Asperger’s
syndrome is part of what is now called the autistic spectrum.
Despite normal and sometimes superior intelligence, people with
Asperger’s have difficulty understanding social conventions
and reading social cues. As a result, making friends can be
quite hard. Feelings tend to cause confusion. They may be unable
to take hints, keep secrets or understand metaphor and humor.
The meaning of gestures, tone of voice, and facial expressions
can be confusing. Body language and verbal expression often
is a challenge. Social skills can be a mystery. They often have
one track minds and focus obsessively on subjects of interest
only to themselves.
Often people with Asperger’s have poor handwriting
and repetitive movements that resemble obsessive-compulsive
behavior. They can be easily upset when expectations are not
met, or their routines disturbed. Sometimes they are unusually
sensitive to sounds, smells, and touch.
One of my patients was a 15-year-old named Brad. He was quite
attractive. He was a straight a student who studied about
an hour a day. He spent approximately 75 hours a week on the
computer playing one game. He hated gym and sports although
he did OK in these activities when he tried. He hated group
activities in and outside of school. Try to talk to him about
socializing or feelings and this would elicit a response of
anger or frustration. His independence skills were substantially
retarded. For example, his parents had to wake him up every
morning to go to school or he would miss the bus. Once in
my office, he was asked to cross the street. He became anxious.
He had to ask his father to help him cross the street…
a 15-year-old, a straight a student, an average busy street.
His parents were accomplished professionals with their own
obsessive characteristics. It was extremely difficult for
them to facilitate an empowering parenting strategy because
of their own anxiety. “What would happen if he was under
too much stress?” his mother asked. I countered with
“what will happen if he does not learn how to handle
stress and become responsible?”
This disorder is understudied. There are very few clinical
programs available to this population. Through the years,
many people with Asperger’s have been in my social therapy
program. I can assure you that social anxiety is a component
of Asperger's. It is very important to understand this, in
addition to parenting issues; as early as possible, in order
for treatment to be productive.
Your Options- Free Introductory CD
- The book, "Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties" (Simon & Schuster)
- Comprehensive self-therapy audio CD program for social and performance anxiety
- Public Speaking Anxiety: Self Therapy Audio CD Program
- Therapy in Great Neck, New York
- Telephone therapy
- Selective Mutism Seminar on Audio CD
- "Parenting The Selectively Mute Child": Self-therapy Audio CD Program
- "Social Therapy and the Learning Disabled: A seminar on Audio CD
- Free social-ability questionnaire
- Free "Parent Addiction" quiz
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There are many free self diagnostic options at www.social-anxiety.com |
Comprehensive Self-Therapy Audio CD Program Self-Help Audio Program for Shyness, Social and Performance Anxiety.
The Book Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties (Simon & Schuster)
