Today, February 18 is celebrated on International Asperger Syndrome Day, a poorly known neurobiological developmental disorder that occurs in at least three percent of children and is part of a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders.
It occurs more frequently in men and is characterized by a serious alteration of social interaction. It is not a disease, therefore they are not sick children, only different children that deserve to be understood and integrated.
The disorder owes its name to the pediatrician, researcher and professor of Austrian medicine Hans Asperger, who in 1944 first called the disorder "autistic psychopathy."
Despite having common behavior patterns primarily related to the difficulty in relating to others, a wide range of symptoms can occur. This is what makes the diagnosis especially difficult. In fact, there are many children with undiagnosed Asperger (or Aspies).
The diagnosis usually appears when the child already has problems of adaptation, when there are abnormal situations that attract the attention of parents and educators.
Children with Asperger are not at all less intelligent or sick, they are simply different. They are children with normal intelligence, and sometimes even higher than average intelligence.
Today is a special day to raise awareness about Asperger's Syndrome and to know better what this disorder is about and to be able to understand Asperger children a little more.
