Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome [Hardcover]

Margot Prior PhD (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1572309172 | ISBN-13: 978-1572309173 | Publication Date: August 6, 2003 | Edition: 1

This volume provides research-based, practical information on managing the challenges that Asperger syndrome (AS) presents in everyday life and in the classroom. Current knowledge is reviewed on the core learning, behavioral, emotional, social, and communication difficulties associated with this complex disorder. Hurdles facing children with AS and their parents and teachers are clearly identified, and effective assessment and intervention approaches described. Special features include firsthand accounts from an adult with AS and a teacher with extensive experience in the area, as well as numerous illustrative vignettes and classroom examples. While written primarily for professionals, the volume will also be of interest to many parents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume provides most welcome, practical perspectives on diagnosing, assessing, and educating people with Asperger syndrome (AS). Detailed, informative, and highly readable, the book contains many fascinating and moving accounts of the problems faced in everyday life by people with AS, and describes ways of helping them to cope. It will be a valuable text for students of psychology, education, and social work, and should be required reading for child psychiatrists and pediatricians. Parents of children with AS, and individuals who have the disorder, may also find the book helpful and encouraging."--Lorna Wing, MD, Centre for Social and Communication Disorders, British National Autistic Society

"This book, written by an internationally recognized 'who's who' of autism spectrum disorder specialists, translates the most recent research in educational and behavioral programming into practical suggestions for therapy and guidance for educational interventions. It will be an invaluable resource for trainees in psychology, education, speech-language pathology, child psychiatry, and many other disciplines, as well as seasoned educators, therapists, and parents seeking the latest information. It will help all of us better meet the needs and capitalize on the talents of this special group of young people."--Sally Ozonoff, PhD, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis

"Children with Asperger syndrome have unique behavioral and educational problems arising from their paradoxical combination of strengths and difficulties. Readers of this book will learn not only about the nature and range of these difficulties, but also what to do about them. The editors and authors take a pragmatic stance: although much remains to be learned about Asperger syndrome, a lot of practical knowledge has been accumulated and is presented here in accessible form. Teachers, in particular, will find enlightening information about meeting the special needs of students with the disorder."--Uta Frith, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University College London, UK

"This timely volume offers a very helpful summary of diagnostic issues, management approaches for behavior and learning difficulties, and the provision of services in educational settings. Dr. Prior has assembled a diverse, international group of contributors who address the many needs of individuals with Asperger syndrome. This book will be of great value to teachers and clinicians alike."--Fred Volkmar, MD, Yale University School of Medicine

About the Author

Margot Prior, PhD, FAPS, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. She has been a lecturer, clinical psychologist, and researcher in the field of family and child development for more than 30 years at several Australian universities, as well as holding visiting appointments at the University of Padua (Italy), the University of London (UK), and the University of Otago (New Zealand). Until 2002, Dr. Prior was Professor/Director of Psychology at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. She has written five books and many scientific papers on psychological disorders in childhood, and is a frequent speaker at national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Prior has specialized in research into behavioral and cognitive aspects of autism and Asperger syndrome (AS), and has produced a film to help parents and teachers understand AS.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 326 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (August 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572309172
• ISBN-13: 978-1572309173
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,449,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lousy title for a good book., March 7, 2005

By 

Tara Marshall "Tara" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome (Hardcover)

I read it cover to cover in only a couple sittings (of course, I am hyperlexic...). I was very happy that this book of literature reviews by professionals contained the view of someone on the autistic spectrum (Wendy Lawson), and was immediately able to connect to a lot of what she experienced, since I had similar experiences in my schooling (no accomodations, lots of bullying, and never realizing what was going to happen next or how the other students knew what they were suppossed to do so automatically).

There were several things I was delighted to see, such as the idea several authors had that Asperger's should be removed from the DSM-V (expected publishing date in 2011), and simply be considered autism without major language delay or mental retardation. This has several points of validity - quite frankly, the outcomes for HFA adults and Asperger adults are quite similar, it is frequently impossible to distinguish between the two as adolescents or adults without extensive testing to determine learning style (visual/math/auditory/language being the most common, in approximately that order). No other psychiatric "disorder" in the DSM-IV is separated out by learning style or by the presence or absence of mental retardation, in fact, as one set of reviewers pointed out, the validity of most diagnostic characteristics listed in the DSM-IV rests on the fact that they are valid for people of all levels of intelligence. There is no reason why autism should be the one "disorder" that an exception is made for.

The good thing is that HFA/Asperger and PDD-NOS children are more likely to receive the services they need with a diagnosis of autism. The only possiblity I can see as bad is that fewer children may be diagnosed, due to the simple fact that psychiatrists hate to break the "bad" news to parents. What this requires is the publicization of the fact that many of us are extremely high functioning, articulate, and have special gifts to go along with our inability in socialization and our "odd" looking behavior.

I was diagnosed Asperger's as an adult, but like many Aspies, I technically meet the criteria to be HFA even under the DSM-IV. I have peculiarities in language (pragmatic disorder). The DSM-IV gives very generous recommendations for use of language, with single word use at 2 and communicative phrases at three (how many parents reading this saw both used much younger if you have neurotypical children - I'm guessing most). I used single words at 3 1/3, and communicative phrases at 4 1/2, but I was reading single words at 2 and pointing to the correct one to get what I wanted on a regular basis, and spelling them out with alphabet blocks when I was 2 1/2. (I had a smart father who worked on alternative communication with me.) Dad (also an aspie) was also smart in another way - he got me into kindergarten by claiming I was "shy" and wouldn't speak to any strangers. I didn't speak to my kindergarten teacher (other than phrases such as, "May I please go to the bathroom") until over halfway through the year, and even then it was to have my desire for solitude or an object met. And yes, I was using words such as "solitude" at 5! I had 9th grade reading skills when I entered school, and progressed to 11th grade reading skills by the first grade, while merely plodding along in subjects such as math (which I started falling behind on in grade 6, and to this day, I test out at an 8th grade level in math while my reading and writing skills are post-graduate). One would think this unusual (to say the least) profile and my "selective mutism" would have alerted the school that something odd was up (especially when I spent the recreation period in a tree reading a book, rocking back and forth, and flapping my right arm at odd intervals). But then, in the 80s, if you could speak sensibly, you just COULDN'T be autistic...

Ah well. In general, the book is probably more useful to professionals, and to those who have a research interest in autism/asperger's. The last section is possibly useful to special education instructors, and maybe to some parents, especially those who are trying home schooling techniques.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Autism Accomodations, April 12, 2006

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

How fortunate this generation of people with autism are to have a world that is just coming into a better understanding of what having this sensori-neurobiological condition entails. Wendy Lawson, herself on the spectrum provides good personal insights about coping with spectrum issues. Just about everyone with autism can relate to having been the target of bullies and not knowing the Tacit Social Codes & Rules.

HFA and Asperger's have long been debated as being either synonymous or just close manifestations of the same condition. I however am of the school of thought that HFA and Asperger's are NOT the same, but are close spectrum partners. The authors of the new DSM-V which at the time of this review has not been published claim that the revised edition will relabel/reclassify persons with Asperger's as "autistic without retardation or language impairment/delay." I have my own doubts about that.

Asperger's is, I believe a valid diagnosis for many people on the spectrum. As autism/Asperger's (a/A) is a continuum, there will be overlapping behaviors. Many people with Asperger's can pass for neurotypical (NT) to a certain extent, but at times will display behaviors and responses closer to the autism end of the spectrum. One of the chief identifiers of Asperger's is having special interests and a narrow focus of concentration on those special interests. That trait is not necessarily present in those with HFA. It is, however, a criterion for identifying somebody who has Asperger's. Social impairment is par for the course regardless of one's place on the a/A spectrum, but not necessarily cognitive impairment and/or delay.

Having the label of autism and/or PDD does bring with it the assurance of some level of accomodation. However, for the less severely affected, services are all too often withheld and denied. Those with lesser degrees of autism are all too often misdiagnosed. This in turn can lead to improper treatment which is usually quite detrimental.

As somebody who knows all too well about Asperger's, it is time to debunk the myth that people on the spectrum cannot speak sensibly. It is time to retire the savant stereotype as savantism affects < 10% of the autistic population. Many people on the spectrum are highly intelligent.

This book is really aimed at parents and educators and leans towards home schooling. Home schooling is not for everyone, so do read this with an open mind.

4.0 out of 5 stars Prompt Delivery!, November 9, 2010

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erinmc179 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

The book arrived much faster than I expected. The book was in the condition as described in it's Amazon.com description. Everything was great. Thank you!