Customer Reviews

Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism? (Current Issues in Autism)

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This text contains a combination of literature reviews, empirical research, and case histories to show a balanced approach to the Autism/Aspergers diagnostic categorisation debate. While the editors clearly state their belief that what is knowns as Aspergers Syndrome is a misnomer of High Functioning Austism, they have included a critical set of papers which contain strong evidence that Aspergers is indeed a seperate, yet related, condition. It is left to the reader to analyse all the information presented and arrive their own conclusion - or to inspire further research in an attempt to answer so many outstanding questions. For me, I thought it an excellent addition to my psychology library, and complimentary to the works of Uta Frith and Frances Happe. And I favour Aspergers as a distinct diagnostic category in the Autistic spectrum.

The final chapter of this text: "Premature Popularization of Asperger Syndrome" by one of the editors (Dr. Eric Schopler) and reflects a view that appreciates the historical forest in a controversy that has spanned many decades. The sheer experience that Dr. Schopler brings to this commentary is paralleled by few. His previous written contributions in this field and the pioneering contributions of Chapel Hill, North Carolina's Division TEACCH (previously led by Dr. Schopler, now led by co-editor Dr. Gary Mesibov) provide great testimony to the focused academic expertise and clinical savvy behind this work. Having been a clinician invested in understanding autism since the days of Bruno Bettleheim and having been a part of the dramatic evolutions in theoretical understanding of Autism that have ensued, Dr. Schopler's observation of the factors operative in the popularization of the Asperger construct should not be taken lightly. His appreciation that clinical formulations and empirical investigations have failed to identify a valid clinical subgroup come from seasoning in this area that few investigators can match. The cultural influences involved in the current situation are clearly explained in this chapter. While the other chapters in this text provide for a nice panorama of perspectives, there is great weight behind the editors stance regarding the phenomenon being studied. This text gives us serious reason to take pause and think critically about the current DSM-IV-TR nosology. "Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism?" is an absolute 'must read' for serious clinicians and researchers working in this area.

The book offers a highly useful, carefully considered selection of essays on HFA or Asperger's, including documents written by those affected by the disorder. Highly recommended!

My review is based on Chapter 10 of the book dealing with "Language and Communication in High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome".

The author misplaces the analysis of the problem that people on the spectrum have with the "Paralinguistic Features" of communication (i.e. non-verbal cues). The assumption is that HFA and Asperger individuals don't comprehend or understand these features of communication. In my experience this is pretty much off-base. In reality, it's not the understanding that is the problem but the inability to focus and pick up on the nuances of non-verbal communication. These is a significant difference.

In my opinion, it would be a mistake to rely on this book as any type of definitive guide to understanding what is or is not going on in the minds of the autistic. This is from the perspective of one on the spectrum himself.