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Learning Characteristics of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

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Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?

Part of the book series: Current Issues in Autism ((CIAM))

Abstract

Over 50 years ago Asperger (1944) described a group of children and adolescents whose primary difficulties involved establishing friendships and, more generally, relating to others. Although overshadowed for decades by Kanner’s (1943) description of a similar group of children 1 year earlier (i.e., Autism Disorder), Asperger syndrome (AS) was “rediscovered” by Wing (1981) nearly 40 years later. In her recounting of the earlier description, she presented many of the key diagnostic features of AS, and complemented this discussion with clinical cases to illustrate the manifestations of this syndrome. Since that time, there has been increased interest in determining the validity of this taxon. Indeed, as a testament to the current volume, keen interest has been focused on AS and its relationship to autism. To date, the debate continues with respect to the uniqueness and general clinical validity of AS, with emergent evidence suggesting that there could be subtle, yet distinctive differences between AS and autism (e.g., Eaves, Ho, & Eaves, 1994; Goodman, 1989; Ozonoff, Rogers, & Pennington, 1991).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and The Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7255, USA

    Stephen R. Hooper

  2. Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, 40475, USA

    Myra Beth Bundy

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  1. Stephen R. Hooper
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  2. Myra Beth Bundy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division TEACCH, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7180, USA

    Eric Schopler  & Gary B. Mesibov  & 

  2. Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, 61702-2900, USA

    Linda J. Kunce

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Hooper, S.R., Bundy, M.B. (1998). Learning Characteristics of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome. In: Schopler, E., Mesibov, G.B., Kunce, L.J. (eds) Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?. Current Issues in Autism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5369-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5369-4_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7450-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5369-4

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