The main signs of Asperger syndrome can not be cured. However, many children with Asperger syndrome to grow happy and balanced adults.
Most children benefit from early interventions that focus on specialized behavior management and social skills training. Your doctor can help identify resources in your area that can work for your child.
Options Asperger syndrome treatment may include:
Communication and social skills training
Children with Asperger syndrome may be able to learn the unwritten rules of socialization and communication when taught explicitly and from the heart, like the mode of learning foreign languages. Children with Asperger syndrome can learn to speak in a more natural, and how to interpret communication techniques, such as gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, humor and sarcasm.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
This general term encompasses many techniques to reduce behavioral problems, interrupting, obsessions, collapses or explosions of anger, and development of skills such as recognizing feelings and cope with anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy usually focuses on training a child to recognize a troublesome situation - like a new place or event with lots of social demands - and then choose a specific strategy learned to cope.
Medication
There are no drugs that specifically treat the Asperger syndrome. But some medications may improve some symptoms - such as anxiety, depression or hyperactivity - that can occur in many children with Asperger syndrome. Examples include:
Aripiprazole (Abilify). This medication may be effective for the treatment of irritability associated with Asperger syndrome. Side effects may include weight gain and increased blood sugar.
Guanfacine (INTUNIV). This medicine may be useful for problems, hyperactivity and inattention in children with Asperger syndrome. Side effects can include drowsiness, irritability, headache, constipation and enuresis.
Reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Drugs such as fluvoxamine (Luvox) can be used to treat depression or to control repetitive behaviors. Possible side effects include restlessness and agitation.
Risperidone (Risperdal). This medicine may be prescribed for restlessness and irritability. It can cause sleep problems, nasal discharge and increased appetite. This drug was also associated with increased cholesterol and blood sugar.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa). Olanzapine is sometimes prescribed to reduce repetitive behaviors. Possible side effects include increased appetite, drowsiness, weight gain and blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Naltrexone (Revia). The drug, which is sometimes used to help alcoholics stop drinking, can help reduce some of the repetitive behaviors associated with Asperger syndrome. However, the use of low dose naltrexone - in such low doses of two to four mg per day - has gained popularity lately. But there is no evidence that low doses has an effect on Asperger syndrome.
Most children benefit from early interventions that focus on specialized behavior management and social skills training. Your doctor can help identify resources in your area that can work for your child.
Options Asperger syndrome treatment may include:
Communication and social skills training
Children with Asperger syndrome may be able to learn the unwritten rules of socialization and communication when taught explicitly and from the heart, like the mode of learning foreign languages. Children with Asperger syndrome can learn to speak in a more natural, and how to interpret communication techniques, such as gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, humor and sarcasm.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
This general term encompasses many techniques to reduce behavioral problems, interrupting, obsessions, collapses or explosions of anger, and development of skills such as recognizing feelings and cope with anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy usually focuses on training a child to recognize a troublesome situation - like a new place or event with lots of social demands - and then choose a specific strategy learned to cope.
Medication
There are no drugs that specifically treat the Asperger syndrome. But some medications may improve some symptoms - such as anxiety, depression or hyperactivity - that can occur in many children with Asperger syndrome. Examples include:
Aripiprazole (Abilify). This medication may be effective for the treatment of irritability associated with Asperger syndrome. Side effects may include weight gain and increased blood sugar.
Guanfacine (INTUNIV). This medicine may be useful for problems, hyperactivity and inattention in children with Asperger syndrome. Side effects can include drowsiness, irritability, headache, constipation and enuresis.
Reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Drugs such as fluvoxamine (Luvox) can be used to treat depression or to control repetitive behaviors. Possible side effects include restlessness and agitation.
Risperidone (Risperdal). This medicine may be prescribed for restlessness and irritability. It can cause sleep problems, nasal discharge and increased appetite. This drug was also associated with increased cholesterol and blood sugar.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa). Olanzapine is sometimes prescribed to reduce repetitive behaviors. Possible side effects include increased appetite, drowsiness, weight gain and blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Naltrexone (Revia). The drug, which is sometimes used to help alcoholics stop drinking, can help reduce some of the repetitive behaviors associated with Asperger syndrome. However, the use of low dose naltrexone - in such low doses of two to four mg per day - has gained popularity lately. But there is no evidence that low doses has an effect on Asperger syndrome.
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