D . L . Hughley Breaks Down Explaining His Son’s Asperger’s Syndrome Breakthrough

One of the Original Kings of Comedy, DL Hughley is widely known for his quick-witted humor, his ability to find the funny in today’s political issues and holding his own with friends like Cedric The Entertainer and the late, great Bernie Mac. Yet, in his “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” interview, the husband and father of three shares a side of himself that the public rarely, if ever, sees.

He tells the emotional story about his son Kyle, who has Asperger’s syndrome.

Asperger’s syndrome or Asperger disorder (AD) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

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Kyle was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as a child. Today, at age 26, he sticks to a very regimented schedule.

“He graduated from college but everything has to be the same,” Hughley says. “He goes to work at the same time. He eats the same thing.”

Recently, Hughley says he needed to go put gas in his car. “And he said, ‘Daddy, I’ll do it.'”

Making even this small change to his son’s routine, Hughley explains, was an…

…enormous step. “I’m a nervous wreck… So he comes back in and he gives me the receipt and the keys,” Hughley pauses before breaking down. “And I could not stop crying, because he did something he was afraid to do … I just didn’t believe he could do it. He did it.

“And I held him and I said, ‘You’re gonna be all right.’ And I think sometimes I don’t know for sure, but he’s gonna be fine,” Hugley says. “He’ll be fine.”

Other symptoms of Asperber’s syndrome are:
Behavioral: aggression, persistent repetition of words or actions, repetitive movements, social isolation, self-harm, fidgeting, hyperactivity, screaming, impulsivity, antisocial behavior, or compulsive behavior
Muscular: clumsiness, inability to combine muscle movements, poor coordination, or tic
Mood: anger, apprehension, or loneliness
Psychological: anxiety or depression
Also common: intense interest in a limited number of things, nightmares, stuttering, sensitivity to sound, or learning disability

About 1% of the U.S. population have Asperger’s syndrome, according the the Autism Society.

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