More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder [Paperback]

Fern Sussman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0921145144 | ISBN-13: 978-0921145141 | Publication Date: July 1, 1999

More Than Words presents a step-by-step guide for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in an extensive, practical, and user-friendly format. Strategies are drawn from current research to help children develop more advanced communication skills, focusing on helping the child reach the following four goals: 1) improved two-way interaction, 2) more mature and conventional ways of communication, 3) better skills in communicating for social purposes and finally, 4) improved understanding of language. Wonderfully illustrated and with chapters divided into four color-coded stages of communication, this book was developed for The Hanen Program For Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Highlights Of More Than Words:
- How your child communicates and the next steps to take
- How your child learns best
- What motivates your child to communicate
- How to turn everyday activities into opportunities for learning to communicate
- How to use pictures and print to help your child's understanding
- How to talk so your child can understand you
- How to develop your child's play skills
- Why your child behaves in certain ways and what you can do about these behaviours
- How to help your child make friends

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The family-focused More Than Words Program and More Than Words guidebook were developed by The Hanen Centre and are offered to parents around the world. The Hanen Centre, a charitable organization, helps young children with or at risk for language delays communicate to the best of their abilities by developing books, videos, and programs for parents, educators and other important people in children’s lives.

About the Author

Fern Sussman, BA, DSPA, resides in Toronto, Ontario where she is program co-ordinator for More Than Words, The Hanen Program for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has more than 25 years experience working with families of young children who have communication challenges as well as the children themselves. Ms. Sussman developed the More Than Words Program for the Hanen Centre. The program teaches parents how to structure everyday activities, such as getting dressed or playing with toys, to help their child learn to communicate.

In addition to being the author of the parent guidebook, More Than Words, based on the content of the program, Ms. Sussman and wrote and directed an accompanying teaching videotape. Fern Sussman speaks on the Hanen approach to helping children with autism communicate and conducts training programs for Speech Language Pathologists and other professionals all over the world. Currently she is developing a new program and guidebook on social skills for families with young verbal children with autism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Hanen Centre (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0921145144
• ISBN-13: 978-0921145141
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Physical Impairments
  • #87 in Books > Medical Books > Allied Health Professions > Audiology & Speech Pathology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great resource!, June 13, 2001

By 

S. Izeman "ForestHillsMom" (Forest Hills, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Paperback)

This book provides a very neccessary complement to speech therapy for children with autism and related disorders. The presentation is lively, easy to read, jargon-free, respectful of children and families, and clearly laid out. Most importantly, this book helps parents and professionals identify a child's communication level, select relevant goals, and plan effective interventions. This will be an integral part of our collaboration with families.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What every parent of a child with ASD NEEDS to know, April 28, 2005

By 

A. Pollack "Jason's Mommy" (Heathrow, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Paperback)

I have always been pleased with resources from Hanen and this book is no exception. As both a pediatric speech-language pathologist and a mother of a wonderful toddler with autism I highly recommend this cutting edge, informative book. I love that the book takes our children's sensory preferences and interests into major consideration during interactions.
The book is clear and simple to follow.

The information on the internet regarding autism can be overwhelming and complex, even for the rare parent like myself who has been in the field for several years. The More Than Words program makes language and social skills acquisition enjoyable and manageable for parent and child. The parent does not need to add daily therapy to their already long "to do" list. Therapy is ongoing from morning till night during all of your interactions with your child. We should always have goals in mind, but the therapy is constant as long as the outlined principles in More Than Words are followed. Similar to a sensory diet. This is our children's communication diet. I also like that the pictures in the book are emotionally uplifting. It is not easy having a child with ASD but this book offers the parent a feeling of wellbeing and hope as they help their child climb the developmental ladder of language acquisition and social skills. Horray for Hanen. You've done it again!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, January 25, 2004

By 

Teresa Linton "tlinton" (Woodbridge, Va United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Paperback)

I would recommend this to anyone who's child is having a hard time learning speech, whether they have autism or not. From this book, I have picked up several wonderful new ways to interact, as well as insights into the way a child thinks, and how to get a child's attention.

The book breaks things down in such a way that you can easily pick out which things will and won't work with your child and develop your own plan on what is best.

As a side note, the illustrations are very enjoyable and cute.