Asperger syndrome is a neurobiological disorder that causes those affected to have empathy problems, difficulty developing social skills and recognizing emotions.
People who suffer from this syndrome usually have normal intelligence or, in some cases, above average intelligence and are characterized by showing repetitive routines and possessing a tendency to converse formally and interpret irony literally. In addition, they show inappropriate behavior with other people, lacking emotional intelligence, which makes them difficult to interact with.
Other features of this disease, which is generally diagnosed at school age, are lack of empathy towards others and the physical clumsiness. Studies confirm that 3 out of every 1,000 children could suffer from this disorder, being more common in males and being classified as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Although it is related to autism Because it is a group of mental and behavioral problems, this disorder has various differences regarding the autism spectrum. In people who suffer from Asperger’s syndrome, no language delay or significant clinical alterations are observed, since the age at which they begin to say the first words and phrases is the same as that of other children.
There is no cure for Asperger’s, as it is not a disease, but people who suffer from this disorder are simply different. What is the recipe for its integration? Apart from psychological support, a greater social awareness on the part of the supposedly “normal”.
Although it was not until 1981 when the word asperger was used for the first time to define this disorder, many historical figures have suffered from it. Among them are Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton or Beethoven. But we also find examples in current figures such as Bill Gates or Steven Spielberg. A television example of the behavior of a person with Asperger syndrome is represented by the charismatic character ‘Sheldon Cooper’ from the popular series ‘The Big Bang Theory’.