“Does my child have Aspergers?” It’s a question that many parents face and often leads to confusion and uncertainty. If you want answers, then read on! We’ll discuss the signs of Aspergers in children and how to tell for sure whether or not your child has the disorder.
Contents
What is Aspergers?
Aspergers is a type of autism and quite a “subtle” disability that you can’t tell just by looking at your child. An Asperger’s child almost appears to be typical. But this type of disorder impacts the brain and mainly leads to struggles with socialization or communicating emotions.
While most children are diagnosed around ages two through four, there are some cases where kids don’t receive their diagnosis until they’re much older – sometimes even to adulthood!
It’s worth noting that the children’s Aspergers will become more clear over time, and specifically as they begin to interact socially with others and express themselves verbally (or non-verbally). To understand whether your child has Aspergers, it’s necessary to know the developmental milestones of a child with Aspergers.
Stages of Child Development for Children Who Have Asperger Syndrome:
Like all kids, children who have Aspergers go through different stages of development. Some of these stages can be a bit more demanding for them to navigate as compared to their peers because they’re hypersensitive or hypersensitive when it comes to certain social cues and emotions.
Here are the developmental stages you should watch out for in your child:
Birth – two years old: During this stage, babies with Asperger Syndrome may seem completely normal! They might even pass their newborn screenings without any issues at all. However, if something does come up during testing or an early screening, make sure you pursue answers immediately so that your baby isn’t left behind.
2-3 years old: Around this age, you might notice that your child is having a harder time making eye contact. They may seem to prefer staring away during greetings or completely uninterested in dialogues. . At home, they might also become obsessed with certain objects (like rocks or toy cars) and not show interest in others at all!
3-4 years old: If there’s any doubt about whether your child has Aspergers, look out for it around this point because things will only get more difficult from here on out if they do have Asperger Syndrome. For example, while most three-year-olds are learning how to share toys – which can lead to conflict with other kids – a child who has Aspergers might have an even harder time sharing and playing with others.
4 years old: This is another stage where you’ll need to watch your little one’s behavior very carefully. Many parents of four-year-olds may see their kids drawing on the walls or refusing to do chores. Others may struggle completing tasks or following rules at home or even taking meals during supper. They might seem extremely sensitive that even small changes like wearing mismatched clothes are enough to upset them for days at a time.
5-6 years old: Another tough stage. At home, kids of this age are often expected to start helping out more around the house – like doing chores or feeding pets – but if your child has Asperger’s it can be very difficult for them to complete these tasks or routines without assistance from you or another adult.
7-8 years old: By now, your child will probably be diagnosed if he or she has Asperger syndrome (or another autism spectrum disorder). However, there’s no need to worry about getting this diagnosis; most seven-year-olds can have an understanding of their uniqueness.
Also, the increased brain development of a seven-year-old does help them in some ways – like communicating with others about their disorder or asking for teachers’ accommodations at school.
But their verbal processing difficulty can make their life more complicated. For example, the child might struggle to remember tasks that need completing even after several reminders. This can overlap with academic performance and yield unfavorable results. Others may have difficulty with responding to social cues. For example, the child may remain sad or aloof when presented with a birthday cake e.t.c
9-12 years old: It’s normal for nine-year-olds to be concerned about puberty and changes in their body, but if your child has Asperger syndrome the physical signs of growing up can make them very anxious. They might also struggle to understand why they’re being bullied or excluded by other students at school even though it may seem obvious to you what is happening:
13-18 years old: By now, many teens with Aspergers Syndrome are comfortable talking openly about how their disorder affects them – like not wanting people to touch them just because everyone else seems okay with hugs, for example. However, this doesn’t mean that life gets any easier; this age still presents a lot of changes that might be more difficult for them to accept. They may also struggle with finding a balance between pushing themselves academically, holding a conversation with strangers, sticking to school routines, and taking time out to relax; this is why they need extra support during the school years
Again it’s common for kids who have Aspergers Syndrome to feel overwhelmed or anxious about their difficulties in social situations (which can lead to depression too)
The challenges of teenagers with Asperger syndrome won’t stop at puberty. By now most children start asking deeper questions about sexuality and what love really means, how much growing up affects relationships with family members, teachers, classmates, etc.
Treatment for Aspergers
If you suspect your child might be showing signs of Asperger syndrome, talk to your GP or pediatrician about what steps should be taken next. Getting a diagnosis of Asperger’s can be difficult because some symptoms might not show up until your child is older – so don’t worry if it takes time to get an accurate picture about what’s going on.
Asperger’s treatment usually involves a lot of talking therapies, which can help to improve your child’s social skills and teach them how to deal with the challenges they face every day. One type of therapy that might be recommended is behavioral or developmental interventions, where children work on their language skills alongside other students in a group setting – much like a typical classroom environment!
How to help a child with Aspergers
Helping your child cope with Asperger’s Disorder will involve a series of strategies. Some recommended practices include using visual aids to help them with balancing routines. Visual aids include calendars, chats, and timetables.
Another great way to help Asperger’s children is to maintain a positive relationship with them. This could involve working together in the kitchen, or walking out in the park during weekends. It’s unrecommended to bark or shout at them.
Keep in mind that you’re not alone; there are lots of other parents and carers who understand what you’re going through.
Again, one thing that might make things easier is joining an autism support group or even starting a local parent-led initiative yourself (like attending regular meetings, etc). This will give you access to information about Aspergers, plus advice from people who’ve managed similar challenges themselves!
Another good idea is to seek advice from professionals who specialize in dealing with children on the autism spectrum – like psychologists, ABA therapists, occupational and speech therapists. You should also talk to school principals or special education teachers.
Bottomline
No matter what challenges your child is facing, you should know that there are always ways to improve their lives so they can keep enjoying being a kid too. Remember that the key to successful treatment is taking things one step at a time, and not expecting too much of your child straight away.
REFERENCES
Center for disease control. (2020). Autism spectrum.
WebMD. (2020). Asperger’s signs and symptoms.
E-e health. (2020). Knowing an Asperger’s child.
Last Updated on October 16, 2021