Daniel Lopez

5/14/2014 Hans 1944

English12

In 1944, Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger diagnosed what would later be called an
important issue to be assessed in the later years to come and the first syndrome of its kind to be
categorized in the autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Later sometime the syndrome had gotten
some attention and is now known as the Aspergers syndrome, syndrome meaning any collection
of symptoms that together are a result of a specific disorder. What is Aspergers? a Medical
News Today article, explains it is a developmental disorder in which it negatively affects a
persons ability to communicate and socialize with the world around them. The Aspergers
syndrome can have a significant effect on a persons life from their childhood and follow them
all the way up to their adulthood and so on. The Aspergers syndrome is categorized into the
autistic spectrum because it has similar characteristics to autism, but people with (AS) are on the
high functioning end of the scale. This will pose problems as to whether people can actually tell
if there is a reason why someone may act distinctively different from others even when they may
not look like they are dealing with a developmental disorder.
People with (AS) struggle to socialize as the syndrome hinders them from being able to
process expressions when communicating with others. This often leads the person with (AS) to
feel stressed out and full of anxiety, therefore it is important to bring about awareness of the
issue to give them the support they need. Common symptoms include obsessive interests,
formal/distinctive speech, routines, and sensory difficulties and more. The exact cause of (AS) is
unknown and as it is a wide-spectrum disorder people may have various combinations of
symptoms and therefore make diagnosis difficult. Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident
of The Dog in The Night-Time, tells a story of a 15 year old boy who attempts to unfold the
mystery behind the death of a neighborhood dog all the while being diagnosed with Aspergers
Daniel Lopez
5/14/2014 Hans 1944
English12
syndrome. It provides clear examples of what symptoms can be like when a child is diagnosed
with (AS) as well as what families will often go through to raise a child with (AS). The novel
brings into light that with proper support and awareness people with (AS) can live a fruitful life.
People with (AS) are often at most not getting the support they need to lead a successful
life for themselves, This is because in most cases they go into their schools and careers without
being diagnosed, in other words there are people out in the real world trying to make a living
while being unaware that they are struggling with (AS). An article at The Guardian, How
students with Aspergers cope at university, talks about the struggle a student will face when
communicating with their staff and classmates. Often times these students are misunderstood for
how they respond and act to the environment they interact with. For example, the atmosphere in
a university can be a crippling place for a student with (AS), since it is often a place full of
crowded areas and high activity. These type of stressful environments make it difficult for person
with (AS) to learn and academically succeed where they find it difficult to ask for assistance
when communicating with their staff. With proper care and support from organizations like the
National Autistic Society (NAS), Universities can start creating the proper environment that is
safe for a student with (AS) to engage in their studies properly and help them understand how
they can assess their abilities so that they can succeed in school.
When people go undiagnosed with Aspergers syndrome they can face serious hardship
when it comes to working in areas where communication is crucial. A CNN Health column,
titled I hired someone with Aspergers -- now what? proposes issues employers will face when
hiring a person with Aspergers. Areas that involve computer based work and engineering are the
most common for (AS) patients in that they excel in those areas in which logic comes into play
Daniel Lopez
5/14/2014 Hans 1944
English12
when solving out issues. An Employer will at times feel uncomfortable when deciding to hire an
(AS) patient since they feel they are being biased in hiring them only because they can
concentrate for long hours at a time and increase businesses productivity. Topics employers
expressed in the article were presented in hopes that people can understand how (AS) patient
works and the type approach needed to interact with them. One particular issue stated was that
employees with (AS) can be socially awkward, and that they may not respond to their peers like
others at work do. Employers who became aware of the disorder noticed that they communicate
differently as a result to help them feel safe and secure, and that these coping skills might often
seem rude or offensive to others when interaction while working on a project is crucial. In the
end employers realized the importance of (AS) awareness, and took action to set up an
environment in which adults with (AS) can thrive.
Unawareness of the Aspergers syndrome poses serious threats to the health of the
patients as well as those diagnosed with the developmental disorder since it can hinder them
from ever getting proper care and treatment. The more people can get to understand what
Aspergers syndrome is about the better we can identify and support (AS) patients. People
diagnosed with Aspergers need immediate support, awareness is crucial for the health of families
and patients so they can understand their situation more clearly. Helping them understand
themselves will create a sense of clarity in their lives and promote higher self-esteem for them to
live independently and achieve their life long goals. Organizations like National Autistic Society
are pushing the envelope in getting people to be aware of the struggle people face when living
under the same syndrome Hans Aspergers discovered in 1944.