Customer Reviews

Helping Children with Autism Learn: Treatment Approaches for Parents and Professionals

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As an educator of children, adolescents and adults with autism for over 20 years, I read with dismay Dr. Siegel's simplification of many behaviors exhibited by people with autism. She often makes statements as though they are fact, such as the "why" of many behaviors. At first, it seemed to be an occasional error, but after reading and reading, the book clearly makes arrogant statements about children, parents and education of those with autism which are just plain wrong or strongly misleads with assumptions, rather than factual knowledge.

It dismays me to think that a parent, particularly a parent of a young child with autism, would take these statements as absolute fact, simply because they are written by a Dr. Too often, these highly vulnerable parents come away either with false hope, or with utter dispair about what they have just read in her book.

I would NOT recommend this book...it is dangerously misleading in places.

Quote from this book: "Similarly, retrospective statistics for US sample have led
the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of
Health, the Institute of Medicine, and the World Health Organization
all to conclude that vaccines do not cause autism. The "probable
cause" finger was pointed at thimerisol [SIC! correct spelling is thimerasol], a mercury-
containing preservative in vaccines. However, the kind of mercury in
vaccines is different from the "bad" mercury in contaminated foods.
Mercury is a chemical element, like hydrogen or nitrogen--which might
be bad for you, too--and like them, it needs to be studied in the
form of the specific compound being indited."

I don't know whether she is disingenuous or just simply ignorant.
Comparing a toxic heavy metal to hydrogen or nitrogen?? "BAD
mercury"??? There is no GOOD mercury. Ethyl and methyl mercury are both dangerous neurotoxins. And I will not go into all the flaws in the epidemiological studies.

Here's another one:

"Be aware that some practitioners have offered the idea that a child
who eats a lot of one food is "craving" it for either some good or
some bad reason. There is no evidence to support theories of these
sorts. There is also no evidence to support the idea that children
with autism have more food allergies or are more likely to react to
foods with gluten (like wheat products) or casein(like dairy
products). What "research" there is on these things is available
only on the Internet and in books by parents who feel it "cured"
their child or doctors who have "invented" a new diet. There are no
reports in peer-reviewed scientific journals."

Oh, yes, there are. There are peer-reviewed studies showing that there are many more autistic children with IgA deficiency than the general public, there are studies of opioid peptides from milk and wheat, and there is the newly recognized syndrome of gluten ataxia reported in the medical literature. Gluten ataxia results from antibodies that attack not only the gut but the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, which affect balance and are also affected in autism. I'd skip this book, and certainly not recommend it to any parent of a newly diagnosed child. It may be useful for some educational considerations comparing ABA and TEACCH and various forms of inclusion, but with the misleading information on medical issues I think this book is dangerous.

My PhD is from Cornell, and I worked in the Department of Nutrition there as a Research Associate for 7 years. Of course, it is hard to find peer-reviewed articles on thimerasol if you cannot spell the word. If you do purchase this book, please ignore any statements regarding medical issues.

Excellent sourcebook for educators and parents. The text is organized so you can go to specific chapters that apply to your needs without having to read from beginning to end. However, I do recommend reading the entire text. Siegel explains current theories on the origins of autism and addresses the validity of "possible causes" that have been floating around. For a teacher, the heart of the book are the heaps of methods to use with students. For parents, it is a breath of fresh aire. Siegel's writing style is very reassuring and is packed with her clinical experiences and research. After reading this book you will certainly be better prepared to advocate for your child's treatment needs.

I have not finished reading this book; yet like other reviewers I have some reservations. Bryna Siegel does a fine job of explaining Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and how it affects the development of a child. However, I find some of her conclusions and statements to be potentially misleading, especially when since ASDs are still being researched, and not much is 100% definite. Interesting theories, but not necessarily facts. Having said that, use your judgement and don't miss out on the good information and experience that Bryna does offers.

Definitely one of the very best books on autism!!! Every teacher, professional, therapist, and parent of children with autism needs this book in their library!

This book is more practical and has a professional outlook. Most of the books on autism are written by parents and offer an insight into theie plight. Yes, this book can be a bit depressing at times, but it's better to be realistic and find a solution.

I recently ordered the book "Helping Children with Autism Learn: Treatment Approaches for Parents and Professionals" and I received the book in less than a week. I was pleased! Thank you.

Happy Costumer

This book packs quite a punch. Being the parent of a child with autism I've read many books on treatment approaches but this one was undoubtedly the best one I've seen to date. Byrna does a great job of informing parents without using intimidating verbage. I would recommend this book to any parent or professional working with a child who has autism.

I read, "the world of the Autistic Child" a few years ago and it was just the best book on Autism out there. So informative, and such an interesting read. So I was extremely excited when this book was released. I immediately purchased it. You will not be dissapointed!! If you read "the world..." and enjoyed it then you will definately appreciate this book as well. I did however find the previous book more interesting, maybe because I was still "new" to the Autism world. Now after years of reads, and research, well there just isnt much "new" info out there that I haven't already read. Having said that..I still very highly recommend this book to add to anyones collection of books on Autism.

This is an exceptional resource for anyone who is interested in helping children with autism. There is a wealth of information in this 498 page book - based on research and professional experience.

Bryna Siegel begins with a discussion of the definition of autism and its impacts on children, including development and strengths and weaknesses. By understanding how autism works and effects children, their supporters can find ways to teach them that are effective. The second major section focuses on social and communication problems that face autistic children. It explains how and why it affects their learning and functioning in society. The last third of the book presents various treatment options - descriptions and strengths and weaknesses.

I highly recommend this book. It is a remarkable resource for anyone who really wants to delve into the world of autism.