Title |
Rethinking autism: implications of sensory and movement differences for understanding and support
|
---|---|
Published in |
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, January 2013
|
DOI | 10.3389/fnint.2012.00124 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Anne M. Donnellan, David A. Hill, Martha R. Leary |
Abstract |
For decades autism has been defined as a triad of deficits in social interaction, communication, and imaginative play. Though there is now broad acknowledgment of the neurological basis of autism, there is little attention paid to the contribution of such neurological differences to a person's development and functioning. Communication, relationship, and participation require neurological systems to coordinate and synchronize the organization and regulation of sensory information and movement. Developmental differences in these abilities are likely to result in differences in the way a person behaves and expresses intention and meaning. The present paper shares our emerging awareness that people may struggle with difficulties that are not immediately evident to an outsider. This paper explores the symptoms of sensory and movement differences and the possible implications for autistic people. It provides a review of the history and literature that describes the neurological basis for many of the socalled behavioral differences that people experience. The paper emphasizes the importance of our acknowledgment that a social interpretation of differences in behavior, relationship, and communication can lead us far away from the lived experience of individuals with the autism label and those who support them. We suggest alternative ways to address the challenges faced by people with autism. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 13 | 23% |
United Kingdom | 10 | 18% |
Canada | 4 | 7% |
Belgium | 1 | 2% |
Ireland | 1 | 2% |
Germany | 1 | 2% |
Romania | 1 | 2% |
Switzerland | 1 | 2% |
Italy | 1 | 2% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 23 | 41% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 42 | 75% |
Scientists | 7 | 13% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 5 | 9% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 5 | 2% |
France | 2 | <1% |
Australia | 2 | <1% |
Canada | 2 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 252 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 46 | 17% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 37 | 14% |
Researcher | 33 | 12% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 24 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 24 | 9% |
Other | 44 | 17% |
Unknown | 58 | 22% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 62 | 23% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 25 | 9% |
Social Sciences | 19 | 7% |
Neuroscience | 16 | 6% |
Computer Science | 14 | 5% |
Other | 63 | 24% |
Unknown | 67 | 25% |