EXCLUSIV

What does a child with Asperger's feel? Dr. Ioana Georgescu: "They have a feeling of isolation and loneliness, perceive the world as intense, fragmented, and dangerous" / PHOTO: freepik.com @EyeEm

"Ioana, people judge, and when they encounter children with Asperger's without knowing it, they wonder: 'Why don't they stop? Why don't they behave like a normal child?' Can you explain what a child with Asperger's feels? What is their experience like?" asked Loredana Iriciuc.

Dr. Ioana Georgescu, a specialist in pediatric psychiatry, empathetically and clearly explained the difficulties and challenges these children face.

"Children with Asperger's syndrome can have a wide range of experiences and feelings, just like other people, but they cannot easily identify, understand, process, and express their emotions.

They cannot interpret the gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice of others and do not adapt to the conversation and needs of the interlocutor, making it difficult for them to form friendships or create deep connections with other people.

They have feelings of isolation and loneliness and feel uncomfortable in groups. They also feel frustrated that they are not easily accepted by others.

They have hyperperception, hyperattention, and hypermemory and perceive the world intensely and fragmented, seeing it as aversive and dangerous.

Their sensory hypersensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, smells, or tastes can cause discomfort or anxiety or even overwhelm them", said Dr. Ioana Georgescu on "Părinți Prezenți", a show by ParintisiPitici.ro.

Asperger | What are the real causes of this syndrome in children? Dr. Ioana Georgescu: "There are many interesting theories about the onset of the disease!"

Differences in the manifestation of Asperger's syndrome in girls and boys

PHOTO: freepik.com @anita_bonita7

An important aspect brought up is the different ways in which Asperger's syndrome manifests in girls compared to boys.

"Does it manifest differently in girls compared to boys?" asked Loredana Iriciuc, and the response from Dr. Georgescu highlighted the important nuances of this disorder.

"Yes. First, girls have masking and camouflaging abilities: they can learn to imitate typical social behaviors to fit better in social environments, even if internally they feel great confusion or social anxiety.

Girls can often have interests in social areas (such as interests related to social relationships, stories, fictional characters, or animals). In contrast, boys may have more pronounced interests in technical or mechanical fields.

Girls have a better ability to use verbal language to navigate social situations and express emotions compared to boys.

However, all these abilities lead to later diagnosis of girls or even underdiagnosis of the disorder, as they are more often classified as having anxiety", added Dr. Ioana Georgescu.

Asperger | Key symptoms parents should look for in a child from the age of 2! Dr. Ioana Georgescu: "They are very socially naive!"

Interaction with a Child with Asperger's

PHOTO: freepik.com @standret

"What should someone know when interacting with a child with Asperger's? Are there things you would do with a neurotypical child that would be inappropriate with a child with Asperger's?" Loredana Iriciuc asked.

Dr. Ioana Georgescu provided a clear and concise response, highlighting a few key principles for appropriate interaction.

"It's important to know that you need to be clear and direct; your communication should be simple.

Avoid using figurative language or sarcasm, as these can be difficult for a child with Asperger's to understand.

Don't expect them to grasp subtle humor.

You should maintain structure and routine in interactions to provide predictability. Unexpected changes in routine can be extremely stressful for children with Asperger's", emphasized Dr. Ioana Georgescu.

The difference between Asperger's and classic Autism. Dr. Ioana Georgescu: "There is a myth that all people with Asperger's are geniuses. This is not true!"

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