Asperger syndrome commonly misinterpreted

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http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2008/03/11/news/local/doc47d6adc8017786\

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Asperger syndrome commonly misinterpreted

By

Blum jblum@...

She was a cheerleader in high school and always had a smile on her

face. Her outward appearance was her mask, something she said girls,

especially those like her, are good at creating.

In reality, she was lonely and full of self-doubt. She believed she

was stupid, though her grades were high. When she was younger she

couldn & #8217;t understand why no one wanted to be her friend.

In grade school, she was always fidgety and chatty with her

classmates. It upset her teacher so much that Fattig- was

literately placed in a box to keep her still.

She was seen by numerous doctors to get a diagnosis for her

behavior. Some gave bad parenting as a reason, saying she just

needed to be better disciplined.

A series of other diagnoses were made, but it wasn & #8217;t until

Fattig- & #8217;s own children started to exhibit similar patterns of

behavior she did as a child that she was diagnosed correctly with

Asperger syndrome, a neurobiological disorder.

It is common, especially for adults, to have gone undiagnosed or

misdiagnosed for Asperger & #8217;s because the symptoms are similar to

other behavioral problems. Asperger & #8217;s is grouped under diagnoses

called autistic spectrum disorders, which is a range of

developmental disabilities.

The main symptom of Asperger & #8217;s is social problems. A person with it

typically has average or above average intelligence, but has poor

communication and social skills, needs structured rules and

routines, and is withdrawn. Most with Asperger & #8217;s have other

disorders including bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,

social anxiety disorder, depression, and, like Fattig-,

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Fattig- & #8217;s children, son Josh and daughter Lili, also have

Asperger & #8217;s and attention deficit disorders. All three manage with

medication. Her husband, Foulk, also has Attention Deficit

Disorder.

Despite no diagnosis until she was an adult, Fattig-, 38, has

gone on to be successful. She was in the Air Force, then was a

microbiologist and medical technologist. She currently is a school

psychologist with the Columbus Public Schools system and is an

advocate for Asperger & #8217;s awareness.

Fattig-, of Genoa, said she wishes she was diagnosed at an

earlier age, as she could have gotten treatment, and that would have

helped prevent a lot of problems she has experienced throughout her

life. But if given the chance, she wouldn & #8217;t want to be what is

perceived as & #8220;normal. & #8221;

& #8220;There are benefits, & #8221; she said. & #8220;I can look at a situation and

look

to the core of things that I wouldn & #8217;t be able to do without it. & #8221;

People with Asperger & #8217;s typically notice and remember thing others

might not. Their interests are usually more object-focused. They

might collect and categorize things and be transfixed by simple or

complex systems. That explains why many with the disorder go on to

careers in engineering, mathematics and the medical field.

Fattig- refers to people with autism spectrum disorders as

being members of & #8220;her team. & #8221; She said being diagnosed with one or

more of the disorders isn & #8217;t anything to be ashamed of, rather it

should be embraced.

She is helping children, parents, doctors and teachers learn more

about the disorders, acceptance and treatment through a series of

books called & #8220;Annie Books. & #8221; The books are available at

www.anniebooks.com. Fattig- has also traveled to speak at

numerous events regarding Asperger & #8217;s.

She said educators and doctors are not well-informed about autism

spectrum disorders. Some children are being punished in the

classroom because they are unable to control their behaviors. But

Fattig- said & #8220;you cannot discipline away a disability. & #8221;

That is why she strives to push awareness and education of autism

spectrum disorders.

& #8220;If one teacher learns, they can help hundreds of students. & #8221;

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