How do I effectively teach a child with Aspergers Syndrome?

Dr Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, originally described Asperger’s Syndrome in The syndrome has more recently been classified as an autistic spectrum disorder. Children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome have an intellectual capacity within the normal range, but have a distinct profile of abilities that has been apparent since early childhood. The symptoms of autism are usually apparent within the first 36 months of life. However, in the case of very high-functioning individuals, symptoms may not be apparent until later in life.

What is Autism? Autism is a syndrome, which means that it is a condition defined by the existence of a collection of characteristics. Individuals with autism experience difficulty in verbal and/or nonverbal communication, which ranges in extremes from not speaking at all to being unable to interpret body language or to participate comfortably in two-way conversation. People with autism exhibit rigidity in thought processes, which can include difficulty with learning abstract concepts, generalizing information, and tolerating changes in routines and/or environments. The most outstanding hallmark of autism is difficulty with reciprocal social interaction. This can range from appearing to want social isolation to experiencing social awkwardness in attaining and maintaining ongoing relationships.

What is Aspergers? A qualitative impairment in social interaction: Failure to develop friendships that are appropriate to the child’s developmental level. Impaired use of non-verbal behaviour such as eye gaze, facial expression and body language to regulate a social interaction. Lack of social and emotional reciprocity and empathy. Impaired ability to identify social cues and conventions. A qualitative impairment in subtle communication skills: Fluent speech but difficulties with conversation skills and a tendency to be pedantic, have an unusual prosody and to make a literal interpretation. Restrictive Interests: The development of special interests that is unusual in their intensity and focus. Preference for routine and consistency.

What is Aspergers? The disorder can also include motor clumsiness and problems with handwriting and being hypersensitive to specific auditory and tactile experiences. There can also be problems with organisational and time management skills and explaining thoughts and ideas using speech. The exact prevalence rates have yet to be determined, but research suggests that it may be as common as one in 250.

Diagnosis:Gillberg’s Criteria 1.Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction (at least two of the following) (a) inability to interact with peers (b) lack of desire to interact with peers (c) lack of appreciation of social cues (d) socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior

Diagnosis:Gillberg’s Criteria 2.All-absorbing narrow interest ( at least one of the following) (a) exclusion of other activities (b) repetitive adherence (c) more rote than meaning 3.Imposition of routines and interests (at least one of the following) (a) on self, in aspects of life (b) on others

Diagnosis:Gillberg’s Criteria 4.Speech and language problems (at least three of the following) (a) delayed development (b) superficially perfect expressive language (c) formal, pedantic language (d) odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics (e) impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings

Diagnosis:Gillberg’s Criteria 5.Non-verbal communication problems (at least one of the following) (a) limited use of gestures (b) clumsy/gauche body language (c) limited facial expression (d) inappropriate expression (e) peculiar, stiff gaze 6.Motor clumsiness: poor performance on neurodevelopmental examination

(All six criteria must be met for confirmation of diagnosis.)

What does it look like in a classroom setting? Asperger Syndrome has sometimes been described as "little professor" syndrome, because often kids with AS become walking encyclopedias about topics that interest them. Many look so normal and are so advanced in some ways that it's hard for people to understand why one can't read a teacher's facial expression, or another has trouble making eye contact, or a third takes expressions literally and misses implied meanings.

Social Customs and Norms Children and adults with Asperger’s syndrome may have levels of anxiety, sadness or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder. There may also be problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others. How would one teach ideas of love and affection?

Social Studies Programming Suggestions: Although they lack personal understanding of the emotions of others, kids with AS can learn the correct way to respond. When they have been unintentionally insulting, tactless or insensitive, it must be explained to them why the response was inappropriate and what response would have been correct. Individuals with AS must learn social skills intellectually: They lack social instinct and intuition.

Most kids with AS want friends but simply do not know how to interact. They should be taught how to react to social cues and be given repertoires of responses to use in various social situations. Teach the kids what to say and how to say it. Model two-way interactions and let them role-play. These kids's social judgment improves only after they have been taught rules that others pick up intuitively.

Assessment Students with Aspergers often exhibit average or above average intelligence. It can therefore be very easy to want to assess them like you would any other student. However, due to their ability to focus in one area while neglecting another, can often mean that the student may suffer academically for something of which they have little to no control. Assessment of students diagnosed with Aspergers can be a balancing act to say the least.

Ends? In The Complete Guide to Teaching Students with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism, teachers will: gain a better understanding of the disorder. gain insight into how the child acts in an academic setting. learn the warning signs that the student is being overcome with frustration and about to experience a "meltdown“. learn to treat the child in a more holistic manner.

Means: Adjust your strategies If the student raises his hand and the teacher responds that she will be with him in 5 seconds, he may very well announce when the 5 seconds have passed because of the concrete way he thinks. The teacher will have to learn to be precise in what she says and use concrete materials rather than abstract ideas whenever possible in her lessons.

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Words of wisdom "the teacher who does not understand that it is necessary to teach kids [with AS] seemingly obvious things will feel impatient and irritated" Hans Asperger

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