Website design By BotEap.comAsperger Syndrome (AS) has recently made a very visible leap in the awareness of the American public. Recently, two reality shows have had contestants with this high-functioning form of autism. Check out the stories of Heather Kuzmich, a model who was catapulted to the top of America’s popularity on America’s Next Top Model, and Zev Glassenberg, a contestant on Amazing Race. Neither Kuzmich nor Glassenberg were winners in their respective programs, yet the country as a whole was able to glimpse the challenges these patients face.

Website design By BotEap.comAsperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder that falls on the autism spectrum that affects social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and a reluctance to accept change. If a patient has a mild case, it may go undiagnosed and the patient will be labeled as weird or eccentric. Some sources indicate that many famous and successful people such as Albert Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, Henry Ford, and Bill Gates have symptoms of AS.

Website design By BotEap.comThe disorder is named after Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician. In 1940 he described a pattern of behavior that was demonstrated in some of his patients. He observed that these patients had normal intelligence and language development, but had impaired social skills. He noted that this was more common in boys than in girls.

Website design By BotEap.comSymptoms of Asperger syndrome include high intelligence, high vocabulary, repetitive routines or rituals, socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior, problems with nonverbal communication, and clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements. The onset of AS is later than is typical for classic autism. Most children are diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 9.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that between 1 in 100 and 1 in 300 children in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASDs occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but are four times more likely in boys than girls. The causes of ASDs are unknown. According to the CDC, most scientists agree that genetic material is a risk factor for any ASD. Children who have a sibling or parent with ASD are at higher risk of also having an ASD.

Website design By BotEap.comThe diagnosis of AS can be difficult as there is no medical test, such as a blood test, to diagnose the disorders. Doctors must observe the child’s behavior, development, and parental responses to make a diagnosis. There is no cure for AS, but early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development and socialization.

Website design By BotEap.comPeople with Asperger’s rely heavily on rigid internal rules and struggle with unwritten social cues and social interaction. Reality stars Kuzmich and Glassenberg survived in highly stressful, competitive, and social environments. They both had a few missteps, but overall their presence on the national scene gave the rest of us a glimpse into their private world.