Aspergers Syndrome Essay -- Health, Diseases

In 2009, twenty-six year old, Zev Glassenber, with Asperger’s Syndrome, was a contestant on the Amazing Race. As you learn more about Asperger’s Syndrome ask yourself, â€Å"How did Zev deal with the social stress, physical challenges and constant changes as his raced around the world with his best friend Justin Kanew?† (Bruckheimer, Amazing Race 15, 2009) While Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) has probably been around since the beginning of time, the earliest known research was done by an Austrian Pediatrician, Hans Asperger in 1994. Hans noticed that some of the children that had been referred to his clinic had similar personality and behavioral traits (Attwood, 2007). They were socially awkward, lacked empathy and were physically clumsy. He also noticed they had an intense interest and knowledge of one or few particular subjects. Hans’s work was not well known or used because it was written during World War II, in German and the Journal it had been published in was discontinued. Hans did not live to see his research become an official diagnosis let alone be named after him. Lorna Wing, a British Child Psychiatrist, was the first to use the phrase â€Å"Asperger’s Syndrome† in an article she wrote in 1981. In 1991 his work was translated into English and in 1992 Asperger’s Syndrome was added to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (tenth revision, ICD-10), published by the World Health Organization (Slaughter, 2009). Some experts argue whether AS is really a different disorder or just a milder form of autism (Slaughter, 2009). Many of the traits are the same but the distinct differences are, those with Asperger’s have normal language and intellectual development and make more of an eff... ...to win, and never gave up. He and his partner Justin had a great relationship and worked well together. Many thought Zev would be the cause of their eventual elimination and many admired Justin for his loyalty, support and trust in his friend with AS. Justin was the one that ended up losing their passports in Asia causing them to be sent home. Zev and Justin took 9th place (Bruckheimer, Amazing Race 15, 2009). They were so well liked by viewers that they were given a second chance and participated in season 18’s Unfinished Business. They took first in more legs of the race than any other team and placed fourth overall. They were eliminated after Zev took over an hour to learn a few steps of the Samba in Brazil. But he learned them. (Those darn motor skills) Zev did the race to prove to himself that he could do anything and to inspire others. And he did!