Customer Reviews

Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the Preface, Attwood mentions meeting over a thousand individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, ranging widely in age, ability, and background, and of being impressed by some of their abilities. As an AS person myself, I am impressed by Attwood's understanding of these individuals as real people, and by the simple straightforward language used. Temple Grandin's review, as printed on the back cover of this book, said that the book would have been a great benefit to her as a teenager and young adult. It also includes positive aspects of Asperger's Syndrome. Her full review summed up the book well and could well have been included in this series of reviews. There are eight main chapters, titled Diagnosis, Social Behaviour, Language, Interests and Routine, Motor Clumsiness, Cognition, Sensory Sensitivity, and Frequently Asked Questions. There are also three appendices, including Diagnostic Criteria. And there are References, Subject Index, and Author Index. Only of late has there been a widening of knowledge of Asperger's Syndrome. This is a book that has measurably helped, and will be useful for quite a while yet.

This book was the best I have found so far. As a parent of a 7-year-old with this syndrome, it has beem my "Bible" since I got it. I never realized how much my son fit the diagnosis. For any parents with doubts about your child's diagnosis, this will ease your doubts. This book is very "layperson" friendly and easy to understand. I have given a copy to anyone who deals with my son. It has helped them also, to best deal with him. Very well written and easy to understand. Thank- you Tony Attwood!!!

Not many books can truly be called "must-have", but if you have a child with Aspergers, teach a child with Aspergers or deal in any way with a child with Aspergers, you NEED this book. I find myself referring so often back to it to help me understand my 5 year old son. I think my favorite part of this book is that it's positive---it doesn't gloss over the tough parts of life with AS, but it leaves you feeling the author truly likes and admires those with AS. I have lend this book to all my son's teachers, my parents and many others. It's amazing how it deals with the big issues, like school, dealing with changes and socialization, and even helped me understand little issues like why my son is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine!

When my son was young, no one knew about Asperger's. He was diagnosed ADD, then ADHD with PDD. When he was diagnosed with AS at age 14, this is the first thing I read. It was as if Dr. Attwood had been spying on my son since he was born. This book gives incredible insight into this syndrome and has been of great help to our family and my son's teachers in dealing with his way of viewing life. Thank you!

This book is the first book I reccommend to anyone who is facing a diagnosis of high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome in their family. My 10 year old son is "officially" diagnosed with high functioning autism, but those of us in the know, realize how little that means. Tony Attwood is simply amazing, this book breaks Asperger's Syndrome down for you, step by step, symptom by symptom, and is a real help and reference. Even after being involved in the autism spectrum now for over 6 years, I still refer to this book on a regular basis. Also, unlike many books I have read about autism and Asperger's Syndrome, this book is written very much for the lay person, you don't have to have a PhD to understand this book. There are also very practical solutions for many of the challenging problems unique to Asperger's and austism in here as well, many of them we have used with much sucess with our son. One example I can think of off the top of my head is teaching pragmatic language skills, something that neuro-typical children understand naturally, and children with Asperger's have to laboriously be taught. Temple Grandin's endorsement at the end is literally the icing on the cake.

While this book is primarily for parents and teachers of children with AS, it belongs on the bookshelf of anyone concerned about AS. What sets this book apart from others is that it not only describes AS, but also provides concrete guidance.

The first chapter describes diagnosis. Each of the next six chapters describes a particular impairment associated with AS, with real-life examples, and gives strategies for dealing with that impairment, both in detail and in bullet form at the end of the chapter. After those chapters are a FAQ and various appendices, one of which lists numerous resources.

The most touching parts are the numerous first-hand descriptions of AS included in the various chapters, in both prose and poems.

Tony Attwood's book on Asperger Syndrome should be considered the definitive book to date on children with Asperper's Syndrome. Therefore, any parent who has a child who they think might have Asperger's Syndrome or who has been recently diagnosed, should start here for information.

Perhaps you have recognized certain traits in your children, or other people's children, or even in yourself. These traits may include difficulty understanding the rules of conversation, reduced facial expressions, a monotonous voice, a photographic memory, obsessional interests and hobbies, and a predilection towards honesty.

It should be noted that not all Aspies have all the symptoms described. Therefore, if you recognize some, but not all the symptoms in your children, they may still have Asperger Syndrome. I should know this as I am an Aspie myself. For instance, I don't recall having difficulty reading other people's facial expressions or making eye contact. While I do recall making some social errorsas described in the book, it was usually because people couldn't read MY facial expressions rather than because I couldn't read theirs. I don't take everything literally as the book describes, and I DO understand figures-of-speech and metaphors, e.g. 'change your mind?', 'you're pulling my leg', 'cat got your tongue?', 'out of the blue'.

Remember, Aspies can improve their social skills through behavior intervention and natural development. Also remember that Aspies are quite talented individuals who's interests can lead them to successful job prospects later in life. Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder, NOT an intellectual disorder.

Our 13 year old son has been in and out of doctors and therapists offices since he was in first grade. The documentation is 3/4 of an inch thick. At the suggestion of another parent I got the book (via Amazon) and started to read it. I got a second copy for my wife as I headed out of town on a business trip - upon my return we both went "Ah Ha!" finally a diagnosis that tied all the lose ends together! Since then (March 99) we have traveled to see Attwood lecture, with our son, who stood and cheered for Tony. We have also handed out copies of the book to grandparents, school counselors, teachers and administrators. THIS IS WHY THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT - ONCE THEY READ THE BOOK - THEY GOT IT!!! We were getting to be on a first name basis with the school disciplinarian - but after he read the book, and because it is so well written he read it all - then he could see what our son was dealing with, and could understand him, and could begin to work to improve things. (For that alone I'm ready to erect a statue to Attwood!) If you, or anyone you know, needs to understand Aspergers this is the place to start.

Dr Tony Attwood is undoubtably the world's leading authority on Asperger's Syndrome (AS), as cleary evidenced in his book.

I had the good fortune of hearing Dr Attwood speak on television one day, addressing a national press club. I realised within 15 minutes that I had Asperger's Syndrome, and suddenly a lot of problems that I had experienced, mainly social in nature, were explained.

In his book, Dr Attwood attempts to explain AS to the neuro-typical (NT) person, mainly parents and.or associated carers. As an AS sufferer, I found Dt Attwood had a deep understanding on the syndrome and the way it affects people. The book has a lot of practical value, and his insights and associated advice are extremely well thought out.

One of the overriding themes of the book is Dr Attwood's positive outlook for AS sufferers, and he emphasises that it can be overcome with time and perseverence. I found this approach refreshing from the outlook presented in other tomes for AS, which suggest that AS sufferers must accept the inherent limitations imposed on them by the AS. I feel that the majority, if not all, of AS sufferers can overcome the condition. All people go through learning curves in life, and must 'ride uphill' to get there. For AS sufferers, the hill is merely longer and steeper. Dr Attwood makes this point very well, and I'd like to quote a passage from his book (p183):

'The author has met many adults with Asperger's Syndrome who have described how in their late twenties or thirties they eventually managed to intellectually grasp the mechanisms of social skills. From then on the only people who knew of their condition were their family and those who knew them intimately.'

I found this statement one of the most uplifting of the book, not to mention very true.

Another important component of the book are the emotional and social skills exercises recommended for young children. As an AS sufferer myself, I cannot stress the importance of early diagnosis. It prevents much disappointment and heartache in later life.

This is the authoritative text on AS, and required reading for any who has, or is associated with someone who has, Asperger's Syndrome. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This is an excellent book! There's lots of info in it, and what's amazing is that there are all of these toys and games out now on socializing and figuring out people. Those things would have been a GREAT help if they'd been around when I was a kid, especially the Trivial Pursuit thing, as I would insist on knowing every answer down cold hehe. This shows how to teach kids the things I had to learn through hard experience, there are lots of things emphasizing rules, and I can't concieve of how anyone copes with social things without following rules. Finally I'd like to say this rates extra Aspie appeal points because (1) the rectangular thing on the cover looks really cool and (2) the paper this thing is made of, under light with any appreciable UV componant, *glows with an eerie blue along the spine* and that's just interesting!