Boys with Asperger’s Disorder, Exceptional Verbal Intelligence, Tics, and Clumsiness

By Ruth Nass and Renee Gutman (1997) Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 39, 691-695.

“Five boys with both Asperger’s Disorder and Tourette syndrome, exceptional verbal intelligence, and clumsiness are reported. Each presented at early elementary school age with a prominent complaint of social difficulties with peers. History was notable for a flapping stereotypy and the neurological examination revealed motor and/or vocal tics and numerous motor soft signs. Despite exceptional verbal intelligence, the children were not, according to their teachers and parents, faring well either socially or academically. Tics, although not noted by parents in the clinical history, compounded their social difficulties.”

“Asperger’s disorder and Tourette syndrome overlap in these children on account of the tics. Finally, Asperger’s disorder and the right-hemisphere-based learning disorders overlap on account of the visuoperceptual and attentional deficits that can occur in both.”(p. 691)

“History was notable in each for a flapping stereotypy (waving both arms bent at the elbows like wings beating.” (p. 691).