The symptoms of Asperger syndrome are caused by delays in several areas of development such as social skills, communication skills, motor skills, and language skills. Patients with Asperger syndrome can become over-focused on a single topic or object and will want to know everything about the topic and will talk very little about anything else. Their areas of interest may be extremely narrow and they will often rattle off facts about their topic of interest with no conclusion or connection to conversation (Asperger Syndrome-PubMed Health). Asperger patients also exhibit social awkwardness and have trouble forming relationships. Eye contact, use of facial expressions, and body language are impaired in patients and can inhibit regulation of social interaction. Patients may also lack emotional empathy and the ability to recognize social cues (OASIS @ MAAP - What Is Asperger Syndrome?). Speech may have a lack of rhythm, odd inflection, or a monotone pitch in patients with Asperger syndrome. They may also lack the control to match the volume of their voice to their surroundings (Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet). Asperger syndrome patients may show delays in motor development and exhibit unusual physical behaviors such as repetitive arm flapping, twisting, or other whole body movements (Asperger Syndrome - PubMed Health).
Asperger syndrome is very difficult to diagnose.
Cited: "Asperger Syndrome - PubMed Health." Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . "Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . "Asperger Syndrome." KidsHealth - the Web 's Most Visited Site about Children 's Health. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . "OASIS @ MAAP - What Is Asperger Syndrome?" OASIS @ MAAP - The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support Center. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Asperger 's Syndrome - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. .