The Wonderful World Of Asperger’s Syndrome
The world of people with Asperger’s syndrome is the same as everyone else’s, but the way they see it needs above all a great deal of empathy. On the other hand, it must be emphasized that Asperger’s syndrome is not a disease, but has some characteristics that affect the social life of those affected and those around them.
In other words, people with Asperger’s live with the elements that give this syndrome its name, so it is very important that they know them, but we also need to be able to understand them. In this way, we will help improve their personal performance and social skills.
When we don’t, people with Asperger’s syndrome can feel confused, sad, and anxious. It is our duty to explain to them what characterizes them and to make them understand that they are only aspects, differences that make them neither better nor worse than others. If we can make them understand, they can get an idea of the world they live in and it will be easier for them to adapt to it.
What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
According to the definition given by many associations, Asperger’s is a pervasive developmental disorder, of a neurobiological nature, considered a form of the autism spectrum. For a correct diagnosis of Asperger’s, the following aspects are usually taken into consideration:
- Problems with typical patterns of social interaction, including those with closest people, as is the case with parents.
- Expression of colloquial language and possible problems in non-verbal communication. Generally speaking, language skills are high, but there are difficulties in using it in a dialogue with other people: interpreting semantic ambiguities, obsession with specific themes or reading between the lines, for example.
- Lack or retention of gaze when speaking: People with Asperger’s frequently avoid eye contact when addressing others.
The wonderful world of Asperger’s syndrome
As the expert Álvaro Girón Martín states, the world seen by people with Asperger’s can be wonderful, because behind the negative side of the coin, there is another positive one which is the one we want to talk to you about today. In this sense, Martín reveals some very interesting aspects:
- Full confidence. Given the problems of social integration that people with Asperger’s have, when they meet someone who understands them, they become part of their circle of trust and relate to them with total sincerity.
- Great listening skills. Contrary to popular belief, people with Asperger’s have good listening skills, don’t interrupt all the time, and don’t make personal judgments in the middle of a normal conversation.
- Productive and consistent conversation. They have their own way of seeing things and consequently defend their point of view, they don’t get carried away by the rest of society.
- Limitless imagination. Psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald, an expert on Asperger’s syndrome, emphasizes the great creativity and ingenuity of those with this syndrome. The restlessness and concern for certain issues makes them experts, even if they have no qualifications that accredit it.
- Great memory. Engagement in activities and in concrete areas leads people with Asperger’s to develop an exceptional memory, which ensures them a certain success in different fields of knowledge.
Ultimately, the world of people with Asperger’s can be wonderful as long as their difficulties are understood and their positive and particular qualities enhanced. For this reason, understanding and knowledge are a prerequisite for their personal development, as we anticipated at the beginning of the article.
Curiosities: books and films
Asperger’s syndrome is quite common and, fortunately, it is increasingly integrated into the different cultures of the world. In fact, there are an infinity of books, films, articles, documentaries that address this issue, bringing it closer to those who do not yet know it.
To demonstrate this, we can cite some examples, such as the book The strange case of the dog killed at midnight or the film entitled My name is Khan , among many others. Still on the theme of Asperger’s syndrome, is the famous cartoon Caillou , whose protagonist makes friends with autistic peers or with other difficulties.
Perhaps the cartoon Caillou is not exactly realistic in some aspects, but it sure makes children understand the importance of understanding the damage that false prejudices can cause, as well as the great power of friendship and emotional solidarity.
