As we look in detail at some strengths and challenges you might see in a person with an Asperger profile, keep in mind that people with these profiles are not all alike; they may differ from one another even more in respect to their areas of strength than in their areas of challenge.
Asperger Syndrome was characterized as a “pervasive developmental disability.” That is, people with this profile may often appear or act younger than others of the same age. Children with an Asperger profile often show delays in multiple areas of functioning, such as gross or fine motor coordination, social skills, or executive functioning (organization, prioritizing, and follow-through). However, they also continue to develop and mature—on their own time-table.
Today, there are adults with Asperger profiles who are successful as professors, lawyers, physicians, artists, authors, and educators. For this reason, many people with the Asperger profiles, and professionals who know them, consider this designation as a difference rather than a disability. The brains of people with the Asperger profile seem to process information and sensory stimuli differently than the brains of neurotypical (NT) people. These differences can be source of difficulty, but they can also work as strengths. For example, some people with Asperger profiles may be become so obsessed with details that they have trouble seeing the big picture well enough to complete a project. On the other hand, many people with Asperger profiles often excel at noticing visual details and remembering specific facts, skills that are advantageous in many professions.