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Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Introduction

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A Practical Guide to Social Interaction Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Part of the book series: The Language of Mental Health ((TLMH))

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions which can present very differently in each person, and are likely to have other problems/disorders which can affect matters further. In addition the classification is constantly evolving, with changes in the terminology and diagnostic criteria. This chapter provides an overview of ASD and explores some of the issues surrounding this condition. Individuals with ASD experience multiple intrinsically linked challenges in their social interactions due to problems with expressive, receptive, and paralinguistic communication. In the chapter, we explore the role of research around communication in individuals with ASD, particularly on conversation analysis and discourse analysis approaches, and the benefits that these approaches may have.

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Recommended Reading

  • Karim, K., Ali, A., & O’Reilly, M. (2014). A practical guide to mental health problems in children with autistic spectrum disorder: “It’s not just their ASD”! London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, J., Karim, K., & O’Reilly, M. (2015). “ASD itself actually isn’t a disability”: The ideological dilemmas of negotiating a ‘normal’ versus ‘abnormal’ autistic identity. Communication & Medicine, 11(2), 139–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership Trust, Leicester, UK

    Khalid Karim

Authors
  1. Khalid Karim
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Michelle O'Reilly

  2. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Jessica Nina Lester

  3. Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Tom Muskett

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© 2017 The Author(s)

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Karim, K. (2017). Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Introduction. In: O'Reilly, M., Lester, J., Muskett, T. (eds) A Practical Guide to Social Interaction Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Language of Mental Health. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59236-1_2

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