's purpose

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's purpose

Asperger syndrome has not defeated Krenn

By Jan Pollack

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 1:22 PM CST

He is an Eagle Scout and proud of it, having worked hard to join the

elite group. And while the medal he received is recognition of his

leadership and community service, it also attests to his singular

determination to rise above a medical disorder that has stopped many

others in their tracks.

Krenn, 20, lives in Bellefontaine Neighbors with his parents,

Judy and Bill Krenn. He enjoys jogging and working out. Like many

people his age, he's looking for a girlfriend. And he has Asperger

syndrome.

" I don't tell people that unless they ask, " he said. has

harnessed his all-consuming focus, one of the hallmarks of the

syndrome, and paired it with his determination to overcome his

medical challenges.

Judy Krenn said was diagnosed with Asperger at 13, a late

diagnosis caused by repeated attempts by many physicians to put a

name to 's symptoms.

Asperger was first described in 1944 by Dr. Hans Asperger. The

syndrome can be deceptive because no two people experience it in the

same way. Among 's symptoms were his inability to make eye

contact, acute anxiety, insensitivity to others and obsessional

behaviors.

While many people absorb, almost unconsciously, the how-to of social

skills and personal interaction, couldn't. He also had to

conquer overwhelming shyness and an inability to recognize subtleties

in tone, pitch and accent that alter the meaning of speech.

Asperger syndrome touches every facet of his life. Today he can name

friends he's made over the years, one going back to his elementary

school days.

But when he was a youngster, the thought of forming those

relationships seemed an insurmountable task, as did holding a simple

conversation with another person. He had to overcome his predilection

to talk over other people. He even had to learn how to show interest

in other peoples' interests, even when they were not his own.

Watching other people and analyzing their interactions with one

another provided with learning opportunities. Unfortunately,

his intensity created anxiety, uneasiness and fear in some classmates.

" We found out that was staring when he focused in on them, "

Judy Krenn said. " Some kids in his high school classes became afraid

or upset. Many thought he was just obnoxious. But he was only trying

to understand how people interact with one another. "

She explained that her son didn't understand the normal facial cues

that can take place as a person becomes angry. " He just didn't grasp

that people were becoming angry or nervous, " she said.

Reading those cues is still a challenge he's working to overcome. His

Eagle Scout award, however, demonstrates just how far he's come.

" I decided to landscape the sign for my school, " said. " I drew

a sketch of the (completed) project and then typed up the plan, " for

review by the school's principal and the Eagle Scout review board. At

this point, 's obsession with perfection took over. He admits he

created many drafts before producing his final draft.

He recruited a project team to help with the physical work for the

project. Then he began to raise the funds to pay for the project.

The team mulched, planted shrubs and flowers, placed large stones and

installed lighting to illuminate the sign that graces the front yard

of Christ Light of the Nations School.

" It was a lot of work, " said, noting that he never doubted

himself. His mother, however, proved to be a different story.

" I never thought could do it. It was such a lot of work, " Judy

Krenn said. " Sometimes parents think when their child is diagnosed

with Asperger's, the child will never have good friends or they'll

never be able to achieve.

" was determined to get his Eagle Scout, and he far surpassed

what I thought he could do, " she said. " I loved him proving me wrong.

He has found his way. "

What is Asperger syndrome?

Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, a group of

conditions that include autism and other disorders with similar

symptoms, such as problems with language and communication, and

reptitive or restrictive patters of thought and behavior.

Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development