This paper examines Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, through personal case accounts, clinical descriptions, and a review of current research. It covers the syndrome's history, suspected causes, diagnostic criteria, and the challenges families face. The paper explores treatment approaches—including social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and communication techniques—and discusses how obsessive interests can be redirected into career strengths. It also addresses controversies surrounding diagnosis, pharmaceutical influence, and insurance coverage, concluding with a call for greater social acceptance of individuals with Asperger's.
The paper demonstrates effective use of secondary source synthesis: it weaves together peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, news accounts, and clinical guidelines (Mayo Clinic, DSM-IV) to build a cohesive argument. By juxtaposing personal testimonies with empirical findings, the author contextualizes clinical data within lived experience — a technique common in applied health and education writing.
The paper follows a problem-to-solution arc. It opens with case narratives to establish urgency, then moves through clinical background (symptoms, causes, diagnosis), treatment and coping strategies, and finally broader societal controversies. This progression from individual impact to systemic issues gives the paper a logical, escalating structure that mirrors how a practitioner might approach the topic.
According to Lisa's parents, their daughter was frequently called cruel names by peers who did not understand she had Asperger's Syndrome. As a result, Lisa was afraid to attend school and became severely depressed. At one point, as noted in the title of a 2004 newspaper article reporting their words, Lisa's parents also experienced severe depression and stated that they had contemplated suicide:
"We Could See No Other Way out of the Mess Our Life Had Become; Last Year, Wendy Ainscow Poured out Her Heart about the Asperger's Ordeal She and Her Husband Had Endured. Here in Her Own Words, She Reveals How it Had Driven Them to Attempt Suicide." ("We Could See No Other Way," 2004, p. 4)
Lisa needed help, yet refused to accept that she had Asperger's Syndrome and rejected all offers of assistance. She experienced violent mood swings and became overly demanding. At the age of 17, Lisa was horrified and felt disgusted when she experienced her first menstrual cycle. She frequently threatened suicide, and suffered from anxiety and panic attacks. As Lisa's behavior continued to worsen, her mother stated that she reached a point where she could no longer cope with Lisa's struggles and made a suicide pact with her husband. They each took sixty sleeping tablets and consumed a large quantity of alcohol. Their suicide attempt failed, however, as hotel staff discovered them the next morning and rushed them to the hospital. "Lisa needs help," her mother said, "but I don't know where to turn" (Ibid.).
Asperger's Syndrome is a clinical term identifying a particular type of autism, one considered to be relatively high-functioning. Coursey (2005), the father of a child with Asperger's, describes positive dimensions of the syndrome. He states: "If my son Asher 'suffers' from Asperger's Syndrome, I wonder if we all wouldn't do better to have a touch of it ourselves." At the time of his 2005 article, Coursey reports that Asher, then 12 years old, was not only joyful, self-disciplined, and bright, but also exceptionally inquisitive. Most of all, Asher is genuine, Coursey stresses. He accepts things and others with the perception, "You simply are what you are..." (Coursey, 2005).
Not all parents of children with Asperger's have such positive reports, however. Two news accounts relate common challenges. A January 7, 2007 newspaper account provides one poignant, negative account: "Tormented Daughter of Burt Bacharach Commits Suicide; after Years Battling Asperger's Syndrome, Songwriter's Girl Takes Her Life." The article describes Nikki Bacharach, an adult who battled Asperger's Syndrome for years before taking her own life at her apartment in Thousand Oaks, California. Nikki "loved kitties and earthquakes, glacial calving, meteor showers, science, blue skies and sunsets, and Tahiti" ("Tormented Daughter of Burt," 2007, p. 7).
The word autism, coined in 1908, was first used as a clinical diagnosis in 1943, "to describe children who were self-absorbed and unable to interact socially" (Boyle, 2003). During the past decade, the once-controversial field has become even more controversial and complex, partly following the translation of Hans Asperger's work — originally published in German by the Viennese physician — into English. Further controversy stemmed partly from autism being linked to other disputed questions, including "the hotly disputed claim that the childhood jabs against measles, mumps and rubella (known as MMR) might trigger the condition" (Boyle, 2003).
Children with Asperger's Syndrome, according to Elder, Caterino, Chao, Shacknai, and De Simone (2006), "present with significant social skills deficits." These deficits may contribute to depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, and a number of other clinical conditions. Currently, the DSM-IV and ICD-10 serve as the diagnostic criteria generally used to identify Asperger's (Lee & Park, 2007). The Mayo Clinic notes the following as signs and symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome:
Although a strong genetic component does not appear to be present in all individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, neither doctors nor researchers currently understand what causes the syndrome. "The disorder also seems to be linked to structural abnormalities in several regions of the brain" (Asperger's, 2006).
Hans Asperger first linked clumsiness in children to autism during the 1940s. In 1944, his paper described four children who displayed a marked impairment in social relatedness, while nonetheless possessing good problem-solving abilities, sophisticated linguistic skills, and intense yet restricted patterns of interest (Asperger, 1944). Knowledge of Asperger's work did not become widespread, however, until the 1980s, following the publication of Wing's case studies and discussions of the syndrome (Burgoine & Wing, 1983; Wing, 1981, as cited in Bregman, 2005, p. 6).
In more recent times, when one six-year-old girl was diagnosed with Asperger's, she reportedly yelled out: "Don't call me that word!" Boyle (2003) argues that regarding "the ritual of the official diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, or mild autism... some specialists in this complex area of paediatrics believe that, if a child challenges the diagnosis, it is wrong by definition."
Making a definitive diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome can be difficult, as the disorder varies greatly in severity and presentation. When a child shows some signs of Asperger's Syndrome, a family doctor may recommend a further assessment by a team of professionals. The evaluation will likely include a professional discussing the child's development with parents, along with assessment of the child's social interaction, communication skills, and friendships. A child may also be subject to a number of tests to determine his or her level of intellect and academic abilities. "Tests may assess your child's abilities in the areas of speech, language and visual-motor problem solving. Tests can also identify other emotional, behavioral and psychological issues" (Asperger's, 2006).
Unfortunately, some children with Asperger's Syndrome are first misdiagnosed with another condition, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an emotional-behavioral disorder. Even worse, some children with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome are labeled as willful or malicious troublemakers. This is why it is important to consult a doctor if a child is experiencing difficulties at school.
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