What is Asperger syndrome? It affects 3 to 7 children per 1,000 diagnosed

Asperger's Syndrome is a profound disorder of brain development characterized by deficiencies in social interaction and motor coordination, and is made evident by the unusual and restrictive patterns of interest and behavior. This behavior was observed and described for the first time by Hans Asperger, an Austrian doctor, whose work was translated to the rest of the world in the 80s.

It is considered that the Asperger Syndrome affects from 3 to 7 per 1000 children, between 7 and 16 years of age. The figures are not exact, but it is recognized that it is a disorder that affects children more often than girls.

• Profile of the child with Asperger's syndrome

• The child suffering from Asperger has a normal external appearance, is usually intelligent and has no delay in the acquisition of speech

• Presents problems to interact with other children or adults and, sometimes, they present inappropriate behaviors.

• The intellectual capacity of children with Asperger's Syndrome is normal and their language is usually only altered when it is used for communicative purposes.

• Children with Asperger's syndrome usually fix their attention to a specific topic, obsessively many times, so it is not strange that they learn to read by themselves at a very early age, if that is the area of ​​their attention.

• A child with this syndrome will also be affected, in a variable way, in their connections and social skills, and in behavior with repetitive features and a limited range of interests.

• They have a very naive understanding of social situations, and do not usually transform them into their own benefit. The poor adaptation they present in social contexts is the result of a misunderstanding and confusion that creates the requirement of interpersonal relationships.

• Despite their difficulties, children who suffer from this disorder are noble, have a great heart, a kindness without limits, are faithful, sincere, and have a host of values ​​that we can discover just by looking a little inside .

The causes of Asperger's syndrome in children and babies

There is a genetic component related to one of the parents. With some frequency it is the father who presents a complete picture of Asperger syndrome. Occasionally, there is a clear history of autism in close relatives. The clinical picture presented is influenced by many factors, including the genetic factor, but in most cases there is no single identifiable cause.

Sources consulted:

• Asperger.es
• Salud.discapnet.es
• Asperger.cl/que_es_el_sindrome