Diagnosis of Asperger’s

If you notice signs of Asperger’s syndrome in your child, contact your pediatrician. They may refer you to a mental health expert who specializes in ASD. The doctor will likely ask questions about your child’s behavior, including:

• What are their symptoms and when did you first notice them?
• When did your child first learn to speak and how do they communicate?
• Are they focused on any objects or activities?
• Do they have friends and how do they socialize with others?

Doctors who diagnose Asperger’s syndrome include:

• Psychologists. They diagnose and treat problems with emotions and behavior.
• Neurologists.
• Developmental pediatricians. They specialize in speech and language problems, as well as other developmental problems in children.
• Psychiatrists. They have experience with mental health disorders and can prescribe medications to treat them.

The disorder is often treated with a team approach. This means that you or your child may see more than one doctor about treatment for RAS.

Treatment for Asperger syndrome

Everyone is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Treatment may include:

• Social skills training. In groups or individual sessions, therapists teach you or your child how to interact with others and express themselves in more appropriate ways.
• Speech-language therapy. This helps improve communication skills. This therapy can also help you learn how to maintain two-way conversations and understand social cues such as hand gestures and eye contact.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This helps change thinking patterns so you or your child can better control emotions and repetitive behaviors.
• Applied behavior analysis. This method encourages positive social and communication skills and discourages ineffective behaviors.
• Medication therapy (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotic medications, stimulants)
• Parent education and training.