There is tons of literature out there, both on and off the web, about Asperger's Syndrome. As with any syndrome, or disease, not all of the information or advice is good. Some of the advice and therapies will work for one child and not another.

As parents of these kids we know them better than all of thier health care workers, and counselors, put together. We as thier parents need to tell the health care workers, and counselors, when to stop, that what they are doing if it is effecting our children in a negative manner.

My sons and I have been taking a break from all therapies for four (4) months now. They have been in one therapy, or another, for seven (7) years. The oldest, Buck, was having repetative nightmares, of having his heart operated on while fully concious. In his dream the Doctor was his psychologist, and the nurses assisting in the operation, were his therapists.

In his dream he kept telling them that there was no reason to operate on him and that they were hurting him. That they wouldn't find what was wrong with him by digging around in his chest, there was nothing wrong with his heart.

Even though we haven't been using any therapies these past few months I am still reading up on therapies that we haven't used yet. Hoping to find one, or two, that may be applicable to my sons.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a disorder that belongs under an umbrella term called by the health field Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).

People disagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome often have difficulty interacting socially and can display some symptoms of autism such as being very routine driven. However, they have normal or above-normal levels of intelligence and speech develops at a normal rate.

Doctor Hans Asperger was observing a group of children and noticed a few who seemed to have difficulty integrating socially with the rest of the children.

When they did try to interact, their mannerisms were either inappropriate, or too formal, for the situation. The children also showed a fixation on a particular topic and the child/ren would only want to talk about that particular topic.

These fascinations can range from the simple, like a Pokemon' or cartoons, to something more esoteric, like the history of flight or how tornados form.

Although Asperger’s syndrome is classed as an Autism Spectrum Disorder there are significant differences to those diagnosed with classic autism.

Children with Asperger’s will usually display normal, or advanced language skills, and intellectual ability. They also desperately want to make friends and join in activities but often lack the social skills to do so.

Asperger’s syndrome was discovered by Hans Asperger, an Austrian doctor, but it wasn’t until a year after his death in 1981 when a researcher named Lorna Wong coined the term Asperger’s Syndrome.

There is no single particular treatment, and the effectiveness of most interventions is supported by only limited data.

The interventions are aimed at improving symptoms and function. The mainstay of management for Asperger’s Syndrome is behavioral therapy focusing on specific deficits, to address poor communication skills, obsessive, or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. Although most individuals improve over time, difficulties with communication, social adjustmentcan continue into adulthood.

Some researchers, parents and people with Asperger's Syndrome have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that Asperger’s Syndrome difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured. I am becoming a believer in this idea myself, as very few of the formal, recognized, therapies have worked for my sons.

My goal as a parent is to raise these children or even any of my children to become fully functioning, hopefully successful, adult members of society. Encouraging and helping them to become the best at what they do, and what they want to become, is my priority. Social skills are a nicity and would be appreciated not only by friends, family, and the communities in which we live, but what is so wrong about a lttle to much formality in social situations?

I'd rather see my kids well mannered than acting like most of the little heathens I see tearing around in public today. I appreciate thier decorum. While others, especially thier peers, sometimes see their well mannered behavior as "talking down" to them or being sarcastic maybe they should reconsider thier own attitudes towards common courtesy. After all I was taught that having good manners will get you as far in life as having a good eduation. Besides how many people as adults end up taking classes or reading books on manners to further their careers. My boys just have a natural jump start in that area.

It's time for parent's, Medical care workers and Teachers to start looking at, and focusing on, the positive aspects of people suffering from Asperger's Syndrome and quit focusing so much on the negative aspects.

As these kids get older their melt downs become fewer and much more time passes between such events. I know that they will probably continue to have them well into their adult life but by teaching them appropriate ways and areas in which to vent thier anger and frustration hopefully even these will become a plus.