Aspergers Syndrome in Teenagers

 The signs and symptoms of children afflicted with Asperger Syndrome, or AS, change as they advance into adulthood. Diagnosis of AS is most commonly made between the ages of 4 and 11. If diagnosing autism is performed at such an early age and initial management for AS has been given to help them deal with the autism behavior, when they reach their teen years, they will have an easier time dealing with their social and communication skills. Although management for AS does not completely rid them of the disorder as hey progress into adulthood, their coping mechanism lessens their affliction. A teenager diagnosed with AS will surely have difficulties and troubles in school. They will be socially standoffish knowing that they may be seen different than most others.

They will have a hard time fitting in and making friends through various social circumstances difficult for them to carry out. They may be seen as too immature for their age, thus they are susceptible to bullying, teasing or collective neglect. And while they are still practicing their reading skills, others are already learning other activities. Because of all these, a teenager with AS will feel cut off from everyone else, which may eventually lead to bouts with anxiety and depression.

However, as there are stumbling blocks in the school life of children with AS, there are positive characteristics. They usually are very straightforward at following authority and rules. They usually do not purse fads or anything that is typical; they will rather come up with something interesting for them and make use of their creativity. They may earn only a very few friends, but the friends they make are much like them in terms of goals and interests. Because of these characteristics, they make good role model students in school, or even make them popular with certain groups of students.

Teenagers with AS may struggle with their social life for their early adult autism behaviors. They may have to deal with difficult pressure from people their own age, and try hard at fitting in with the rest. Because of this, they are at risk for being socially reserved, realizing that there is something about them that’s different, although they will still long camaraderie with others. The school becomes a difficult environment for them to be in, as they are susceptible to being bullied around cast off.

They also have a hard time coping up with lessons and other activities within the classrooms. Normally they will not follow trends or fads or other things that concern majority of the students. For their schoolmates, teenagers with AS appear unusual, unfriendly and reclusive. Anxiety and depression will make them neglect things, such as their personal hygiene and the way they carry themselves in public, making them all the more feel different from the rest.

Because of the social difficulties of teenagers afflicted with AS, they are most likely jammed in their childhood pastime or activities. For example, they may prefer staying home playing with toys than being with other teenagers engaging in sports or dating.

Teenagers suffering from AS are also susceptible to such offenses like sexual harassment, rape or being accessories to a misdemeanor. This is due to their staying home most of the time, and not being street smart. Their difficulty in understanding non-verbal cues also is a contributing factor.

The devastating need of teenagers diagnosed with AS to fit in with the rest of their age bracket leads to frustration, which may lead to substance abuse. The schooling of teenagers, together with failing their early adult social need, may be too overwhelming for them to cope with.