Asperger Syndrome
by: Ami Klin, Fred R. Volkmar, Sara S. Sparrow
Asperger Syndrome
By Ami Klin, Fred R. Volkmar, Sara S. Sparrow
Publisher: The Guilford Press
Number Of Pages: 489
Publication Date: 2000-02-18
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 1572305347
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9781572305342
Product Description:
Usually diagnosed in childhood, Asperger syndrome is a lifelong social disorder that bears many similarities to high-functioning autism. Individuals with the disorder are characterized by a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversations, clumsy movements, and intense absorption in special interests. While Asperger syndrome has received increasing attention from researchers, clinicians, educators, and parents in recent years, numerous central questions about the disorder remain unanswered. This groundbreaking volume brings together preeminent scholars and practitioners to offer a definitive statement of what is currently known about Asperger syndrome and to highlight promising leads in research and clinical practice. Diagnostic and conceptual issues are explored in depth, and the disorder’s assessment, treatment, and neurobiology are thoroughly reviewed. The book examines the effects of Asperger syndrome on an individual’s social, communication, and behavioral development, and identifies the challenges that these individuals face at home, in school and the workplace, and in other settings. The volume concludes with several parent essays that exemplify the trials and tribulations–as well as the joys and the victories–of life with a child with Asperger syndrome.
Summary: For Academics.
Rating: 5
This books is more of a research overview than anthing else, with a variety of papers written from several perspectives. A particular disappointment to me was that, rather than getting essays from the many talented Aspies out there, they got some from their parents to close the book out. It is probably more useful to psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, and the specialist working on a Ph.D. in Special Ed than any parent or newly diagnosed Aspie.
If you are a parent, and interested in getting into your child’s mind, I would suggest reading Liane Holliday Wilson (Aspergers) or Temple Grandin (HFA) or Steven Shore (Aspergers). Szatmari’s book is also decent, but is more of a professional’s attempts to get into our heads, rather than truly being a first hand account.
There is also a great deal of information, both academic and first-hand accounts, by people on the internet. Viewer beware, however. There is a great amount of nonsense about chelation treatments and other such things that have never been scientifically proven to improve your child’s behavior or social skills.
For the latter, I suggest a book called “Incorporating Social Skills in the Classroom”, and also a book on NLD whose name I can’t currently remember but that you can find in my recently reviewed list.
Summary: Very good reference on the topic.
Rating: 4
I agree with both reviewers already listed. This book is NOT for the casual reader and most family/ friends will find it difficult, distracting and frustrating. For the newcommer to the field there are better books out there. However this is the best I’ve seen for someone alreadh familiar with the disorder who wants a good review of the state of the art in 1999-2000. For the serious student however, one would want to augment the text with more up to date journal materials as new information is available. It would be great to see a new addition of this book released.
Summary: Excellent source of material for researchers
Rating: 5
The collection of papers in this volume are really top class. All the academic authors (there are a few snippets from parents) are very well published. The erudition shows in the breadth and depth of coverage. In such a rapidly hanginf field this is as near as you can come to frozen slice of current thinking. Unlike many anthologies, wherein authors expound on a particular niche obsession, the bulk of articles here offer broad overviews of work. The diagnosis and symptomatology debate is well presented in a series of papers opening the book. Leaving aside the technical academic ares, most paretns will find teh sections on langauge and interventions informative but downheartening. What come across is that adoelscents AS are so heterogenous as a group that even assessing theor conversational deficits is several dozen research projects in itself. The one area of the book that I personally was a little weak on recommendations related to interventions. The emphasis here was on methodological concerns and in fact often meta-methodological concerns. It is eqaully clear that many researchers regard the possibility of remission of AS has highly improbable - to be polite about it. Be that as it may, I reflected to myself a number of times during the course of reading the book (and being part of team looking into interventions), that if a fraction of the effort expended was applied to intervention research would be make better strides? It’s a moot point, but if we lose hope we better close down science.
Summary: This one is demanding!
Rating: 4
On the jacket, Sally J Rogers, Ph D states, “………..Adults with AS and parents of children with AS will find it a veritable encyclopedia………….”. I certainly agree with this statement, but would add some qualifying remarks. It is undoubtedly intended as a detailed text for scholars and specialists in Psychiatry and Psychology who are fully versed in scientific investigatory techniques, and lay readers including even many with good levels of general education, will find reading it a daunting task. However, dogged persistence may well be very rewarding. For those general readers who wish to gain some insight into what has become known as Asperger Syndrome, I would recommend that they first read less demanding texts in order to obtain some general grounding in the subject - such as ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ by Dr Tony Attwood.
Summary: From the ? inside
Rating: 4
On the jacket, Sally J Rogers, Ph D states, “………..Adults with AS and parents of children with AS will find it a veritable encyclopedia………….”. I certainly agree with this statement, but would add some qualifying remarks. It is undoubtedly intended as a detailed text for scholars and specialists in Psychiatry and Psychology who are fully versed in scientific investigatory techniques, and lay readers including even many with good levels of general education, will find reading it a daunting task. However, dogged persistence may well be very rewarding. For those general readers who wish to gain some insight into what has become known as Asperger Syndrome, I would recommend that they first read less demanding texts in order to obtain some general grounding in the subject - such as ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ by Dr Tony Attwood.
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