Not all people with Asperger's syndrome are alike. Some may be seen as quirky individuals, while others obviously have some type of disability. It's not always easy to tell if a person has Asperger's Syndrome, because the symptoms of it vary so much from person to person. .
Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is characterized as a pervasive developmental disorder, meaning individuals suffer from social impairment exemplifying odd behaviors and interests. ASDs are considered neurodevelopmental disorders and are present in infancy. Asperger's syndrome is considered by many to be the mildest form of ASD ("Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet"). .
Asperger's syndrome affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate with other individuals. Symptoms include lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, speaking in a monotonous voice, and difficulty understanding emotions (Mayo Clinic). They generally don't make friends easily, and have difficulty in group settings ("Asperger's syndrome").
A person living with Asperger's demonstrates a lack of empathy. It is difficult to tell if a person has the disorder because they will look normal, but behave with some quirks. Individuals with Asperger's develop as normal children and they reach mile stones at an average rate, however some may have difficulty reaching mile stones regarding motor skills such as riding a bike and catching a ball (Mayo Clinic).
Asperger syndrome is considered one of the more common developmental disabilities. It is known to be four or five times more common in males than in females. It most cited statistic is that autism occurs in 4.5 out of 10000 live births. The estimate of children having autistic qualities is reposted to be 15 to 20 out of 10,000. One percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 has an Asperger's syndrome. Over 40% of children with this disorder have been bullied at school (statistics").
