What is Aspergers Syndrome?

Aspergers Syndrome is often times called 'high-functioning' Autism. People with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome look just like 'normal,' people. I do not use that term lightly but over the years I have had people look at my son and make snap judgements that all he needs is a good spanking and he would be fine.

I am sure I am like many parents who at times wished there was a look of Autism as there is for someone with Downs Syndrome or any other disease or disability that people accept readily. But Autism is different because people judge others on the way they look and without really knowing the truth.

Many years ago when Adam would have fits and couldn't speak yet, it was not uncommon for neighbors to come into our home to see what was going on and why this child was screaming in a fit of rage. I even begged one parent to take him home with her since she thought she was such an expert on raising children. I bet another parent my entire pay check that she would take him home and bring him back within an hour...No, of course she didn't take me up on it.

Then there was the neighbor who stalked our home at night because he was sure we were being abusive to our son and he was going to catch us in the act. Well, one day, Adam was playing in the front yard and while the guy was in his yard, Adam threw a fit. I hollered over the fence to him 'come on smart guy, you think you know so much, come calm this down, you are such an expert in child abuse, what do you think now?' He walked in his house and he never stalked the yard again.

What is Aspergers Syndrome??

Here is an explanation much better than what I could describe it as:

Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents.
Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".
By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.
At this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability. AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS. In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.
(Kirby,Barbara. 'The Oasis Guide to Aspergers Syndrome.' Retrieved from the World Wide Web @ http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/. 28 May 2005).

Adam has Aspergers Syndrome, ADD & PDD-NOS. Adam is very set in his ways and you can't change his mind when he has it made up. Hence, Adam is where he is because he wanted to protect his girlfriend.

Well, we did find out the investigation and grand jury indictment are public record, so I will go and get copies of those and perhaps it will shed some light on what is going on.