.