Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders [Hardcover]

Sam Goldstein (Editor), Jack A. Naglieri (Editor), Sally Ozonoff PhD (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159385983X | ISBN-13: 978-1593859831 | Publication Date: September 19, 2008 | Edition: 1

Significant progress has been made in assessing children with autism spectrum disorders, but the field has lacked a single, comprehensive resource that assembles current best practices within a unified assessment framework. This authoritative book demonstrates how to craft a complete, scientifically grounded, and clinically useful portrait of a child's strengths and difficulties in social behavior, language and communication, intellectual functioning, motor skills, and other key areas of impairment and comorbidity. Leading experts illustrate ways in which school and clinical practitioners can integrate data from a variety of sources to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and inform the development of individualized interventions.

(20100105)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Masterfully crafted and methodically detailed--a comprehensive package for clinicians and school-based student support services personnel. Each chapter provides rich detail regarding the associated features of ASD, and, more importantly, offers best-practice assessment strategies. Practitioners will find the book highly valuable for bridging research to practice, while researchers will appreciate the level of detail. I look forward to incorporating this text into two of my graduate courses."--Frank J. Sansosti, PhD, School Psychology Program, Kent State University

 

"In one neat, comprehensive package, here is just about everything you need to know about assessment of autism. Autism is an exceedingly complex disorder and the field is grappling with many questions about how to quantify, qualify, and understand it. The editors have assembled an impressive roster of contributors, who both describe how to conduct assessments and address current issues and debates. This is an outstanding, thorough resource for practitioners, researchers, educators, and students."--Laura Schreibman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of California, San Diego

 

"A rich resource for researchers and practitioners involved in the diagnosis and assessment of individuals with ASD. Written in a scholarly yet accessible manner, the book highlights the individuality and humanity of children with autism and provides state-of-the art strategies for assessing multiple dimensions of their functioning. It succeeds in increasing understanding of these complex and intriguing disorders and would be a terrific addition to courses on developmental disabilities."--Alice S. Carter, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston

"This unique resource comprehensively reviews the science and practice of assessment of children with autism spectrum disorders. The list of editors and authors reads like a 'who's who' of the autism field. This book will be an invaluable resource for graduate students and trainees in psychology, psychiatry, speech pathology, and education. It will also serve as a wonderful reference for experienced researchers and practitioners."--Tony Charman, PhD, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK

(20110201)

"This comprehensive volume offers professionals in the field a guide to understanding best practices associated with evaluating this complex disorder....The book achieves its goal of building a bridge from science to clinical practice by emphasizing valid and reliable methods for assessing this complex group of disorders. Written in straightforward, user-friendly language, the book is a valuable resource for neuropsychologists and other professionals interested in the assessment of ASD. An added feature is the inclusion of tables, figures, and case studies throughout the volume."--Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

(Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 20101201)

"Provides a highly researched account of the state of autism spectrum disorders today. Among the contributors are highly respected names in autism research, most of whom are affiliated with university centers that are engaging in significant research in the field. Assessment provides both veteran and novice school social workers with important information on autism from which to build their knowledge base as well as useful background information. The work deals with the history of autism, its epidemiology, assessment tools for the core challenges inherent in the disorder, and intervention strategies....Provides a timely synthesis of current research in the field, as well as an overview of the disorder, its core challenges, and the newest means of assessing children with the disorder....Assessment is written in an easy-to-read style and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the field of autism. It takes a complicated set of disorders, provides the latest research in easy-to-understand language, and makes recommendations for how mental health practitioners can make schools more responsive to children with autism. All social work departments in public schools should have this book to use as a resource."--School Social Work Journal

(School Social Work Journal )

"Overall the effort to balance theoretical, research, and practical clinical issues in work with this sometimes quite challenging population is commendable. Even rather technical material is presented with an effort to make it accessible to those without extensive training in psychometrics, speech pathology, or psychiatry. Case material is helpfully utilized in many chapters. References, presented on a chapter by chapter basis, are extensive and quite up-to-date. In particular, I liked the emphasis upon the need to fully involve parents, who are seen as ''life-long case managers'' for their children....The scope and quality of this work is most impressive and a huge contribution to our knowledge base and our efforts to understand, assess, and assist individuals of all ages with autism spectrum conditions. I strongly recommend this text for its thorough overview of clinical and humanistic considerations in this challenging area."--Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

(Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry )

"The text is written for experienced clinicians from various disciplines and graduate students but I found it to be written so well that I would not hesitate to offer it as a good source of information for parents....This is a volume that should be seriously considered by my school psychology colleagues as you try to leave the place better than you found it....The need for an updated knowledge base relative to ASD is a task for all School Psychologists. Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders will give you such an update. Get this book and give each chapter one very attentive reading. It will clarify where clarification is required, increase knowledge when greater knowledge is desired, and cause one to think critically when deep thinking is needed. I guarantee that you will gain multiple new insights concerning the assessment process for children with ASD as you try to leave the place better than you found it."--Ohio School Psychologist

(Ohio School Psychologist )

About the Author

Sam Goldstein, PhD, is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Utah and Affiliate Research Professor of Psychology at George Mason University. He is a clinical neuropsychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. Dr. Goldstein is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Attention Disorders and is on the editorial boards of six journals. His publications include 26 texts, numerous book chapters, and peer-reviewed research articles. With Jack A. Naglieri, he is the author of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales.

 

Jack A. Naglieri, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at George Mason University and Senior Research Scientist at the Devereux Foundation’s Institute for Clinical Training and Research. He is a Fellow of Division 16 of the American Psychological Association and recipient of its 2001 Senior Scientist Award. Dr. Naglieri’s recent research includes specific learning disability eligibility determination, cognitive assessment and interventions, and measurement of psychopathology and resilience. He is the author of more than 250 publications, including a number of tests.

 

Sally Ozonoff, PhD, is Endowed Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the M.I.N.D. Institute at the University of California, Davis. Her current research focuses on onset patterns in autism, very early identification, and risk factors for autistic regression. Dr. Ozonoff has written over 100 peer-reviewed articles and chapters and two other books, A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Research Review for Practitioners.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (September 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159385983X
• ISBN-13: 978-1593859831
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome
  • #58 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Diagnosis

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserving of a careful read!, December 1, 2010

By 

Gotta Run "Doc" (Akron, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Hardcover)

Every once in a great while a seminal work is created. The editors of Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders have created such a text. Drawing on state of the art research and engaging leading researchers in the field, this book will enrich those who take the time to give it its well-deserved careful perusal. Whether in a clinic or school environment (settings in which I have had the privilege to work), this text will clarify where clarification is required, increase knowledge when greater knowledge is desired and cause one to think critically when deep thinking is needed. This book should be read by many and kept in close proximity to those who work with children on a daily basis.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Practitioner Resource, March 26, 2010

By 

Lee A. Wilkinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Hardcover)

The editors of Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders have brought together an outstanding group of contributors to provide comprehensive coverage of this important and timely topic. The chapters are well edited and describe approaches for evaluating specific areas of impairment including: social behavior; speech, language and communication; intellectual functioning; neuropsychological functioning; and co-occurring problems. Topics also include school-based assessment, how to communicate findings to parents, strategies for avoiding under- and over-diagnosis, and alternative assessment methods. While the primary emphasis of the text is on children, several chapters discuss assessment issues related to adolescents and young adults. Chapter 12 will be of particular interest to the school-based professional as it focuses on the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in the school setting. The authors discuss functional assessment procedures in the classroom and describe current diagnostic assessment practices in several model schools and educational programs. Although the chapter provides important descriptive information, its relevance to school-based practice would have been enhanced by including an autism specific algorithm to illustrate best practice in screening and assessment. In summary, this book has much to offer the school-based practitioner.

A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, October 11, 2011

By 

Dr. T (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic book that comprehensively reviews issues in the evaluation of ASD's. This is good for psychologists who will do all or most of the evaluation themselves. The discussion of individual measures is particularly helpful. Recommend for professionals and students.