Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

The internet: a comfortable communication medium for people with Asperger syndrome (AS) and high functioning autism (HFA)?

The internet: a comfortable communication medium for people with Asperger syndrome (AS) and high... This study builds on previous survey research by the investigators (Benford, 2008), as well as anecdotal reports, which imply that, despite having social interaction and communication difficulties, internet communication (via email, chat rooms, newsgroups and bulletin boards) is welcomed by some people with high functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome (AS). Qualitative data about individual experiences, perceptions, and motivations regarding internet‐based communication was obtained from 23 adults with HFA or AS, mainly via email interviewing, but also by conventional mail. Analysis based on grounded theory revealed how the sample were able to use the internet to lessen the emotional, social and time pressures experienced in offline situations. Aspects that contributed to the perception of the internet as a potentially more comfortable communication medium included visual anonymity, a different and more flexible pace of communication, and the permanence of text. Overall, the complexity of communication was lessened, and a greater sense of control could be achieved. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Assistive Technologies Emerald Publishing

The internet: a comfortable communication medium for people with Asperger syndrome (AS) and high functioning autism (HFA)?

Penny Benford; P Standen
Journal of Assistive Technologies , Volume 3 (2): 10 – Jul 10, 2009
Download PDF
10 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/the-internet-a-comfortable-communication-medium-for-people-with-efrCBqUja5

References (22)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1754-9450
DOI
10.1108/17549450200900015
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This study builds on previous survey research by the investigators (Benford, 2008), as well as anecdotal reports, which imply that, despite having social interaction and communication difficulties, internet communication (via email, chat rooms, newsgroups and bulletin boards) is welcomed by some people with high functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome (AS). Qualitative data about individual experiences, perceptions, and motivations regarding internet‐based communication was obtained from 23 adults with HFA or AS, mainly via email interviewing, but also by conventional mail. Analysis based on grounded theory revealed how the sample were able to use the internet to lessen the emotional, social and time pressures experienced in offline situations. Aspects that contributed to the perception of the internet as a potentially more comfortable communication medium included visual anonymity, a different and more flexible pace of communication, and the permanence of text. Overall, the complexity of communication was lessened, and a greater sense of control could be achieved.

Journal

Journal of Assistive Technologies – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jul 10, 2009

Keywords: Asperger syndrome; High‐functioning autism; Internet; Computer‐mediated communication (CMC); Uses and gratifications

There are no references for this article.