Does your child have a very difficult time in social situations? It may be that your child has Asperger's syndrome. What is meant by "a very difficult time in social situations"? Well, maybe you've noticed some of the following symptoms which characterize those with Asperger's syndrome:

* An inability to pick up on social cues, such as reading others' body language.

* A tendency to carry on long, one-sided conversations without even noticing whether the listener is listening or trying to change the subject.

* Difficulty understanding the sometimes subtle differences in speech that can change how another's message is received. For example, children with Asperger's may not understand when a joke is being told, or may miss the sarcasm intended and, instead, may take a comment at face value.

* Their own speech might be flat and hard to understand because of a lack of pitch or tone.

* Discomfort with any changes in routines.

* May either stare at others, or avoid eye contact.

* Might appear to not have empathy.

* Can be preoccupied with only one or two interests, which they are highly knowledgeable about. This preoccupation borders on obsession. They might talk a lot about this interest, and often carry on one-sided conversations.

* Motor development might be delayed, with trouble learning to ride a bike, eat with a spoon or fork, or other hand/eye coordination tasks, including that of handwriting.

* Easily overstimulated by lights, loud noises, or other stimuli.

A child with one or two of these symptoms doesn't necessarily have Asperger's--after all, these symptoms might describe a majority of toddlers you know. The key to diagnosis is having a combination of these symptoms AND having severe trouble with social situations. Parents might first notice this when their child starts to interact with other kids. Is perhaps your child unable to make friends with other children?

Asperger's syndrome is grouped with other autistic spectrum disorders, which encompass problems with communication and other social skills. But Asperger's syndrome is generally considered to be at the less severe end of this spectrum. Although in some ways Asperger's is similar to autism, children with Asperger's generally have normal intellectual and language development. And they typically try harder to make friends and to interact with others.

Children with Asperger's syndrome vary in the severity of their symptoms, and in the number of the symptoms they exhibit. Because of this, no two children with Asperger's are the same. Asperger's underlying causes, thought to be genetically based, can't be "cured." Instead, treatment, in the form of either communication and social skills training or cognitive behaviour therapy, can help your child learn to more easily fit into their social world.

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