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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Asperger syndrome / Arthur Gillard, book editor. p. cm. -- (Perspectives on diseases and disorders)

Summary: Asperger Syndrome: Understanding Asperger Syndrome; Controversies About Asperger Syndrome; Personal Experiences with Asperger Syndrome--Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-7377-5771-2 (hardback)

1. Asperger's syndrome--Popular works. I. Gillard, Arthur.

RC553.A88A787 2011

616.85’8832--dc22

2011006229

Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 14 13 12 11

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

FOREWORD

Medicine, to produce health, has to examine disease—Plutarch

Independent research on a health issue is often the first step to complement discussions with a physician. But locating accurate, well-organized, understandable medical information can be a challenge. A simple Internet search on terms such as cancer or diabetes, for example, returns an intimidating number of results. Sifting through the results can be daunting, particularly when some of the information is inconsistent or even contradictory. The Green-haven Press series Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders offers a solution to the often overwhelming nature of researching diseases and disorders.

From the clinical to the personal, titles in the Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders series provide students and other researchers with authoritative, accessible information in unique anthologies that include basic information about the disease or disorder, controversial aspects of diagnosis and treatment, and first-person accounts of those impacted by the disease. The result is a well-rounded combination of primary and secondary sources that, together, provide the reader with a better understanding of the disease or disorder.

Each volume in Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders explores a particular disease or disorder in detail. Material for each volume is carefully selected from a wide range of sources, including encyclopedias, journals, newspapers, nonfiction books, speeches, government documents, pamphlets, organization newsletters, and position papers. Articles in the first chapter provide an authoritative, up-to-date overview that covers symptoms, causes and effects, treatments, cures, and medical advances. The second chapter presents a substantial number of opposing viewpoints on controversial treatments and other current debates relating to the volume topic. The third chapter offers a variety of personal perspectives on the disease or disorder. Patients, doctors, caregivers, and loved ones represent just some of the voices found in this narrative chapter.

Each Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders volume also includes:

An annotated table of contents that provides a brief summary of each article in the volume.

An introduction specific to the volume topic.

Full-color charts and graphs to illustrate key points, concepts, and theories.

Full-color photos that show aspects of the disease or disorder and enhance textual material.

Fast Facts that highlight pertinent additional statistics and surprising points.

A glossary providing users with definitions of important terms.

A chronology of important dates relating to the disease or disorder.

An annotated list of organizations to contact for students and other readers seeking additional information.

A bibliography of additional books and periodicals for further research.

A detailed subject index that allows readers to quickly find the information they need.

Whether a student researching a disorder, a patient recently diagnosed with a disease, or an individual who simply wants to learn more about a particular disease or disorder, a reader who turns to Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders will find a wealth of information in each volume that offers not only basic information, but also vigorous debate from multiple perspectives.

INTRODUCTION

Asperger syndrome—also referred to as Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger’s disorder, or simply AS—is an autism spectrum disorder involving difficulties in social interaction, flexibility of thought and imagination, and repetitive behavior and interests. Unlike most autistics, those