Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Definitions
- 3 Prevalence
- 4 Symptoms in childhood
- 5 Symptoms in adolescence
- 6 Associated psychiatric and social problems
- 7 Other problems
- 8 Strengths
- 9 Background factors
- 10 Cognitive neuropsychology
- 11 Diagnosis and work-up
- 12 Outcome in the longer term: adults with Asperger syndrome
- 13 Attitudes, interventions and treatment
- 14 Who can help?
- 15 What about all those famous geniuses?
- 16 Case vignettes
- Appendices
- Further reading
- Index
12 - Outcome in the longer term: adults with Asperger syndrome
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Definitions
- 3 Prevalence
- 4 Symptoms in childhood
- 5 Symptoms in adolescence
- 6 Associated psychiatric and social problems
- 7 Other problems
- 8 Strengths
- 9 Background factors
- 10 Cognitive neuropsychology
- 11 Diagnosis and work-up
- 12 Outcome in the longer term: adults with Asperger syndrome
- 13 Attitudes, interventions and treatment
- 14 Who can help?
- 15 What about all those famous geniuses?
- 16 Case vignettes
- Appendices
- Further reading
- Index
Summary
Outcome in Asperger syndrome is very variable. Many of those with a characteristic pattern of problems in childhood are functioning well in adult age, even though the personality traits that were evident early on tend to be highly persistent. Others have a very poor prognosis from the psychosocial adjustment point of view and cannot manage independently in adult life. Others function along a spectrum in between excellent and highly restricted outcomes.
It is still much too early to determine how large a proportion of those with the childhood presentation of Asperger syndrome will fall into any one of the three adult outcome groups. So far, no longitudinal prospective studies of representative cases of the syndrome have been published. It is only when the results of such studies are available that we will know the answer to the question: What is the natural course of Asperger syndrome in the general population?
The basic problems
In spite of the lack of systematic empirical studies, there is a wealth of clinical experience which forms a fairly sound basis for conclusions about certain aspects of longer-term outcome in Asperger syndrome.
Virtually all authors in the field seem to be agreed that the basic and characteristic social, communicative and behavioural/imagination problems encountered in Asperger syndrome are likely to persist throughout life.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A Guide to Asperger Syndrome , pp. 95 - 99Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2002