Main description:

The book focuses on the interaction of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurobiological developmental disorder, characterized by problems with social interaction, over-sensitivity to sensory stimuli and restricted interest (APA 2013). Problems with social interaction being a core feature of ASD, there is a scientific and a societal need for a book focusing on this topic. The book approaches the interaction of persons with ASD from a new angle. Firstly, where most studies on ASD are based on data coming from experimental settings, this book is based on naturally occurring data coming from group therapy sessions where 11-13-year-old Finnish- and French-speaking boys with ASD talk with each other and with their therapists. Secondly, the book treats a variety of themes that have so far been studied much less than, for example, the pragmatic problems of persons with ASD. These themes include the following aspects: speech prosody (characteristic features, perception of atypicality by neurotypical listeners), disfluencies of speech (comparison with neurotypical controls), comprehension problems (role of prosody, role of disfluencies, other causes), gaze behavior (eye contact avoidance strategies, using gaze as a source of feedback) as well as therapists' response strategies and teaching orientations. The book is intended for researchers working in the field of autism, professionals working with persons with ASD as well as for families of persons with ASD.

Contents:

Preface1. Introduction1.1. Background1.2. Topics treated in the book1.3. Data1.4. Methods2. Prosody2.1. Overview of previous research on the prosody of persons with ASD2.2. Prosodic characteristics of preadolescent boys with ASD2.3. Perception of atypicality by neurotypical listeners2.4. The role of prosodic features in the creation of comprehension problems2.5. Conclusion3. Disfluencies3.1. Overview of previous research on disfluencies in the speech of persons with ASD3.2. Disfluencies in the speech of preadolescent boys with and without ASD3.3. The role of disfluencies in the creation of comprehension problems3.4. Conclusion4. Comprehension problems4.1. Overview of previous research on conversational repairs in the interaction of persons with ASD4.2. Causes of comprehension problems in group therapy sessions involving preadolescent boys with ASD4.2.1. Overly literal interpretation of speech4.2.2. Topical discontinuities4.2.3. Non-verbal features associated with trouble-source turns: the role of eye contact4.2.4. Other causes of comprehension problems4.3. Conclusion5. Gaze behavior5.1. Overview of previous studies on the role of gaze in interaction from a conversation analytic point of view 5.2. Overview of previous studies on gaze-related features in the interaction of persons with ASD.5.3. Three main patterns used for avoiding eye contact in group therapy sessions involving preadolescents boys with ASD5.3.1. Fixing one's gaze straight ahead5.3.2. Letting one's gaze wander around5.3.3. Looking at one's own hands when speaking5.4. General remarks on the gaze behaviour of preadolescents boys with ASD5.5. Conclusion
6. Therapists' response strategies and teaching orientations 6.1. Therapists' response strategies in group therapy sessions involving preadolescent boys with ASD6.1.1. Introduction6.1.2. Five most common response strategies6.1.2.1. Approval 6.1.2.2. Comment on the contents of a turn / turns 6.1.2.3. Question addressed to the whole group 6.1.2.4. Question concerning the contents of a turn / turns 6.1.2.5. Rephrasing the contents of a turn / turns 6.2. Therapists' teaching orientations in group therapy sessions involving preadolescent boys with ASD6.2.1. Introduction6.2.2. Implicit teaching orientation6.2.3. Explicit teaching orientation6.2.4. Prosodic problems: beyond teaching orientations?6.3. Conclusion7. ConclusionBibliography List of transcription conventionsIndex of key words