Treatment for Aspergers Symptoms in Children!

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The right strategies and treatment is important to promote a child with aspergers into well-adjusted adults -- though the core symptoms of this developmental problem are not easy to be cured! One of major goals of the treatment for aspergers symptoms in children is intended to improve the patient’s abilities when interacting with others, so thus trouble associated with social situations can be reduced! Read also prognosis of aspergers in teen years and adulthood!

The number of symptoms that appear and the level of severity are different in each patient. This is one of major reasons why there are no two children with this developmental problem are alike, and why the treatment must be designed as well to meet each patient needs.

Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis

The diagnosis of this developmental problem is difficult, because the severity level and signs of aspergers vary widely! A team of professionals usually need to perform some comprehensive assessments to make a diagnosis.

These assessments may include:

1. Observing the condition of patient, and talking more with the parent of patient about the patient’s development.
2. The parent of patient is usually also asked about the communication skills and social interaction of their child.
3. Some tests may be required to analyze the academic abilities and intellectual level of patient. These tests are also intended to get to know other possible problems associated with psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues. 
4. The crucial abilities of child for social interaction also should be analyzed. These include the abilities of patient to use his/her visual-motor problem solving, language, and speech. 

The doctor usually also use guidelines in the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) -- published by APA (the American Psychiatric Association). To make a diagnosis of aspergers, patient must experience /have some criteria or traits spelled out in the DSM-guideline.

How to prevent asperger’s syndrome?

Unfortunately, there is still no clearly answer and exact steps to prevent this developmental disorder. Some people think that the use of certain vaccines (particularly like MMR “measles-mumps-rubella” -vaccine) can cause autism and asperger’s syndrome. But many studies found that there is no adequate scientifically evidence to confirm this issue.

Talk more with a doctor if you in-doubt to certain vaccine! However, vaccines are so essential for kids to protect them from certain health problems. So it’s so important for a child to get the appropriately immunization.

Treatments for aspergers in children

As written before, treatments or strategies for aspergers must be planned specifically to meet patient needs. There are more specific treatments /strategies that should be planned as well to treat specific symptoms. Furthermore, the mental health providers also should be able to explore and use some components in the environment /area of patient to support and encourage the success rate of the treatment.

In general, treatment for aspergers may include:

Medications

Like in autism, unfortunately there is also less scientifically evidence to confirm the effectiveness of certain medications to effectively improve the aspergers symptoms (especially for the core symptoms). But sometimes, certain medicines are prescribed to get over certain health conditions /other mental disorders that occur in line with the asperger’s syndrome.

According to a published article on MayoClinic -- these prescribed medicines may include:

1. Revia (Naltrexone)! It may be useful to treat /improve some of repetitive behaviors that occur in line with Aspergers. It is usually prescribed in low-dose.
2. Risperdal or risperidone, which is usually prescribed by mental health providers if patient also experience irritability and agitation. Side effects of this medicine may include increased appetite, runny nose, increased blood sugar & cholesterol levels, and problem associated with sleeping.
3. Intuniv or guanfacine! It may be effective to reduce /treat the problems associated with inattention and hyperactivity. But it may cause bedwetting, irritability, headache, constipation, or drowsiness.
4. Abilify or aripiprazole! It may cause increased levels of blood sugar, and weight gain. Doctor may prescribe it to help problem of irritability that occurs in children with asperger’s syndrome.
5. Zyprexa or olanzapine! It is another choice to reduce /treat some repetitive behaviors. The side effects that may occur from this drug are increased blood sugar & cholesterol levels, drowsiness, increased level of appetite, and weight gain.
6. SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) -- such as luvox or fluvoxamine! They may be prescribed by doctor if patient experience some problems of repetitive behavior or/and depression.

***Ask your mental health providers for more detailed information about these drugs!

Training to improve social & communication skills!

In order to reduce or eliminate the problem with social situations, children with aspergers need to learn how to improve their ability to use their communication and social skills. They may be able to learn how to speak normally (in a more natural rhythm) and to learn unwritten rules /points of socialization.

This social and communication training are also intended to help patient in using and interpreting communication techniques (like tone of voice, sarcasm, eye contact, humor /joke, and gestures).

Therapy for cognitive behavioral!

In general, this therapy encompasses a lot of techniques. It is intended to help patient in reducing problems associated with behaviors. In many cases, this therapy is more focused to train children with asperger’s syndrome in recognizing a troublesome situation!

Other helpful tips (what else you should know?)

1. Treatment program for asperger’s syndrome in children is usually adjusted /planned to be the most effective and useful for the patient in improving ‘social & communication’ skills and behavior management.
2. To encourage the success rate of the treatment, the parent of patient may also need to take more benefit of the strengths of their child by encouraging and supporting him/her to get to know more interests at school and at home. 
3. Other positive options such as focused counseling & activity-oriented groups are also helpful!
4. If you have a child with this developmental disorder, don’t forget to explore any services in your local area that may help the treatment of your child. If you are choosing an appropriate school for your child, don’t forget to find out the appropriate services for your child. Look at what program or something is being offered at different schools in your local area, analyze as well and then choose one that provide appropriate services your kid needs! Don’t forget to build a good communication with the teachers of your child, and keep informed for what’s happening in the classroom!

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Reference: MayoClinic and WebMD