Archive for the ‘Aspergers Syndrome’ Category

This video describes what many professionals have always assumed about Aspergers Syndrome.  While these individuals are well spoken, they often grasp and give back information in pictures or graphs.  This would explain why many people with Aspergers Syndrome perform well in jobs that are technology related versus a social services job that requires interpretation of body language and facial expressions.  Technology follows a consistent ordered pattern whereas body language and facial expressions are fluid and change rapidly.  I would like to point out however, that there are people with Aspergers Syndrome that are very proficient in Reading and struggle in the Maths/Sciences.  This just goes to prove that no two people with Asperger’s Syndrome look or act the same.

The information below is about the creator of this video and the awards presented for the video.  This video is also used as a training tool for high school counselors and therefore I chose to place in on my blog as well.

(A Video About Asperger’s Syndrome) INFORMATION: My name is Alex Olinkiewicz and when I was 6 I was diagnosed with Asperger’s (A High Functioning form of Autism). Ten years later I made this video to help you and others understand what its like inside my head. I show you how I behave and how I think by web-cam and by using cartoon pictures that I drew on MS Paints (Microsoft). RECEPTION: Ever since I posted this video it has received many positive things. First it became a Featured Video on the front page of You-tube. This video has won 2nd place in the 2007 East End Student Film Project and was nominated for Best Commentary Video for the 2007 You-tube Awards. This video was shown at the Western Suffolk Counselor’s Association spring conference in front of 25 counselors and will be shown again this time in front of 300 counselors. Also this video have received many comments, sure I have got a few bad comments, but mostly all of them are strong positive comments from Parents who has kids who are diagnosed, Teachers, People who has friends who are Autistic, and also people who have Asperger’s/Autism. Also this video will be shown on a public television station called Bronx-net on a TV show called The Crystal Stairs.

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There are several behaviors that jump out of this video.  The first thing is this child’s overall knowledge of specific subjects.  Most two year old’s do not know what a rectangle is or be able to recognize the number 20.  Individuals with Aspergers tend to learn everything there is to know about a subject and can recite it on command.  One of the other behaviors that stands out is the excessive amount of movement after each answer which I would like to discuss further.

Many children with Aspergers are misdiagnosed as having ADHD with no investigation by medical professionals of the possibility of Aspergers.  In the case of my own son, he was treated for ADHD for years before anyone mentioned Aspergers.  As seen in the video, there tends to be added movements that will be intermingled with the giving of information.  Autism is known at the disorder with “hand flapping” and “spinning”.  While individuals with Aspergers may not “flap” or “spin”,  they may wave their arms, cheer loudly, jump in place, or do other large muscle movements.

One of the other major characteristics of Aspergers in this video is the lack of eye contact and the lack of interpersonal actions.  The child in the video prefers to look at the symbols rather than his Mother’s face and he never goes to his Mom for a hug or touch for congratulations when he gets the information correct.   Individuals with Aspergers prefer the interaction to be factual (getting shapes correct) rather than emotional ( a touch or a hug).  ”Aspies” are thought to be cold and heartless when in fact they simply function in information rather than emotion.

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