An Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asperger's Syndrome)

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders. The term "autism spectrum" refers to a range of developmental disabilities that includes autism as well as other disorders with similar characteristics.

They are known as spectrum disorders because the symptoms of each can appear in different combinations and in varying degrees of severity: two children with the same diagnosis, though they may share certain patterns of behavior, can exhibit a wide range of skills and abilities.

Signs and Symptoms

These signs and symptoms might be present in a child with AS:

· inappropriate or minimal social interactions

· conversations almost always revolving around self rather than others

· "scripted," "robotic," or repetitive speech

· lack of "common sense"

· problems with reading, math, or writing skills

· obsession with complex topics such as patterns or music

· average to below-average nonverbal cognitive abilities, though verbal cognitive

abilities are usually average to above-average

· awkward movements

· odd behaviors or mannerisms

It's important to note that, unlike kids with autism, those with AS might show no delays in language development; they usually have good grammatical skills and an advanced vocabulary at an early age. However, they typically do exhibit a language disorder — they might be very literal and have trouble using language in a social context.

Often there are no obvious delays in cognitive development or in age-appropriate self-help skills such as feeding and dressing themselves. Although kids with AS can have problems with attention span and organization, and have skills that seem well developed in some areas and lacking in others, they usually have average and sometimes above-average intelligence.

What Causes Asperger Syndrome?

Researchers and mental health experts are still investigating the causes of autism and AS. Many believe that the pattern of behavior that characterizes AS may have many causes. There seems to be a hereditary component to AS, and research indicates that in some cases AS may be associated with other mental health disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Researchers are also looking into whether environmental factors that affect brain development might play a role.

Contrary to the incorrect assumptions some may make about people with the disorder, AS is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up. Because some of the behaviors exhibited by someone with AS may be seen by others as intentionally rude, many people wrongly assume that AS is the result of bad parenting — it isn't. It's a neurobiological disorder whose causes are not yet fully understood.

Currently, there is no cure for the disorder — kids with AS become adults with AS. But many lead full and happy lives, and the likelihood of achieving this is enhanced with appropriate education, support, and resources.

Treating Asperger Syndrome

Because AS can present patterns of behaviors and problems that differ widely from child to child, there isn't a "typical" or prescribed treatment regimen. However, your child may benefit from the following forms of treatment:

· specialized educational interventions the child

· social skills training

· language therapy

· sensory integration training for younger kids, usually performed by

an occupational therapist, in which they are desensitized to stimuli

to which they're overly sensitive

· psychotherapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy for older children

· medications

In conclusion it's important to know that many people can provide assistance. Finding the right program for your child is key and getting help early is important. Kids with AS can and do experience great gains with the appropriate treatment and education.

Images:

Done by:

Ashwini

Nurul Nadirah

Emylia

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. This dsease basically causes loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. This disease refers to a group of diseases that affect motor neurones. There are other diseases of the motor neuron that should not be confused with MND such as spinobulbar muscular atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and many others.
About 90% of cases of MND are "sporadic", meaning that the patient has no family history of ALS and the case appears to have occurred with no known cause. Genetic factors are suspected to be important in determining an individual's susceptibility to disease, and there is some weak evidence to suggest that onset can be "triggered" by as yet unknown environmental factor.
Approximately 10% of cases are "familial MND", defined either by a family history of MND or by testing positive for a known genetic mutation associated with the disease. The following genes are known to be linked to ALS: Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase SOD1, ALS2, NEFH (a small number of cases), senataxin (SETX) and vesicle associated protein B (VAPB).
Symptoms usually present themselves between the ages of 50-70, and include progressive weakness, muscle wasting, and muscle fasciculations, spasticity or stiffness in the arms and legs, and overactive tendon reflexes. Patients may present with symptoms as diverse as a dragging foot, unilateral muscle wasting in the hands, or slurred speech.
Neurological examination presents specific signs associated with upper and lower motor neurone degeneration. Signs of upper motor neurone damage include spasticity, brisk reflexes and the Babinski sign. Signs of lower motor neurone damage include weakness and muscle atrophy.
Note that every muscle group in the body requires both upper and lower motor neurones to function. The signs described above can occur in any muscle group, including the arms, legs, torso, and bulbar region.The symptoms described above may resemble a number of other rare diseases, known as "MND Mimic Disorders". These include, but are not limited to, multifocal motor neuropathy, Kennedy's disease, hereditary spastic paraplegia, spinal muscular atrophy and monomelic amyotrophy.
A small subset of familial MND cases occur in children, such as "juvenile ALS", Madras syndrome, and individuals who have inherited the ALS2 gene. However, these are not typically referred to as MND, but by their specific names
Currently there is no cure for ALS. The only drug that affects the course of the disease is riluzole. The drug functions by blocking the effects of the neurotransmitter glutamate, and is thought to extend the lifespan of an ALS patient by only a few months.
The lack of effective medications to slow the progression of ALS does not mean that patients with ALS cannot be medically cared for. Instead, treatment of patients with ALS focuses on the relief of symptoms associated with the disease. This involves a variety of health professionals including neurologists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, respiratory therapists, social workers, palliative care specialists, specialist nurses and psychologists.
Most cases of MND progress quite quickly, with noticeable decline occurring over the course of months. Although symptoms may present in one region, they will typically spread. If restricted to one side of the body they are more likely to progress to the same region on the other side of the body before progressing to a new region. After several years, most patients require help to carry out activities of daily living such as self care, feeding, and transportation.
MND is typically fatal within 2–5 years. Around 50% die within 14 months of diagnosis. The remaining 50% will not necessarily die within the next 14 months as the distribution is significantly skewed. As a rough estimate, 1 in 5 patients survive for 5 years, and 1 in 10 patients survive 10 years.Professor Stephen Hawking is a well-known example of a person with MND, and has lived for more than 40 years with the disease.
Mortality normally results when control of the diaphragm is impaired and the ability to breathe is lost. One exception is PLS, which may last for upwards of 25 years. Given the typical age of onset, this effectively leaves most PLS patients with a normal life span. PLS can progress to ALS, decades later. Around a third of all MND patients experience labile affect, also known as emotional lability, pseudobulbar affect, or pathological laughter and crying.
The incidence of MND is approximately 1–5 out of 100,000 people. Men have a slightly higher incidence rate than women. Approximately 5,600 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. By far the greatest risk factor is age, with symptoms typically presenting between the ages of 50-70. Cases under the age of 50 years are called "young onset MND", whilst incidence rates appear to tail off after the age of 85.
Tentative environmental risk factors identified so far include: exposure to severe electrical shock leading to coma, having served in the first Gulf War, and playing Association football (soccer). However, these findings have not been firmly identified and more research is needed.
There are three "hot spots" of MND in the world. One is in the Kii peninsula of Japan, one amongst a tribal population in Papua New Guinea. Chamorro inhabitants from the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean have an increased risk of developing a form of MND known as Guamanian ALS-PD-dementia complex or "lytico bodig", although the incidence rate has declined over the last 50 years and the average age of onset has increased.
Putative theories involve neurotoxins in the traditional diet including cycad nut flour and bats that have eaten cycad nuts.The search for a drug that will slow MND progression is under way. Agents that are currently in trials include ceftriaxone, arimoclomol, IGF-1, lithium and coenzyme Q10 to name but a few.
In conclusion, Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rare disease that affects the mobility of the body which in some cases will eventually lead to death. Currently, there is no known cure for this disease. However, we should not underestimate the people who have this disease as they can be strong and survive long enough to benefit the society such as Stephen Hawkings.

Dyslexia

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
Dyslexia is a learning disability that manifests primarily as a difficulty with written language, particularly with reading and spelling.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Dyslexia symptoms vary according to the severity of the disorder as well as the age of the individual.

With pre-school age children
It is difficult to obtain a certain diagnosis of dyslexia before a child begins school, but many dyslexic individuals have a history of difficulties that began well before kindergarten. Children who exhibit these symptoms have a higher risk of being diagnosed as dyslexic than other children. Some of these symptoms are:
* Delay in learning to speak
* Learns new words slowly
* Has difficulty rhyming words, as in nursery rhymes
* Late in establishing a dominant hand


With Early elementary school-age children
* Difficulty learning the alphabet
* Difficulty with associating sounds with the letters that represent them.
* Difficulty identifying or generating rhyming words, or counting syllables in words
* Difficulty segmenting words into individual sounds, or blending sounds to make words
* Difficulty with word retrieval or naming problems
* Difficulty learning to decode words
* Confusion with before/after, right/left, over/under, and so on
* Difficulty distinguishing between similar sounds in words; mixing up sounds in multisyllable words

With Older elementary school children
* Slow or inaccurate reading
* Very poor spelling
* Difficulty associating individual words with their correct meanings
* Difficulty with time keeping and concept of time
* Difficulty with organization skills
* Due to fear of speaking incorrectly, some children become withdrawn and shy or become bullies out of their inability to understand the social cues in their environment
* Difficulty comprehending rapid instructions, following more than one command at a time or remembering the sequence of things
* Reversals of letters (b for d) and a reversal of words (saw for was) are typical among children who have dyslexia. Reversals are also common for children age 6 and younger who don't have dyslexia. But with dyslexia, the reversals persist.
* Children with dyslexia may fail to see (and occasionally to hear) similarities and differences in letters and words, may not recognize the spacing that organizes letters into separate words, and may be unable to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word.


WHAT CAUSES DYSLEXIA?

Dyslexia is an inherited condition. Researchers have determined that a gene on the short arm of chromosome is responsible for dyslexia. That gene is dominant, making dyslexia highly heritable. It definitely runs in families.

Dyslexia results from a neurological difference; that is, a brain difference. People with dyslexia have a larger right-hemisphere in their brains than those of normal readers. That may be one reason people with dyslexia often have significant strengths in areas controlled by the right-side of the brain, such as artistic, athletic, and mechanical gifts; 3-D visualization ability; musical talent; creative problem solving skills; and intuitive people skills.

In addition to unique brain architecture, people with dyslexia have unusual "wiring". Neurons are found in unusual places in the brain, and are not as neatly ordered as in non-dyslexic brains.

In addition to unique brain architecture and unusual wiring, studies have shown that people with dyslexia do not use the same part of their brain when reading as other people. Regular readers consistently use the same part of their brain when they read. People with dyslexia do not use that part of their brain, and there appears to be no consistent part used among dyslexic readers.

It is therefore assumed that people with dyslexia are not using the most efficient part of their brain when they read. A different part of their brain has taken over that function.





TREATMENT FOR DYSLEXIA

Multi-Sensory Approach

The multi sensory approach takes the importance away from reading and directs it more towards hearing the material and getting involved with it while learning. For example, for a child to be more fluent read out loud, try letting them listen to the book on tape while following along before reading it out loud by themselves. Younger children can also learn by tracing the letters of the alphabet and saying the sound that the specific letter makes. Then when they get stuck they can think of the shape and connect the sound with the shape. This approach is all about making the right connections in order to avoid the difficulties that comes with dyslexia.

Encouragement

Encouragement is just as important as any other treatment options. If a child/student feels discouraged they are not going to want to eve attempt the treatments. One of the most popular ways to encourage a child is to show them how many successful people have dyslexia. Show them a list of great athletes or writers and name all of them, then, point out that they were all dyslexic. Showing them that they can still be just as successful or even better then people without their disability.

"bed" trick

For students that get their “b's” and “d's” mixed up they can use the bed trick. Students take each hand and connect their forefinger and their thumbs together. The left hand forms a b and the right hand forms a d, and if they picture an “e” in the middle. It will spell "bed". Then whenever they get stuck they can think of the "bed" trick and remember what each letter looks like.

THANK YOU.

DONE BY:

FARAH NASTASHA
MANESA MODGHIL
LIM SYN YUN

Down Syndrome

The physical structure of Down syndrome babies
The image of the extra of the 21st chromosomes


Down Syndrome, otherwise known as Down's Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder where there is an extra of the 21st chromosome. This syndrome was named after the physician who described the syndrome in 1866, John Langdon Down. The condition is characterized by a combination of major and minor differences in structure. Down Syndrome foetus can be identified with amniocentesis during pregnancy or in a baby at birth.

Many of the common physical features of Down syndrome may also appear in people with a standard of chromosomes , including, abnormally small chin, unsually round face, protuding tonge, wide forehead and many more. Down syndrome includes a higher risk for compulsive heart defects, recurrent ear infections , thyroid dysfunctions and more. Some physical genetic limitations of Down syndrome cannot be overcome. However, education and proper care will improve the quality of life of a Down syndrome individual.

The medical consenquences of the extra genetic material in Down syndrome are highly variable and may affect the function of any organ system or processes of certain cells. Down syndrome can result from several different genetic mechanisms. This results in a wide variety in individual symptoms due to complex gene and environment interactions. Prior to birth, it is not possible to predict the symptoms that an individual with Down syndrome will develop. Some problems are present at birth such as, heart malformations. Others become obvious over time such as epilepsy. The most common indications of Down syndrome are the facial features, venticular septal defect, hearing deficits , short stature and more.

In education, mainstreaming of children with Down syndrome is becoming less controversial in many countries. Mainstreaming is whereby the process of differing students with different abilities to be placed in classes with their chronological peers. Children with Down syndrome may benefit from mainstreaming provided that some adjusments are made to the curriculum. Some european contries such as Germany and Denmark advise a two-teacher system , whereby the second teacher takes over a group of children with disabilities within the class. A popular alternative is cooperation between special schools and mainstream schools. The core subjects are taught in seperate classes, which neither slows down the typical students nor neglects the students with disabilities.

Treatment of individuals with Down syndrome depends on the particular manifestations of the disorder. For instance, individuals with cognital hear disease may need to undergo major corrective surgery soon after birth. Other individuals may have relatively minor health problems requiring no therapy. Plastic surgery has sometimes been advocated and performed on children with Down syndrome, based on the assumption that surgery can reduce the facial features associated with Down syndrome ,therefore, decreasing social stigma , and leading to a better quality of life.

376 words

Done by ;
-Nurul Aiman
-Aliah Hisham
-Nur Sarah

Down Syndrome

Group Members :
-Nurul Aiman
-Aliah Hisham
-Sarah

Autism !

Hey you guys!This is about autism :)

Autistic disorder (also called autism; more recently described as "mindblindedness") is a neurological and developmental disorder that usually appears during the first three years of life. A child with autism appears to live in his/her own world, showing little interest in others, and a lack of social awareness. The focus of an autistic child is a consistent routine and includes an interest in repeating odd and peculiar behaviors. Autistic children often have problems in communication, avoid eye contact, and show limited attachment to others.Autism can prevent a child from forming relationships with others (in part, due to an inability to interpret facial expressions or emotions). A child with autism may resist cuddling, play alone, be resistant to change, and/or have delayed speech development. Persons with autism tend to exhibit repeated body movements (such as flapping hands or rocking) and have unusual attachments to objects. However, many persons with autism excel consistently on certain mental tasks (i.e., counting, measuring, art, music, memory).

The cause of autism is not known. Research suggests that autism is a genetic condition. It is believed that several genes are involved in the development of autism. Research studies in autism have found a variety of abnormalities in the brain structure and chemicals in the brain; however, there have been no consistent findings. One theory is the possibility that autistic disorder is a behavioral syndrome that includes several distinct conditions. However, parenting behaviors are not the cause or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that about one in 150 eight-year-old children in six communities studied had an autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC’s most recent Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network data. Autism is more prevalent in boys than girls, with four times as many boys affected than girls.

This are the most common symptoms of autism. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• does not socially interact well with others, including parents
  • shows a lack of interest in, or rejection of physical contact. Parents describe autistic infants as "unaffectionate." Autistic infants and children are not comforted by physical contact.
  • avoids making eye contact with others, including parents
  • fails to develop friends or interact with other children
• does not communicate well with others
  • is delayed or does not develop language
  • once language is developed, does not use language to communicate with others
  • has echolalia (repeats words or phrases repeatedly, like an echo)
• demonstrates repetitive behaviors
  • has repetitive motor movements (such as rocking and hand or finger flapping)
• is preoccupied, usually with lights, moving objects, or parts of objects
• does not like noise
• has rituals
• requires routines

Standard guidelines have been developed to help identify autism in children before the age of 24 months. In the past, diagnosis of autism was often not made until late preschool-age or later. The guidelines can help identify children with autism early, which means earlier, more effective treatment for the disorder.According to the guidelines, all children before the age of 24 months should routinely be screened for autism and other developmental delays at their well-child check-ups. Children that show developmental delays and other behavior disorders should be further tested for autism.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children should be screened for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 18 months and 24 months, regardless of whether there are any signs or concerns about a child’s developmental progress.By screening children early for autism, those diagnosed with the disorder can be treated immediately and aggressively.The standardize guidelines developed for the diagnosis of autism actually involve two levels of screening for autism. Level one screening, which should be performed for all children coming to a physician for well-child check-ups during their first two years of life, should check for the following developmental deficits:

• no babbling, pointing, or gesturing by age 12 months
• no single words spoken by age 16 months
• no two-word spontaneous (non-echolalic, or not merely repeating the sounds of others) expressions by age 24 months
• loss of any language or social skills at any age
• no eye contact at 3 to 4 month

The second level of screening should be performed if a child is identified in the first level of screening as developmentally delayed. The second level of screening is a more in-depth diagnosis and evaluation that can differentiate autism from other developmental disorders. The second level of screening may include more formal diagnostic procedures by clinicians skilled in diagnosing autism, including medical history, neurological evaluation, genetic testing, metabolic testing, electrophysiologic testing(go find out what it mean), psychological testing, among others.Genetic testing involves an evaluation by a medical geneticist (a physician who has specialized training and certification in clinical genetics), particularly as there are several genetic syndromes which may cause autism, as well as a variety of chromosome abnormalities. A geneticist can determine whether the autism is caused due to a genetic disorder, or has no known genetic cause. If a genetic disorder is diagnosed, there may be other health problems involved. The chance for autism to occur in a future pregnancy would depend on the syndrome found. In cases where no genetic cause for the autism is identified, there is still a slightly increased chance for a couple to have another child with autism, with ranges averaging from 3 to 7 percent. The reason for this increase over the general population is thought to be because autism may result from several genes inherited from both parents acting in combination, in addition to unknown environmental factors. There is no action/inaction known that parents could have done, or did not do, to cause autism to occur in a child.

Specialized behavioral and educational programs are designed to treat autism. Behavioral therapy is used to teach social skills, motor skills and cognitive (thinking) skills. Behavior modification is also useful in reducing or eliminating maladaptive behaviors. Individualized treatment planning for behavioral therapy is important as autistic children vary greatly in their behavioral needs. Intensive behavior therapy during early childhood and home-based approaches training and involving parents are considered to produce the best results.Special education programs that are highly structured focus on developing social skills, speech, language, self-care, and job skills. Medication is also helpful in treating some symptoms of autism in some children. Mental health professionals provide parent counseling, social skills training, and individual therapy. They also help families identify and participate in treatment programs based on an individual child's treatment needs. Specific treatment will be determined by your child's physician based on:

• your child's age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disorder
• your child's symptoms
• your child's tolerance for specific medications or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disorder
• your opinion or preference

Following are some pictures :

Even the word autism brings a mot good image i found this really sweet picture <3

Thank you.

Done by,

Lydia,Ghythri and Kavi :D

(240410)

Autism

Group members:

-Ghythri

-Lydia G

-Kavi

Paralysis!~

PARALYSIS by Sharifah Yasmin, Izzati Wahab and Eishah Adawiyah :)

Paralysis is most commonly defined by a damaged nervous system, especially concerning the spinal cord. Paralysis is also known as Hemiplegia, Palsy, Paraplegia or Quadriplegia. However, Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are different in several different ways.

While some people with paraplegia can walk to a degree, many are dependent on wheelchairs or other supportive measures. Thus, impotence and urinary incontinence are very common in those affected. Many use catheters and/or a bowel management program to address these problems. With successful bladder and bowel management, paraplegics can prevent virtually all accidental urinary or bowel discharges.

Quadriplegics on the other hand suffer from impairment to the limbs and partially in the torso. This can mean a loss or impairment in controlling bowel and bladder, sexual function, digestion, breathing, and other autonomic functions. Secondarily, because of their depressed functioning and immobility, quadriplegics are often more vulnerable to pressure sores, osteoporosis and fractures, respiratory complications and infections.

Most paralysis is due to strokes, mental or trauma or injuries such as spinal cord injury or a broken neck. Other causes of paralysis include nerve diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome or Bell's palsy, which affects facial muscles. There are also forms of periodic paralysis, such as sleep paralysis, which are caused by other factors that are currently under research.

According to a study initiated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, there are nearly 1 in 50 people living with paralysis -- approximately 6 million people. That's the same number of people as the combined populations of Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

It means that we all probably has ties to someone -- a brother, sister, friend, neighbor, or colleague -- living with this disease. Isn’t that just devastating? More research and development is focusing on human paralysis to counter these high statistics of people affected by paralysis.

I’m sure that most of you are not aware that many species of animals use paralyzing toxins in order to capture prey, evade predation, or both. One famous example is the tetrodotoxin of Takifugu rubripes, the famously lethal pufferfish of Japanese fugu. This toxin works by binding to nerve cells, preventing the cells' proper function.

A minimal dose of this toxin results in temporary paralysis. This toxin is also present in many other species ranging from toads to nemerteans. Although it is poisonous and potentially harmful to humans, it is considered a delicacy in many Eastern countries. Customers consume it after careful preparation by a qualified chef, who removes the lethal toxin from the fish.

Society has used a variety of terms to label people with paralysis over the years. The general public will use the term they perceive to best describe how they view individuals who live with paralysis, which is where the term ‘disabled’ or handicapped person’ is used.

However, someone who is living with paralysis and is a wheelchair user may be offended and distinguish themselves in a different manner such as “mobility impaired” or as a “wheelchair user”. This gives them the air of independence and self-respect, as it implies that they are capable of carrying out their daily activities without much hassle.

All in all, the usage of term to call people with paralysis depends on one’s perception of the condition. As citizens with moral obligations towards each other, we should refer to them respectfully; as they wish to be referred to.

After all, paralyzed people deserve to be treated equally as any other person, as most of them do not suffer from mental retardation nor mental disturbance in any way. They have the same rights as other normal members of society. Should we encounter anyone with paralysis, we should treat them as respectfully as we want to be treated! :)

ASPERGERS SYNDROME

hiiii !
i'm adding one more person in our group , so the total is four okay ?

group members :

Nurul Nadirah
Emylia Merican
Ashwini
Noor Sarah

thanks ;)

Asperger's Syndrome

ASPERGER'S SYNDROME




By;

Athras
Alina
Nurul Ain.

Asperger’s syndrome was founded by and named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger in year 1944. It is also known as Asperger’s disorder or just Asperger’s. This syndrome is one of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which are a spectrum of psychological conditions that are characterized by abnormalities of social interaction and communication that pervade the individual’s functioning by restricted and repetitive interests or behavior.

Like many other psychological development disorders, Asperger’s syndrome begins in infancy or childhood and has a steady course without remission or relapse. It also has impairments that result from maturation-related changes in various systems of the brain.

Asperger’s syndrome is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than just a single symptom. This syndrome is characterized by qualitative impairment in social interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests. It is also characterized by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in language.

The most dysfunctional aspect of Asperger’s syndrome is most likely the lack of demonstrated empathy. People with Asperger’s syndrome experience difficulties towards social interaction. They tend to lack emotional reciprocity and have impaired nonverbal behaviors. However, unlike those with autism, people suffering from Asperger’s syndrome are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly. They tend to analyze and distill their observation of social interaction into rigid behavioral guidelines, and apply these rules in awkward ways.

Those with Asperger’s syndrome often display restricted and repetitive interests and behavior that are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. People with Asperger’s syndrome tend to pursuit specific and narrow areas of interest such as collecting volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic. This symptom may go unrecognized because narrow topics often capture the interest of children. Stereotyped and repetitive motor behaviors are a core part of the diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. They include constant repetition of hand movements and complex whole-body movements.

People with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have a slight abnormality in speech and language. They often have a limited range of intonation, making their speech unusually fast, jerky or loud. Individuals suffering from this syndrome generally have difficulty understanding figurative language and tend to use language literally. Children with this syndrome appear to have difficulty understanding non-literal language which includes humor, irony and teasing.

Currently, no particular gene has yet been identified as a cause of Asperger’s syndrome. However, multiple factors are believed to play a role in the expression of autism, given the phenotypic variability seen in children with Asperger’s syndrome. Evidence for a genetic link is the tendency for this syndrome to run in families of which family members have behavioral symptoms similar to Asperger’s syndrome but in a limited form, such as slight difficulties with social interaction.

An example of a person who suffers Asperger’s syndrome is Satoshi Tajiri, a Japanese electronic game designer and the creator of Pokemon. He has allegedly been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, being described as reclusive and eccentric by Nintendo officials.

Luke Christopher Jackson is another example of a person suffering from Asperger’s syndrome. He is an author who rose to fame at the age of 13 when he wrote a book from first-hand experience about what it is like to have Asperger’s syndrome. The book created a sensation and greatly increased general awareness of the condition of this syndrome.

Spreading awareness of Asperger’s syndrome has been done in makings of movies such as “My name is Khan” and “Adam”. A book such as “House Rules” has also done a lot in spreading awareness of this syndrome.

597 words.

Thankyou. :)

P/s: I recommend reading "The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time" if you're interested. It's about this 15-year old boy with Asperger's. :)

VERTIGOOOOO !

hi 4sbians :D

ok so my team members are

- NIK AREENA

-ALYA AMIR

- KHAIRUNNISA

and and we are doing VERTIGOO ohhhhh :D yeay !

Paralysis

vacancy filled! :D

Group members: Sharifah Yasmin, Eishah Adawiyah and Izzati Wahab :)

Choral Speaking Script! (official)

L : LEFT, R: RIGHT. first row : number 1, second row: number 2 and third row: number 3.

I hope its clear to you all, don't hesistate to ask if there's any qs! :)

L&R2,3: Guys, the choral speaking competition is next week!
L&R1: Oh My God, what are we going to talk about?!
R123 :Let’s talk about FOOD! Mmmm…
L123: Let’s talk about GHOSTS! Uuuuu…
Lydia: No, let’s talk about something we ALL have in common!
L&R 123: What, our parents’ nagging?!
Lydia: No, I’m talking about music!
L1,2,3: Music?!
R1,2,3:Music?!
ALL: Mu~sic! Even the word is music to our ears!

ALL: A very good morning to the honorable judges, teachers and friends. Today, whether you want to hear it or not, we’re going to tell you all about music!
L1,2,3: So, sit back, relax
R1,2,3: But don’t fall asleep
ALL: And…. Enjoy the show!

ALL: As teens, music plays a HUGE part in our everyday lives!
I bet most of us can't live without music!
We all have iPods, MP3s and even our handphones have music!
All around us there’s music—on the radio, television and even our surroundings!
L&R2,3:The ticking of the clock..
L&R1: Tick tock, tick tock
L&R2,3: The tweeting of the birds…
L&R1: Tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet!
ALL: EVERYTHING has its own natural rhythm and beat that forms its own music!
Now, let us bring you b~ack in time…
To see how music has evolved!

ALL: In the seventies, pop dominated the airwaves!
Can you imagine
Our grandparents grooved to Stevie Wonder and the Beatles--
L1,2,3: Who?!
R1,2,3: WE don’t have a clue!
ALL: ‘Pop music’ actually came from the word ‘popular music’. Over time, it made its own genre as we know today.
Its basis covers several different genres of music: jazz, rock, soul, r&b

Creating a fusion of sound that evolves into pop music as we know it!

Over time, pop music’s popularity increased by the rise of MTV, which popularized artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince.

ALL: T~hen, in the eighties, a new genre of music was born!
Disco, babeyh!
The "disco sound" is so unique it defies description! It draws on many influences: Jazz, Latin, pop—all that produces a feet-tapping melody. It mostly consists of dance beats that makes you want to—
L2,3:--Bust a move!

R2,3: And break out your groove!
L&R1:Okay, that’s enough.
ALL:With disco music came the fashion that most of us today would cringe at.
L&R3: Bell bottoms
L&R2:Puffy hair
L&R1:Poodle skirts
ALL: And even six inch platforms!

ALL: Boy,
Aren’t we glad we’re in the 21st century!

ALL: In the nineties—
Farah Natasha: WOHOO! ROCK AND ROLLL!!! (everyone looks) err, sorry.
ALL:As we were s~aying, nineties brought rock music to a whole new level! Rock took a new definition.
From the 80es beat, society practiced freedom of expression by rock music.
From classic rock, sub-genres quickly developed: pop-rock, blues-rock and glam rock.

L1,2,3:And so, our trip down memory lane ends.
R1,2,3:But the 21st century music begins!
ALL: Pop. Techno. Rap. Rock. RNB. Soul. Metal. Hiphop. You name it!

Even foreign music like Jrock and Kpop!
Nadirah: "Sorry sorry sorry sorry…"
ALL:With so many genres of music, no wonder life is a symphony!

ALL: Music influences teenagers in s~o many ways.

L1,2,3: Hearing your favourite song on the radio can turn your day 360 degrees!

R1,2,3: It’s the most effective medium that teens use to break out of the funk.

ALL: There is just so much meaning behind music nowadays!

Music can also tell an artist’s life story, things they have been through, and even their opinion on certain views.

L&R2,3: Songs about the environment,

L&R1:[earth song!]

L&R2,3: about love and friendship,

L&R1:[falling for you!]

L&R2,3: and about life’s experiences all give a positive impact to the listeners.

ALL: It’s the universal medium that everyone understands, even through the language barrier!

From America to France, Germany to Zimbabwe, music is abundant and constant.

Through the mass media, music from all walks of life are heard and enjoyed.

ALL: We all need music in our lives. The steady beat of music calms the mind, heart and soul.

Young or old, white or black, Caucasian or Asian, ev~eryone is united by this freedom of self-expression.

As life goes on, new beats are discovered, new rhythms are explored and self expression begins again!

No one can get bored or tired of music because it is ever-changing.

ALL: In short, life without music would be...
(someone) : Devastating!
(someone) : Boring!

[cricket sound]
ALL: It just simply wouldnt be life!

Thank you!

FOR COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRIES PLEASE ASK JESSICA OR yasmin. lol :P