Children with Asperger syndrome are at increased risk of a number of other problems, including academic failure, hyperlexia, problems that may arise on the basis of the child's high intelligence, lack of appropriate stimulation and bullying. Handicapping motor incoordination problems and general clumsiness may lead to a negative attitude to physical education (and appearing ‘in the nude’ in front of other children), and ball games. Balance problems may lead to ‘high anxiety’. Perceptual problems – including auditive, sensory and olfactory (‘smell’) problems – may lead to avoidance of noisy environments, failure to attend to clothes and personal hygiene, preoccupation with certain materials and clothes, and systematic avoidance of specific foods.

School and learning difficulties

Many children with Asperger syndrome manage school without major difficulties – at least if the school has some (considerable) tolerance for unusual and eccentric people.

Some people with Asperger syndrome have specific learning difficulties. A few of these have dyslexia. However, dyslexia is common in the general population – affecting a certain percentage of school-age children – and it seems unlikely that it is exceptionally common in Asperger syndrome. Dyscalculia (specific problems in mathematics), on the other hand, may well be overrepresented in Asperger syndrome. Having said this, it may be important to point out that some affected children and adults are outstanding mathematicians. Attention deficits are extremely common in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (including Asperger syndrome), and this often leads to a lack of interest in many school subjects.