Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens & Teens Get Ready for the Real World [Paperback]

Teresa Bolick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

Sex. Slang. Slumber parties. The preoccupations of adolescents with Asperger Syndrome are no different than those of other teens, but they can be much more confusing. The lack of social skills and ability to grasp conversational nuances that characterize AS make adolescence the most difficult life stage.

æWhy can I swear in front of my friends, but not in front of the teacher?Æ
æWhy do I have to pay attention when IÆm not interested in what my friend is saying?Æ
æWhat does it mean to ægo outÆ with somebody?Æ

Asperger Syndrome is characterized by a reliance on clear guidelines, and in adolescence the social guidelines become murky and confusing. In Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence, child psychologist Teresa Bolick presents strategies for helping the ten to eighteen-year-old achieve happiness and success by maximizing the benefits of AS and minimizing the drawbacks.

YouÆll Learn:
-How to work with the school to help the AS child learn and succeed.
-Strategies for turning common AS traits like preoccupations and routines into positive strengths.
-How to help the AS teen learn to manage unforeseen glitches with grace.
-The best ways to talk to your teen about friendship, love, romance, and sex.

Along the way, youÆll be inspired by success stories of dozens of AS teens. With the help of this book, youÆll learn that it is possible for an adolescent with Asperger Syndrome to achieve unimaginable success.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Teresa Bolick, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. She received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Emory University. Dr. Bolick is a consultant to schools and maintains a private practice in Nashua, New Hampshire. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap:

“If a child you love has Asperger Syndrome, you need this book.

“Ten to eighteen-year-olds face many challenges, and adolescents with AS can have special difficulty navigating through the changes they encounter when they reach middle school. Friends, crushes, schoolwork—the day-to-day lives of teens present complicated issues. Child psychologist and AS specialist Teresa Bolick has solutions for overcoming the obstacles kids with AS face.

“Packed with practical advice and full of inspiring stories, Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence will be your guidebook as you help a teen with AS down the path toward happiness and success. You’ll learn effective techniques for raising a self-sufficient, self-confident teen, and will find inspiration in the dozens of success stories Dr. Bolick shares.” --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931412413
• ISBN-13: 978-1931412414
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Nervous System

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for the early teen years, May 21, 2002

By 

bvj54 "bvj54" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World (Hardcover)

This book is organized and very readable. Each section discusses an area where a person with Asperger's Syndrome might have a deficit/challenge. For each "problem" area, there is a short clinical discussion of what the deficiency means (for example, what the heck is "executive function"), then a practical description of how this difficulty might manifest itself in behavior (difficulty with performing particular tasks), and finally some ways that the parent/teacher/other might help the youngster work through or around the problem. This book is my current favorite, as my 11 year old son moves from the shelter of elementary school into the more open middle school environment. The book addresses social skills, academic skills, and has lots of ideas for when and how to help (or keep out of the way!) your child. One section that really impressed me is about special interests, rituals, and routines... The author emphasizes that these need not be viewed as obssessions, compulsions, and rigidity of behavior!

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, November 4, 2003

By 

mhhome (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World (Hardcover)

This is the best book I have read on AS in quite a while. It is one of the few that addresses the differences in adolescence. Those of us who have been in the AS world for awhile know there is a lot of info out there for younger children. Now that our children are getting older, their challenges change. This book really helps in that area. I loaned my copy to my son's educational assistant and she doesn't want to give it back <grin>! Great book,must read for parents of AS adolescents.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, August 27, 2004

By 

Tracy Hoffmann (Downingtown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World (Hardcover)

This is a must-read for anyone who has or works with AS kids. My son was misdiagnosed from early childhood, so I'm not too familiar with the literature for younger kids. The anecdotes in this book really shed some light on the characteristics of AS. I could have inserted my son's name into many of these stories. I will be buying this book for several people who work with my son. They need this information!