What is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism, a disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. A number of the traits of autism are common to Asperger Syndrome:

• difficulties in social communication
• difficulties in social relationships
• limitation of social imagination

However people with Asperger Syndrome usually have fewer problems with language than those with autism, often speaking fluently, though their words can sometimes sound formal or stilted.

People with Asperger Syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence.

Because their disability is less obvious than that of someone with autism, a person with Asperger Syndrome is, in a sense, more vulnerable. 

As they get older they may realize that they are different from other people and feel isolated and depressed. People with Asperger Syndrome often want to be social and are upset by the fact that they find it hard to make friends.

Bearing all this in mind it seems incredible that although there will be over 2000 individuals in Leeds with Asperger Syndrome there is very little help or support for them.