Asperger's Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder in which individuals are unable to interpret social cues, often have special interests, and are pedantic in their expression. Children with Asperger's have social interactions that may involve extensive conversation about an all-consuming, intense special interest; and they may be characterized as, verbose, eccentric, or overly formal in communication (Ghaziuddin & Gerstein, 1996). Asperger's is named after Hans Asperger, an Austrian psychiatrist who noted these characteristics in 1944 in the boys he was treating in his practice. Many students having Asperger syndrome attend public schools and are in general or integrated classrooms where they receive interventions related to social skills, organization, and written expression and also receive counseling support. With medical advances and increased public awareness, Asperger syndrome is being recognized earlier, and subsequent early intervention services are being given.
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