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The most distinguishing symptom of Asperger's syndrome is a child’s obsessive interest in a single object or topic. Often the child's conversations with others will be about little else. They may seek to understand every aspect of this topic making them expert in it. Other characteristics include: repetitive routines or rituals, peculiarities in speech and language, socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior, and clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements. Often people with Asperger's Syndrome do not understand the subtlties of communication like eye contact, body language and facial expressions. They can be accused of being rude or disrespectful because they are unable to pick up clues from social interactions and judge what is acceptable behavior.

In adults some of the most common symptoms include average or above average intelligence, difficulty empathising with others, problems understanding another's point of view, hampered conversational ability, problems controlling feelings like anger, depression and anxiety, becoming stressed if a routine is disturbed, and having specialized fields of interest or hobbies.

To learn more about Asperger's Syndrome, Survivors recommend these resources:

• Mayo Clinic: Asperger's Syndrome Symptoms
• WebMD: Asperger's Syndrome Symptoms
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Asperger Syndrome Information Page This division of the National Institutes of Health has compiled a wealth of information and resources from current treatment to ongoing research and clinical trials.
• The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood
• Parenting a Child with Asperger Syndrome: 200 Tips and Strategies by Brenda Boyd
• Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Social Difficulties by Scott Bellini

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