Since 2007, February 18th has been celebrated worldwide as International Asperger's Syndrome Day. This is a neurobehavioral disorder that can affect the social lives of people with this diagnosis and even their families.
However, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this condition is no longer named as such and is now classified as a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder, focusing on behavioral characteristics, namely difficulties in communication and social interaction, but not presenting difficulties at the intellectual level.
Diagnosis is made in childhood or adolescence by specialists in pediatrics, pediatric neurology, or child psychiatry through a developmental and behavioral assessment of the child. This assessment is usually carried out due to the identification of one or more of the following signs/symptoms, often first reported by parents and/or teachers:
– difficulty interacting (rigid thinking; difficulties in emotional regulation; lack of empathy);
– difficulty in verbal communication (interpreting words and expressions literally, without perceiving humor, irony, or sarcasm; interpreting changes in voice) and nonverbal (interpretation of body language, such as facial expressions; avoidance of eye contact);
– difficulty in understanding rules (including social norms);
– Routine or repetitive behaviors ;
– fixation on routines (when broken they can cause instability and anxiety);
– interest in specific subjects (for example, airplanes, limiting conversations, research and activities);
– motor incoordination (e.g., difficulty in sports; lack of skill);
– hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli (for example, discomfort with sounds, lights or textures).
There is no real "cure" for autism spectrum disorders, and their cause is still uncertain, with genetic factors being assumed to play a major role. However, despite the lack of a way to eliminate this condition or prevent it, the earlier this disorder is detected, the sooner intervention is possible, adapting the environment to the child's needs. In these cases, the intervention aims to promote a better quality of life and adjustment to the "world" in general. To this end, it is important that this be done by a multidisciplinary team, including a pediatrician, neurologist, child psychiatrist, psychologist... – and when necessary, medication, due to comorbidities that may arise, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit, with medication focused on these issues and not directly on "Asperger's syndrome," as there is no medication for that.
The psychologist's intervention is This is fundamental because it allows for the development and improvement of the social and emotional skills of diagnosed individuals, preparing them for their relationships with others, which will affect not only their personal lives but also their professional lives, as well as helping them cope with difficulties that may arise in their daily lives (e.g., disruptions to routine, changes, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety, or depressive feelings). Furthermore, when a child is diagnosed with a subtype of autism spectrum disorder, one of the focuses of intervention should also be on instructing parents on how to interact with their children and how to structure their daily lives and surrounding environment.
Dr. Telma Gomes
Taipas Termal Health and Mental Therapy Unit
