Asperger’s Awareness in San Diego

Be Involved – Act Now – Champion Autism Inc. is here to help individuals and families in regard to autism and Asperger’s syndrome. We are a nonprofit organization based in San Diego here to provide funds for therapies and to support autism research.

In 2013, Asperger’s syndrome became part of a broader category known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prior to that, Asperger’s was a diagnosis on its own, but now it’s classified as a high-functioning type of autism spectrum disorder. But still, the term Asperger’s is commonly used.

What’s the difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome?

The key difference between the two is that individuals with Asperger’s don’t have a speech delay like individuals with autism do. For example, children who have autism are commonly viewed as being uninterested in others, and that is not the same for children with Asperger’s. Kids with Asperger’s do want to fit in and converse with others but they’re unable to do it.

Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome do have good language skills, but they use their language skills differently. Here is a list of examples:

• Their speech patterns are odd
• They lack inflection or have a, what seems to be, rehearsed rhythmic nature
• They may speak formally, but it’s either too loud or even high-pitched
• They aren’t able to pick up on sarcasm, humor or irony

Living with Asperger’s Syndrome

Typically, Asperger’s starts early on and the symptoms usually involve the individual having a difficult time with social interactions, showing no desire for sameness and having confined interests. The challenges that affect individuals with Asperger’s syndrome could consist of:

• Being hypersensitive to tastes, lights and sounds
• Having a hard time carrying a normal conversation
• Not being able to pick up on nonverbal cues
• High anxiety
• Depression
• And clumsiness

Nonetheless, there are some positive characteristics that come with Asperger’s. These could include having remarkable focus and perseverance, a high alertness in recognizing patterns and careful attention for details. It’s completely feasible for individuals with Asperger’s to overcome their challenges, and they can do this by building on their strengths.

There is no universal treatment for Asperger’s syndrome since every child is different, but there are a few therapies out there that could help. Some of these treatments include:

• Social skills training
• Speech language therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Parent education
• Applied behavioral analysis
• Medicine

It’s important to know that there aren’t any medications on the market that are approved by the FDA to treat Asperger’s, but if your child is exhibiting symptoms of anxiety or depression, then there are some medicines a doctor could prescribe to treat those symptoms.

If you’re in the San Diego area and are concerned about your child, reach out at (888) 815-2676. We’re a non-profit organization committed to providing funds for therapies in regard to autism and Asperger’s syndrome. We are here to assist you in finding the right resources for you across the San Diego region. Another goal of ours is to raise awareness for autism and Asperger’s syndrome and to support research towards these disorders. Be involved. Act now. Champion autism.