Do you have a child who rarely plays with others? Does he have fixated interests? Is it difficult to get him to make eye contact? If these scenarios sound familiar, you may have a child with Asperger’s syndrome. This condition is part of the autism spectrum disorder, and those with it often are high-functioning individuals. Providing your child with the means to having a fulfilling future may require professional assistance. Should your child display one or more of the following symptoms, it’s important to contact an applied behavior analysis facility, like The Behavior Exchange, as soon as possible.
Speaks with Little Inflection
Children with Asperger’s syndrome have competent language skills, but their communicative abilities lag behind children without this condition. One way in which this disorder presents itself is with monotone speech. Whereas most people sound very different when communicating happy information as opposed to sad news, individuals with Asperger’s syndrome may speak in the same flat manner no matter what topic or type of information they are discussing with others.
Wants a Repetitive Schedule
People with Asperger’s syndrome become highly accustomed to doing the same activities day in and day out. This routine is comforting to them, so when they can no longer have dinner at the same time or their favorite show is preempted by a special newscast, they can become greatly agitated. At The Behavior Exchange, we teach individuals to be flexible and to be able to adapt to changes in routine.
Interrupts Conversations
Asperger’s syndrome does not necessarily prevent those with the condition from interacting with others. In fact, those with this disorder may want to talk at length about a favorite topic. They may have trouble recognizing social conventions that allow for typical types of conversation, though. For instance, someone with Asperger’s syndrome may not look at a person who is speaking to him. He may not return commonly reciprocated gestures such as a wave or a smile. He may also cut off a person as she is in the middle of talking and may want to perseverate only on their topic of interest and not topics that the other person enjoys. They may be unable to reciprocate information. At The Behavior Exchange, we work diligently on these skills which results in flexible and fluid conversations with peers and adults over time.
The Behavior Exchange can help your child enjoy a productive and enjoyable childhood. Our behavior classes are highly effective in teaching students with Asperger’s syndrome the parameters of important social cues. For more information about our classes, call our Dallas area office at (972) 312-8733.
Written By Tammy Cline-Soza, MS, BCBA
