Psychology

Aspergers disorder is many a time identified as Autism or other related disorders (Watkins, 2000). This confusion happened to the three year Tony whose speech was somehow odd in comparison with other childrens who were of the same age with him. Tonys doctor diagnosed him of Autism but it was later discovered that the doctor had been all wrong. Tony was suffering from Aspergers disorder. Aspergers disorder as defined by Mayo clinic staff, refers to a developmental disorder that affects a childs ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others (Mayo, 2008). It has been named so after the doctor who first described it in the years 1940s, Hans Asperger. On the other hand, Autism as spelt out by Edwards, is a developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired development in communication, social interactions, and behavior (Edwards, 2010). The two disorders are closely related. They are both Autism Spectrum Disorders, (ASDs) (Armman, 2010). Evans in her article, Aspergers vs. Autism, says, The one thing that is known for sure is that Aspergers is a type of autism.  Aspergers disorder is sometimes called high functioning autism (Evans, 2010). Evans further adds that, There are many differences between what most people think of when they imagine an autistic child and one suffering from Aspergers syndrome (Evans, 2010).

Description of Aspergers disorder
What causes this disorder remains a mystery but suggestions show that it may be genetically linked as it tends to be seen through the family genealogy. Environmental factors such as pollution, child vaccinations and food intolerances are also thought to play a role. Another cause of aspergers disorder is suggested to be stomach candida that occurs in high levels (Irving, 2010).
 
Aspergers disorder is associated with childhood. If one wants to identify a child suffering from Aspergers disorder, here are some symptoms that can help one pick out the child with aspergers syndrome. They have impairment with their social interactions. This makes them tend to use a multiple of non-verbal behaviors like, facial expressions, eye eye gazing, gestures that are used in regulating the social interactions and body postures. The impairment is also characterized by, inability to make developments with their age mates relationships, disinterest when it comes to other peoples interests and they also fail to reciprocate socially or emotionally ( Marina, 2007).

Aspergers affected persons may also have stereotyped and repetitive behavioral patterns- they have preoccupied, abnormal and restricted patterns, their failure to adhere to certain routines is evident, has questionable repeated motor behaviors like twisting or constantly flapping a finger or the whole hand, and observed is also the complex movement of the whole body in an awkward manner. They are persistently pre-occupied when it comes to the issue of object parts such as those of a car (Marina, 2007).

Generally, the disorder causes intensive impairment in occupational and social areas. On the positive side, they do not experience language delays and have normal language despite its odd patterns. They can bubble single words at the age of two like normal kids or phrases at the age of three. Their cognitive development is normal and there is no delay either (Marina, 2007). Other descriptions that are common with children at the onset of aspergers may include precociousness in their learning how to talk, what Marina emphasizes in his article, Symptoms of aspergers disorder, as  he talked before he could walk. They are more fascinated with numbers, despite their interest in odd statistics, and also letters, the small child has the ability to, though with almost no understanding, decode words, a condition Marina calls, hyperlexia. The affected young child may have strong attachment to members of the family but it lacks when it comes to their peers. The child may try to establish contact with their peers by, as Marina adds hugging them or screaming at them and then puzzle at their responses, which is quite a bizarre behavior (Marina, 2007).

As far as the treatment of Aspergers disorder is concerned, there appears to be no specific aspergers syndrome medication. What are treated are the specific symptoms, for instance, a stimulant can be used in case of hyperactivity or inattention. And with individual portraying stereotyped movement, idiosyncratic or agitation, a low dose of antipsychotic the likes of risperidone can be used (Watkins, 2000).

Information about Autism
Though scientists may not be sure on what causes autism, it is thought that genetic make-up and environment are involved. At early infancy, the baby suffering from autism fails to respond to people and may tend to focus on one object for a very long time. Children of this nature may fail in responding when their names are called. They are shy and will as much as possible evade eye contact. In addition, they are unable to interpret social cues of tone and facial expressions and since they never look at peoples faces to get clues, they find it difficult to interpret feelings or thoughts of people. Empathy in such children is absent (NINDS, 2009).

Many of the children with autism make repetitive movements and they bully others by head-banging and biting. Lateness in speaking is evident and when talking about themselves, they refer to their names rather than using the first person pronouns me and I. Their playing with other children is uncoordinated and speaking to some, is characterized by sing-song voice when talking about, though narrow, their favorite topics putting little interest to people whom they are talking to. Just like the Aspergers disorder, there has never been a cure for autism. Therapies and some behavioral interventions may be used to correct certain symptoms and this is sometimes successful at the earlier stages of a childs development (NINDS 2009).

Current research on the similarities and differences between autism and aspergers disorders
Initially, the two cases could not be differentiated. However, in the years 1980s a research carried out by the American Psychiatric Association showed that there were cases that resembled autism but did not meet the criteria for autism diagnosis. The two of them were classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Their similarities were development impairments in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication and imagination. The differences that existed by then are that autism was more severe as far as other pervasive developmental disorders such as aspergers were concerned. Aspergers on the other hand was, as Bishop (1989) puts it in the journal, Autism, aspergers syndrome and semantic-pragmatic disorder where are the boundaries, Characterized by pedantic and stereotyped speech, clumsiness, obsession interests and deficit social behavior.

Similarities between Asperger and Autism disorders 
Many similarities are evident with both disorders. In both disorders, the affected persons have social interaction deficits. They are poor as far as communication is concerned as they are unable to interpret social cues. Because of this, maintaining relationships with their peers is difficult they would better speak to adults (Gabbi525, 2009).In both situations, eye contact is poor. They have a tendency to avoid eye contact with people and this makes it difficult for them to interpret intentions and emotions of other people. Other notable areas of similarities in the two cases include, resistant to change routine, pain-touch hyperhyposensitivity, motor skills deficits and obsessions in certain topics (Gabbi525, 2009).
Differences between Aspergers disorder and Autism disorder

Social interaction
To begin with, the greatest difference that stands out between children who have Aspergers disorder and the autistic children can be explained in terms of their social interactions. Children suffering from Aspergers syndrome unlike those with autism, have insatiable desire to engage in conversations with other people but the shortcoming is that fail to know how to put it across and its hard to follow their conversation (Evans, 2010). They behave too awkwardly such that they formalize even the informal social situations. They also have no empathy on other kids and moreover seem to neither understand social rules nor good manners. They naturally avoid eye contact which suggests their disinterest in socialization and makes them unable to interpret what others say. Austic kids react differently they are cocky and never care about other children within their vicinity. They are anti-social who keep to themselves and in many occasions, loners (Evans, 2010).

Language and Communication
Secondly, though children suffering from Aspergers syndrome have impaired social development leading to problems with language use, their language development is just like that of other children who fall under their age (Evans, 2010). The article on Autistic disorder and aspergers (pervasive development disorders) question and answer, points out that Children with Aspergers Disorder may communicate verbally but you may feel theyre talking at you rather than with you (Autism society, nd).  Their language is not too much affected and they can even perform above average. Ownby in the article, exploring the autism spectrum autistic disorder, aspergers spectrum PDD-NOS and more, describes these children as little professors because of their command of the language and lots of vocabularies. However, they have difficulties when it comes to social language (Ownby, 2008). Autistic children on the other hand have severe lapses in their language development. Many children suffering from this disorder may completely fail to develop the skills of language and if they do, it is distorted (Evans, 2010).

Individuals suffering from aspergers have no delays in their communication as is prevalent with those suffering from autism ( Armman, 2010).Those suffering from Aspergers lack skills in language and have the ability to use the language in distinct ways. This is not to say that they are perfect in their language. The fact is that they have unusual speech patterns that lacks inflection and is at times song-like as it is accompanied by rhythmic patterns. In other cases it can make one deaf very loud or its pitch too high. It will be as if one is talking to a person who is at a further distance while the person is actually within an earshot (Autism Society, nd).

Cognitive Ability
More so, Aspergers children have the cognitive ability. They are just like any other of their equals regarding their cognitive ability. They have a cognitive ability of average or surprisingly, above average in school. They may even perform better than the normal children of their class as their IQ is high (Evans, 2010). Armman adds that,they often manage to go to school, graduate from colleges and live independently. (Armman, 2010).  This never changes even as they grow up into adults. On the other side of the coin, autistic children have cognitive impairments and despite their growing, it does not improve at all. They are mentally retarded (Evans, 2010).

Aspergers affected children have obsessive behaviors in funny things such as sports statistics, Russian czars names or anything else that appears odd. This obsessive behavior can affect their socialization irrespective of whether others are interested in the discussion or not. They would like to talk in monotones without giving others a chance about what their obsessed minds have (Evans, 2010). Their pervasiveness in specific topics leaves them with narrow and shallow interests as opposed to normal human beings (Armman, 2010).

Severity
Another difference between aspergers disorder, what is abbreviated as AS, and autism is in their severity degree. Autism is a very severe PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) form. Autistic person have difficulties relating with others. As pointed out earlier, they have absent or delayed speech and even or worse mental retardation (Watkins, 2000). Unlike Autism, AS is not severe. It is, as Watkins speaks in her, Aspergers disorder article on the milder end of PDD. She adds that Individuals with Aspergers generally have normal intelligence and normal language acquisition. However, they show difficulties with social interaction and non-verbal communications. They may also show pervasiveness or repetitive behaviors. AS is, in this case, a less severe form of PDD (Watkins, 2000). Children suffering from autism are more prone, as compared to those with asperger, to other co-occurring conditions such as fragile X that causes retardation in mind, tuber sclerosis (growth of tumors in the brain), tourette syndrome, epileptic seizures, attention deficit and learning disabilities (NINDS 2009).

Conclusion
Unless one is keen, it is not easy to identify a person suffering from aspergers disorder. It is hard to imagine that many well known people suffer from aspergers disorder Of these imaginable who showed aspergers signs are Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Albert Eistein and H G Wells. Former president of the United States of America, George W. Bush, is also said to be an Aspergers sufferer (Armman, 2010).Autism on the other hand is so obvious even from an early age. A problem earlier treated can be diagnosed and perhaps there can be an improvement in a condition. It is therefore essential, in case of any abnormalities in the behavior of a child, to consult a doctor.