What is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger Syndrome also known as "Asperger’s" is a disorder on the same scale as Autism. Asperger’s can affect anyone but is first discovered most commonly in children. Those with Asperger’s tend to be intelligent having IQ's from normal to very advanced range and is very hard to notice because its symptoms are so different from other disorders on the Autism spectrum. Those with this disorder often have trouble fitting in in socially and are quite often considered to be "weird" or "strange". People who suffer from Asperger’s lack many essential communication skills such as control of their body language, difficulty in reading social cues, and a difficulty in understanding others feelings. A full list of symptoms can be found bellow.

http://www.littlebitquirky.com/2010/07/12-most-common-symptoms-of-aspergers.html

 

What Is A Therapy Animal?

When most people talk about therapy animals they think about Seeing Eye dogs. In reality however therapy animals are so much more. Therapy animals have a variety of jobs in many different settings. The first use of therapy animals was in WWII hospitals to raise morale for injured soldiers. Therapy animals have evolved to offer companionship to people with a host of physical and mental disorders and diseases. For example those with poor backs are often paired with specially trained horses because riding strengthens the back. There are many organizations that train and offer training to animals.

Organizations By State

 

Aspersers and Therapy Animals

The goal for most professionals when treating Asperger’s patient is to give the patient the tools they need interact socially. Many approaches can be used for example teaching people with Asperger’s how to do improve acting. An approach that has been gaining popularity and is subject to a fair amount of research is using therapy animals. The animals as studies have shown help to teach non-verbal interaction skills such as eye contact and being aware of the needs and wants of others. The thinking behind this type of treatment is that the person interacting with the animal will learn to take non-verbal cues from the animal and then start to apply those to people. It the animals also fight off loneliness which is especially prevalent in people with Asperger’s and can lead to anxiety disorders and depression if not dealt with. The best thing about this kind of treatment is that it is relatively inexpensive and can be offered to those who may not be able to have pets as these services are often available through the community.

How Can I Help?

If you know someone who has Asperger’s or whose child has this disorder passing on this information could make a big difference in their quality of life. Many of these organizations are also non-profits and need funding to help continue projects.