THEAsperger’s syndrome was included for the first time in 1994 in DSM 4, the fourth edition of the Diagnostic manual of mental disorders. Yet, despite On February 18, the world day continues to be celebratedsince 2013, according to the DSM 5, We no longer speak of Asperger syndrome. Let’s try to clarify the experts.
Autism and Asperger syndrome
«Asperger’s syndrome falls within the autistic spectrumwith which he shares the difficulties, or rather the communication and social peculiaritiesnot so much the isolation, as difficulty in understanding the rules of society. This means that if you normally tend to social strategies spontaneously modulatefor example to speak differently with a colleague or with a child, a person with autism must learn these rules as if they were another language. We can say that Asperger is an autistic spectrum disorder without cognitive impairment or language»Explains the Professor Giovanni ValeriInfantile neuropsychiatrist, psychologist and psychotherapist, head of the simple operating unit – uos of “autistic spectrum disorders” at theIRCSS Bambino Gesù Hospital of Rome and teacher at theLa Sapienza University And Tor Vergata of Rome.
Asperger syndrome: what are the causes
«As for the autistic spectrum disorder, also for Asperger’s syndrome, there is currently no certain cause that is able to explain the origin of the disorder. It is a condition in which genetics and environment both take on a crucial role. Studies on twins have shown that the genetic contribution has an impact that stands between 40 and 90%. More than 100 gene And genomic regions are probably implicated in causing autism. Some environmental factors increase the risk of autism: high paternal age, maternal obesity, gestational diabetes, use of valproate During pregnancy, Perinatal problems and a short interval between a pregnancy and the next»Explain the experts of the IRCSS Bambino Gesù Hospital of Rome.
What symptoms
«People with Asperger syndrome present serious difficulties in unland with others and in socializing. This syndrome is characterized by a cognitive and linguistic development suitable for age. However, people with Asperger syndrome can present one atypical development of social relationswith difficulty in initiating and maintaining these relationships. Also because they seem completely selfless to make friends or feel affection for peers. In addition, the tone of voice is often monotonous. The children with this syndrome express themselves in a pedantic way and interpret what is told to the letter, apparently without grasping sarcasm, irony, ways of saying. All this is accompanied by difficulty in understanding and sharing the mental states of others “experts continue.
Children with Asperger syndrome: what interests
«The peculiar and unusual interests for the age of development, highly specific and restricted interests, almost obsessive, coexist with the presence of repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. These unusual interests can develop from the second or third year of age And they can start manifesting themselves through the interest in parts of an object such as the wheels of a cars or electrical switches. Some children can have difficulty playing “pretend” games And they prefer topics related to logic and systems, such as mathematics. Some occupy time in a limited range of imaginative activitieswhich can be pursued rigidly and repetitively, for example through the alignment of toys or the collection and organization of things relating to his interest, “they underline.
Asperger syndrome: recommended interventions
«In recent decades awareness has grown That, although there is no therapeutic path capable of healing from autism, some psychoeducative interventions based on scientific evidence and recommended by national and international guidelines can significantly change the course of the disorder. In people with Autistic Specter disorder and Asperger syndrome, National guidelines recommend psychoeducative interventions who have the aim of promoting socio conversational skills, of social emotional reciprocity and the recognition of mental states to be carried out also through group therapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions (CBT) are also recommended for the management of psychopathological problems that can present themselves in association with Asperger syndrome. It is equally essential Promote social inclusion projects», The experts of the IRCSS Hospital Bambino Gesù in Rome conclude.
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