Explain to me please

[stupidIknow]

What is Aspergers Syndrome????

I have just heard of a neighbour whos child may have this and didn't want to appear ignorant by not knowing what it was or indeed by asking them.

Tried googling but maybe I am just dim, didn't find much info- more like understand the info

TIA

anyone

I thought it was a form of Autism, but at the higher functioning end

But then again, I could well be wrong!! I am sure somebody with more knowledge than me will be along soon!

It is on the autistic spectrum but people with Asperger's don't have learning difficulties and have a normal IQ. I have copied this off a web page which I think explains it quite well:

"Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".

By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context. "

HTH a bit.
I'm sure there's plenty that could be added and probably someone with more direct experience than me will have something to say.