Customer Reviews

Asperger Syndrome in Young Children: A Developmental Approach for Parents and Professionals

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In the last five years I have read many books about Asperger's syndrome as the mental health field has learned more about it and as I try to help families understand the source of a young child's difficulty and determine the best course of treatment. This book is a gift to professionals and families alike. It is a comprehensive resource with information highlighted in summary boxes throughout the text. It explains normal development of 3 to 6-year-old children and the many ways Asperger's syndrome can present, offering descriptions of three children from evaluation through treatmnet. Helpful therapies are described in depth by experienced practitioners, including parent-child play therapy, pragmatic language therapy, occupational therapy for sensory and motor issues, and Leventhal-Belfer and Coe's own specialty combined social skills / parent support groups; alternative therapies are discussed as well. The chapter on working with schools in developing collaborative relationships to help a child is excellent. With all this, one of the things I especially liked about this book is its warm, engaging, respectful tone and its focus on the parents' emotional journey in coming to terms with Asperger's syndrome in their child.

This is a very informative and indeed very important book. I say that both as a parent of a child struggling with the issues discussed in this book and as a Clinical Psychologist. The overall style of writing is neither pedantic nor dummy-downed, and the authors clearly have front-line experience. The authors review how Asperger's affects social development as well as the myriad issues surrounding school functioning. They clearly enumerate which professional services can be considered under which circumstances, both for the child and also for the parents and a variety of intervention strategies are reviewed. How to talk to and what to ask of teachers and other professionals is discussed using a helpful format. Most importantly, this book is clearly written by those with empathy for the child and the parents' journey. They adopt a non-"pathological" approach that is attuned to the child's perspective and strengths. I've read a lot on this subject -- it is my business -- and I found this book to be the best at explaining this complicated topic.
--Nina Prudden, Ph.D.