If by “intimacy” one means the feeling of being in a close personal association and belonging together, the answer is yes. People with Aspergers love just like anyone else. With the right kind of communication and a strong desire to make the relationship work, intimacy is entirely possible.
It’s not easy, however. Here are reasons why intimacy is generally harder to develop for someone with Aspergers.
Mind Blindness
It’s characteristic of someone with Aspergers to have difficulty
Read more [...]
Asperger Syndrome begins in infancy but it often causes the most problems in adolescence and young adulthood when accomplishments depend so much on successful social relationships. Problems that were mild enough to be disregarded in childhood become more apparent later on. For many adults, coping with Asperger syndrome at this stage in their life is more difficult and has greater significance given what is at stake.
What does Asperger Syndrome in adulthood look like compared to its childhood
Read more [...]
Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on January 29, 2013 · 2 Comments
Soon, Asperger’s Syndrome will no longer exist as an official diagnosis.
Due to be published in May 2013 is a new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the primary manual used by mental health clinicians to provide a formal diagnosis of autism and related disorders.
In the new DSM-V, the separate diagnostic labels of Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) will be replaced by one umbrella term: Autism
Read more [...]
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Asperger’s Syndrome are unrelated conditions, much like depression and anxiety are two separate disorders. Indeed, the official manual of psychiatric disorders, the DSM-IV, does not recognize any overlap between ADHD and Aspergers.
Yet both disorders share many similar symptoms and experienced ADHD psychologists and Aspergers psychologists regularly cannot see a clear boundary separating them.
Recent evidence suggests that some of
Read more [...]
Actually, there are many tests for Asperger’s Syndrome. Most are appropriate for children and adolescents and several are used for adults.
The tests for children are either administered by a professional or require parents and teachers to rate children’s behavior. Tests for adults can be done online, in writing or through an interview by an Aspergers psychologist or other trained professional.
While testing for Aspergers is possible, a critical question is which tests are accurate?
Read more [...]
Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on December 12, 2012 · 1 Comment
At present, Asperger’s Syndrome cannot be cured. However, with help, many people with Aspergers go on to lead normal lives and even excel in numerous ways.
Many people believe that asking whether Aspergers can be cured implies it is a disease, and they argue it is not. It is an alternative way of thinking and perhaps does not need to be cured.
Aspergers can be likened to color blindness. For example, rather than seeing green, those with color blindness might see yellow. Their eyes are
Read more [...]
Teaching students with Asperger’s Syndrome is challenging. These students are usually overwhelmed by minimal change and highly sensitive to environmental stressors.
Children with Aspergers have trouble understanding the complex rules of social interaction. They have trouble initiating and sustaining conversation and may not like physical contact. They tend to be self-centered and often talk at people instead of to them, coming across as insensitive and lacking tact. They often use inappropriate
Read more [...]
Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on September 11, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Being a parent is one of the most important jobs in the world. Parenting a child with Asperger’s Syndrome is not just an important job, it’s a hard one. Children with Aspergers present us with all the usual parenting challenges, plus a whole lot more.
In my work as an Aspergers psychologist, I have found six key solutions to the challenges of parenting children who have Asperger’s Syndrome.
1. Early Intervention
It is better to find out that your child has Aspergers now than to wait until
Read more [...]
Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on August 29, 2012 · 4 Comments
In my 20 years of work as an Aspergers psychologist, I have found six strategies that are most important in helping children and adults
with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Some of these strategies are more useful for children than adults and others are more suitable to certain individuals then they are to others. But overall, these strategies form a comprehensive treatment plan that ensures the most success in helping people cope with Aspergers.
Accurate Diagnosis
Without exception, the most
Read more [...]
Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on July 30, 2012 · 1 Comment
As an Aspergers psychologist, I'm often asked what causes Asperger's Syndrome. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes it. There is probably no single cause. It's likely that a complex combination of factors unfold gradually (before and after birth) to cause Aspergers.
Genetics
Heredity is widely accepted as playing a key role in determining Aspergers. For this reason, Aspergers is considered a neurobiological condition.
Studies show that if one child of an identical twin pair has
Read more [...]
