Asperger’s

A Workplace Guide

Rosita Bird

Abstract: This article aims to provide enough information

to foster a better understanding and acceptance in the
workplace among both employers and employees of the
condition of Asperger’s Syndrome, which is one of the
three recognized types of Autism. It provides an introduc-
tion to the signs and symptoms and how best to interact,
communicate, and cope with any issues that may occur.

Keywords: Autism—Asperger’s, Employers and

employees guide providing information and coping
strategies for working with Asperger’s.

Introduction: What Is Autism?

Autism was a term first used by a psychiatrist called E­ ugen
Bleuler in 1908. At that time, he used it to ­describe a
schizophrenic patient who had withdrawn into his own
world. The word autós is a Greek word which meant self,
and the word autism was used by Bleuler to mean ­morbid
self-admiration and withdrawal within self. There are still
arguments over whether it has something to do with over-
indulgence, labeled by some as spoilt brat syndrome. There
Rosita Bird is a British children’s are still those who debate how much of these traits can be
author and a mental health, children
and animal rights advocate. She is
traced to upbringing. The first ­pioneers who did research
married with two children and four into autism were Hans A ­ sperger and Leo Kanner. This
grandchildren. Her first job was as a is where the name ­Asperger’s comes from and describes
secretary in a law firm. After having those children who were very able, while Kanner described
children she became self-employed
children with more severe symptoms. They were working
as a childminder, parent guardian,
foster care provider, and nursery separately in the 1940s. Their views remained useful for
assistant. She has a very keen interest physicians for the next three decades.
in both the mental and physical It is important to understand that autism is a lifelong
welfare of children. Through her developmental disability that is caused by neurological
experience with children, she became
a children’s author, writing on topics
differences in the brain and is not an illness or disease
of healthy eating, confidence, that requires curing. It is known that there are many more
self-esteem, mental health, friendship, men on the spectrum than women. The easiest way to
acceptance, and autism. Rosita is also describe this is being wired up differently. Autism has an
a keen environmentalist and animal
effect on how people perceive the world and how they
lover.
interact with others. Autistic people see, hear, and feel
the world differently from other people. All autistic peo-
ple share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect

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 Asperger’s

them in different ways. Some autistic peo- to the point of having to wear earplugs.
ple will have learning disabilities, mental ­Unfortunately, there is no cure for this, but
health issues, or other conditions such as it can be managed with cognitive behavioral
misophonia, savant, obsessive compulsive ­therapy and counselling. It is, however, im-
disorder (OCD [mysophobia]), depression, portant to address this issue as it can become
and epilepsy. These different conditions ­obsessive and can create anger and frustra-
all require different kinds of support. This tion r­ esulting in violent behavior.
does not mean any one person will have
all of these conditions. While it is statisti- Savant
cally accepted that there are more men Approximately half of savants have autism.
than women who have autism, it does not The rest is down to central nervous sys-
mean that there are not actually as many tem injury or disease. It is estimated that
women who have autism. The reason most 10 p­ ercent of those with autism have some
recently accepted is that women are better form of savant abilities. Savant is ­someone
at masking their traits. Today, an increas- who seems to have learning difficulties
ing number of women are being diagnosed but is, at the same time, exceptionally and
for this condition. With the right kind of highly gifted with one limited specialized
support it is possible that people on the au- field to the detriment of other abilities.
tistic spectrum can learn and develop and ­Examples of this is being a genius in math-
therefore be helped to live a more fulfilling ematics or memory recall but unable to
life of their own choosing. Autism is a wide complete simple everyday tasks for exam-
umbrella, and while the most severe may ple cooking or personal hygiene. Savants
need a lot of help and support to e ­ nable may be able to play a piece of music after
them to live independently, there are hearing it once or create a piece of artwork
­others who are quite able to support and from memory.
look after themselves, including being able
to work independently and successfully. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The various conditions that may be associ- OCD is a type of anxiety disorder that
ated with autism are as follows: manifests itself in repetitive behavior and
­obsessions. Sufferers are often plagued with
Misophonia thoughts that are out of their control, such
Misophonia is a deep sensitivity to certain as feelings, impulses, and images. These
noises. The sound most of us hate is finger- can manifest as intrusive thoughts and can
nails dragged on a blackboard, which makes be based on worrying about ­ everything
our hair stand on end; this is one most of us and what may happen; if certain r­ ituals are
can sympathize with. For some people there not followed, this may give rise to a fear of
are many other sounds that can irritate and ­contamination and often brings about exces-
cause distress. It is ­impossible to list all the sive handwashing and cleaning. R ­ epetitive
sounds that might cause a problem such as checking if doors are locked or switches are
eating sounds like chewing (this is quite a off, for example, which comes from a fear
common one as many of us cannot stand that something bad may happen if they
this sound), crunching, licking, swallowing, don’t do this a set number of times. Hoard-
and talking with the mouth full. Other noises ing is another form of obsessional behavior
are drinking, ­ burping, breathing heavily, that, in extreme cases, will render sufferers
­tapping, and ­picking fingernails. There are unable to dispose of items in a rational way.
many ­external noises—dogs ­barking, lawn-
mowers, ­music from cars, ­neighbors, head­ Mysophobia
phones, ­mobile phones. The list is endless Mysophobia is a common part of the OCD
and one or many of these can cause problems and is the dread of germs or any kind of

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 Asperger’s

contamination. This is often seen in exces- and treated with medication earlier in their
sive handwashing. This can result in not us- childhood or teenage years. However, there
ing public lavatories for fear of germs and can be an onset of epilepsy at any age.
contamination. Sometimes this will r­esult
in people with mysophobia not ­ entering Communication and Language
public places, shaking hands, and using Autism presents differently in each ­individual
doorknobs without a glove or tissue cover- and is usually picked up within the first
ing their hands. 5 years of childhood. A child may show signs
through finding difficulties with social com-
Depression munication and ­interaction at school. This
Research suggests that people with ­autism is the time when ­intervention should start.
are at a higher risk of depression. This could This may show itself as repetitive ­behavior
be again down to communication frustra- and meltdowns (this is ­usually down to an
tion. People with autism are less likely to overload of the senses), which can manifest
go and seek help for their symptoms again in screaming, crying, and even self-harming,
because of lack of communication. This rocking, lack of attention in lessons, and a
will often fester, and they will start to have bad reaction to sounds and light—all these
behavioral p ­ roblems such as repetitive or are signs that may indicate autism.
ritualistic behavior and/or become more ag- Autistic people have difficulties with
gressive. OCD can be a­ ssociated with a­ utism interpreting both verbal and nonver-
­
and therefore could increase with anxiety bal ­ language like gestures or tone of
and depression if it is not addressed. It is voice. Many have a very literal under-
thought that around 50% of people with au- standing of language and think people
tism will suffer depression at some stage always mean ­ exactly what they say.
in their life, while the general statistic for Understanding, tone of voice, jokes or
this is rising to around 30% for those with- sarcasm as well as body language and
out autism. Signs to look out for are changes facial expressions may all prove to be a chal-
in behavior. With depression, there could lenge for autistic people. The limited abil-
be signs of increased anxiety of symptoms ity to communicate does not mean they do
they ­ already have, as mentioned earlier, not understand anything. Although speech
or a withdrawal of their usual self, maybe may be difficult for them, they may prefer to
­becoming withdrawn and quiet and in some express themselves using sign language or
cases the opposite of what they normally visual symbols in some situations.
are. Extra vigilance in checking whether Some will have good language skills, but
they are okay and happy is a good way to they may still find it hard to understand
ensure that their well-being is maintained. the expectations of others within conver-
sations, sometimes repeating what they
have just heard (this is called echolalia) or
Epilepsy talking at length about their own interests.
Epilepsy and autism can be connected, and Autistic people often take things literally;
around a quarter of those with autism will therefore, they cannot understand some
have epilepsy. Scientists have found the jokes.
genes that are linked to both. Epilepsy can Autistic people often have difficulty
cause people to have seizures and in autism reading the body language in others and
it can be more difficult to spot as sometimes often struggle knowing what is appropri-
their behavior can mimic the same signs as ate to say. To others this can come across
epilepsy. These seizures are caused by abnor- as insensitive and distant. It is a struggle
mal electrical activity in the brain. Mostly, to empathize and understand the feelings
those with epilepsy will have been diagnosed and emotions in others. Although autistic

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