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Postcards From My Mind: Perspectives of Asperger's
Syndrome
Asperger's Syndrome Quiz Myth and Fact
- ALL PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME ARE EXACTLY
THE SAME
False. Asperger’s Syndrome is a spectrum within the autism
spectrum. There are several different phenotypes (subtypes)
within the sub-category of Asperger’s.
- ALL PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME HAVE POOR
EYE CONTACT
False. Many people with Asperger’s have poor eye contact,
but some do not have difficulty.
- ASPERGER’S SYNDROME IS HIGH FUNCTION AUTISM
True. At this point, Asperger’s Syndrome is considered
the highest form of Autism. Both people with Asperger’s
Syndrome and Autism have difficulty with pragmatics (the social
aspect of communication).
- ASPERGER’S SYNDROME IS THE SAME THING AS NON-VERBAL
LEARNING DISABILITY
False. They share many similar characteristics, but they are
not the same disorder. At the current time, the medical community
has not come to a consistent agreement on what the difference
is.
- PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME DO NOT HAVE
SENSORY INTEGRATION DISORDERS
False. People with Asperger’s Syndrome often do have difficulty
processing sensory information.
- PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME NEVER LIKE TO
BE TOUCHED
False. Many people with Asperger’s Syndrome do not have
difficulty with being touched.
- EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IS THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION
SO ONE CAN ACHIEVE GOALS
True. This is one aspect of executive functioning
- ALL PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME CAN HAVE
MEANINGFUL JOBS AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY
False. Many people with Asperger’s Syndrome can go on
to achieve success and live independently, but many do not.
Mostly their poor social skills prevent them from achieving
full potential.
- IF YOU CAN FIX THE BEHAVIORS OF PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S
SYNDROME, YOU CAN CURE THE DISORDER
False. Behaviors are a manifestation of either faulty learning
or a symptom of a larger neurological issue (i.e., sensory impairment).
One can extinguish the behaviors without curing the disorder.
It is important to remember that behaviors are only the external
manifestation of what is wrong. In order to truly assist the
person, one must teach him/her the underlying skills that are
missing.
- PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME CAN BE CURED
False. Asperger’s (and the autism spectrum disorders)
are not “curable”. However with great intervention,
many students can become “passable”, meaning they
“pass for neurologically typical”.
- SOME PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME DESIRE
FRIENDSHIP
True. Many people with Asperger’s want friends but have
difficulty reciprocating the relationship.
- PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME ARE INSENSITIVE
False. People with Asperger’s Syndrome may appear to be
insensitive, but in actuality, many are unable to take the other
person’s perspective to see how their actions/words are
impacting the other person.
- ASPERGER’S SYNDROME IS CAUSED BY BAD PARENTING
False. As of today no one knows what causes Asperger’s
Syndrome. There is a strong suspicion that genetics plays an
important role. Parenting, as with all children, effects children’s
development. Bad parenting does not cause Asperger’s Syndrome,
but bad parenting might exacerbate the symptoms.
- FROM A CROWD OF PEOPLE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PICK
THE PERSON WITH ASPERGER’S OUT
True. Many people with Asperger’s Syndrome are indistinguishable
from their peers until you spend some time with them when eventually
differences are noted.
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