The treatment for Asperger's Syndrome consists of sessions of psychotherapy 1 to 2 times a week, with the aim of teaching the patient to interact with the others, avoiding the isolation.
Treatment should begin soon after diagnosis, which usually occurs between 4 and 14 years of age, although some cases are identified later in adulthood.
Patients with Asperger's Syndrome are usually intelligent, but have a very logical and unemotional thinking, and so have a great deal of difficulty relating to others, but when establishing a relationship of trust with the child, the therapist can discuss and understand the reason for some "strange" behaviors helping to identify the most appropriate strategy for each case.
The Importance of the Family in the Treatment of Asperger Syndrome
The family should know what strategy the therapist is using to shape the child's behavior in order to complement treatment in the home. Therefore, after each psychotherapy session parents can ask the psychologist for guidance on how to act and how to correct the child in certain situations.
What to do to help the child with Asperger's Syndrome
Some examples of what parents and teachers can do to help help the child or adolescent with Asperger Syndrome are:
- Give simple, short and clear orders to the child. For example: "Keep the puzzle inside the box after you play" and not: "Keep your toys after you play";
- Ask the child why they are acting at the moment of action;
- Explain clearly and calmly that the "strange" attitude, such as speaking a bad word or throwing something at another person, is unpleasant or unacceptable to others, so that the child does not repeat the mistake;
- Avoid judging the child for the behaviors he has, avoiding calling him ill-mannered or dumb, for example.
In addition, the therapist may prescribe antidepressants, such as Nortriptyline or Sertraline, which help decrease the symptoms of Asperger Syndrome and facilitate psychotherapy.
In most cases, children with Asperger's Syndrome exhibit strange behaviors such as making noises while studying or hitting the table while eating, or misbehaving behaviors such as throwing the bullet papers on the floor while eating, but these behaviors are not and the child has no idea that he is being rude or bothering anyone.
Usually, children with Asperger's Syndrome are not able to focus their attention on more than one activity at the same time, and as far as feelings are concerned, the child, although aware that he is happy, is not able to understand that the other person may be sad. She does not "see" the feelings of others, and may give the impression that she does not care about her parents, siblings, or friends.
