Young Asperger sufferers ‘driven to depression’

PERSISTENT bullying of children with Asperger syndrome (AS) makes them more prone to suicidal thoughts, depression and school absenteeism, a study found yesterday.

The survey of students with this form of austim found they were 10 times more likely than their peers to be bullied several times a week and that mainstream schools were ill-equipped to deal with their needs.

Dr Maria Lawlor, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) and co-author of the study, said exclusion from social activities was the most common form of bullying.

“Up to 50% of adolescents with Asperger syndrome said they were left out of social activities compared to 2% of other students. Fifty-six percent said they had been made fun of compared to 3% of their peers and the findings were similar when it came to name-calling,” said Dr Lawlor.

Dr Lawlor and co-author John Harpur, a computer science lecturer in NUI Maynooth, said there was an urgent need for assessment of the ability of mainstream schools to meet the needs of children with AS.

“I think they need a range of supports - staff who understand autistic thinking are in short supply, more special needs assistants are needed and more protection of children at lunchtime, the time that is most difficult for them.”

“Developing a ‘buddy’ system would also help, where other students could help them get over their greatest difficulty which is social interaction,” he said.

Students with Asperger syndrome frequently say they are the last to get picked for games and are seen as loners, making them more isolated and susceptible to bullying.

“We are aware that it is an enormous problem for students with AS in mainstream schools,” AS support group Aspire said in response to the study, adding: “The incidence of bullying further supports the argument for a separate class for these students, which we have been pursuing with limited success.”

The NEHB study included 18 students, aged 12-18 from around the country.

Sociodemographic studies have shown that AS children tend to have parents who are engineers and computer scientists.

Generally, sufferers have a very high IQ but extremely poor social and communication skills. Common characteristics include a lack of empathy, little ability to form relationships, one-sided conversations, intense absorption in a special interest and clumsy movements. Research has shown that up to 10,000 people may be suffering from AS in Ireland, with up to nine times as many males affected as female.

Dr Lawlor said around one-in-250 people have the condition which doctors often fail to diagnose.

For general inquiries and further information on AS in Ireland, telephone Aspire at [phone].