Problems coping will become less as the child matures, but as with all children, new ones will appear. Teenagers find the lack of friendship perplexing. They continually try to their best to cultivate new friendships only to find they don’t last. Parents need to teach Asperger’s children social skills that come naturally to non-Asperger’s children. If social skills are taught from a young age, it makes life easier for Asperger’s teenagers.
Many skills can be taught to Asperger’s children. However, keep in mind that each child is an individual with his own personality and characteristics. Difficulty levels, as well as levels of achievement will vary.
Asperger’s vs. Autism
Asperger’s Syndrome is more common that Autism, though it is quite rare. Few people including health care professionals have ever heard of it. Fewer still have had any experience dealing with it and even fewer understand it. Most health care professionals have some knowledge of Autism, though most refer children who suffer from it to specialists in the Autism field of expertise.
Asperger’s children have been described as having a dash of Autism. Expert’s opinions differ greatly on whether Asperger’s Syndrome should remain on the Autism spectrum, or if it should be in a classification of its own. Autism has been defined as a withdrawal from reality. Though this is not what Autism is, thousands of people, including some health care professionals, still view it as such.
The severity of Autism is much greater than that of Asperger’s Syndrome. Many times children with Autism cannot speak and only make sound. Classic Autism brings many learning problems with it. The language of those with Asperger’s is most often clear, intelligent and usual. Their cognitive ability is almost always at least average and more often above average.
At the present time, the similarities and characteristics of Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are enough to put them on the same spectrum of developmental disorders. It is important that any diagnosis be perfectly clear, though this can change as the child matures. Traits of children on the high end of the Autistic spectrum appear less severe as the child matures and learns to cope with his disorder and difficulties.