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(CNN Spanish) – Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism that is listed as a mental “disorder”, but not a disease. It is a condition with which one is born, but that is usually diagnosed when the child is of school age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scientists who have studied this disorder have failed to decipher the causes of this syndrome but know that the brain of a person with Asperger’s syndrome “works differently than a person who does not have it,” say the CDC.
The condition was first described by Dr. Hans Asperger, in 1994, who made this key observation: People with Asperger are socially isolated, have problems with communication, there is something that does not work in interaction with other people. People with this condition lack what we normally call “social intuition.”
These are some things you should know about people with autism.
They are usually very intelligent and independent
People with Asperger syndrome are often characterized by having an average or above average intelligence. In addition, they question authority.
They do not accept a “no” as an answer without being right. They almost never accept a fact simply because of their origin. They will only accept it as a fact if the logic is demonstrated.
For this reason, many inexperienced bosses avoid working with a person with this syndrome. You don’t need to close the doors, you just need to be prepared to justify your decisions when they have a direct impact on your employee.
One of the main characteristics of autism is the fixation in hobbies or particular activities, what the American Academy of Pediatrics calls “restrictive and repetitive interests and activities”.
A Harvard Business School research shows that the strengths of people with high-functioning Asperger and autism make them especially suitable for software development and testing. They have the ability to concentrate for prolonged periods. They have a very good memory and are often very intelligent. Their strong analytical skills make them talented in technological work.
They have social difficulties
People with this disorder usually have a hard time socializing and communicating with others. Depending on the severity of these social deficits, people with Asperger and other forms of autism may have difficulty developing, maintaining and understanding relationships, including romantic relationships.
Although they are exceptionally intelligent and verbally gifted, they can also be socially inadequate. They may react to stress differently and sometimes more emotionally than others that are not in the autism spectrum.
“Children with Asperger’s syndrome do not have language delays, and by definition, they have an IQ (intelligence measurement) at the same level or higher than that of most children,” the CDC says.
Many people with Asperger feel challenged by large crowds, by looking directly into the eyes of other people and have difficulty reading common social cues. That’s why listen to his words instead of focusing on his body language.
They think and talk differently
People with Asperger frequently talk extensively about small details instead of being brief and getting to the point. The reason is simple: this is how they see the world. They have complex mental models that include all those little intertwined details. For them, to ignore the details is to ignore part of the solution.
In addition, in the simplest of terms: aspies (people with Asperger) are blunt.
They are also known for being direct, saying what they think and being honest and determined. Just keep in mind that a person with Asperger is primarily interested in significant contributions to the conversation and prefer to avoid “small talks” and superficial conversations.
And not that they are being rude. So be patient with them.
Feel deeply
It’s easy to think that people with Asperger are less empathetic because of how they can act. In fact they are not. When people are not sure how to respond to a stressful or unknown situation, we can act strangely. This also applies to aspies.
One of the most challenging things for any individual with autism is the cacophony of emotions that can be triggered by seemingly mundane events. For example, the cancellation of a project can be a relief for most of your team, while an aspie can see it as people who do not appreciate their hard work or allow them to finish the job.
Be patient. Take them aside to explain the situation and ask for their comments and opinions. This will give them the opportunity to process the idea.
They usually succeed
There is a good reason why Asperger is called a successful disorder. His approach and dedication leads many people with this disorder to be very successful. I doubt you can find an entrepreneur who doesn’t have some Asperger behaviors.
The Asperger comes with challenges along with the great opportunities. Do not run away to aspies because they have different ways or behaviors. Be aware of them and understand how to respond to them. If you do, you will see them as the priceless people they are and give them the respect they deserve.
What are the signs of Asperger’s syndrome?
According to the CDC, people with this disorder can:
- Having trouble understanding other people’s feelings or expressing their own feelings.
- Having difficulty understanding body language.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Wish to be alone; or want to interact but not know how to do it.
- Have very specific interests, sometimes obsessive.
- Talk only about themselves and their interests.
- Speak in an unusual way or with a strange tone of voice.
- Having trouble making friends
- Be nervous in large social groups.
- Be clumsy or careless.
- Having rituals that refuse to change, as a very rigid routine to go to sleep.
- Perform repetitive or strange movements.
- Having unusual sensory reactions
This disorder can be treated so that people who have this condition overcome the challenges “and learn to develop their strengths,” according to the CDC.
– With information from Dave Wellman, Zach Wasser, Tiara Chiaramonte and Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN.
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