A Parent's Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: How to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive (Paperback)

by Sally Ozonoff (Author), Geraldine Dawson (Author), James McPartland (Author) "Joseph had always seemed like a brilliant child..." (more)
Key Phrases: tism spectrum disorders, autism criteria, autism spectrum conditions, Social Stories, Temple Grandin, Social Story (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Among various autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism (AS-HFA) are similar diagnoses. Representing a majority of ASD cases, these two diagnoses are used interchangeably, and Ozonoff (M.I.N.D. Inst.) and her coauthors rightfully make little distinction between them. In Part 1 of this book, the authors cover definitions, diagnosis, causes, and treatments of AS-HFA, while Part 2 considers living with AS-HFA, channeling a child's strengths, and dealing with home, school, and the social world and life as an adult with AS-HFA. Throughout, readers will find excellent examples and solutions to basic problems; also included are numerous instances of older children who went beyond basic communication issues to social situations such as dating, school, living on their own, and employment. Most books on AS-HFA focus on early intervention and basic skills, but this book offers help for older children and adults as well, making it very valuable. Strongly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with autism or education collections. Corey Seeman, Univ. of Toledo Libs., OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"The stated goal of A Parent's Guide is to help parents give their children with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism (AS/HFA) the best change possible for a full and happy life....the authors have succeeded in translating this goal into concrete terms and strategies that address the gifts and challenges that children of all ages with AS/HFA face. This is a book that you will go back to again and again as your child ages and matures....A Parent's Guide belongs on the book shelf, or better yet, bedside table, of all parents of children with AS/HFA."--Metapsychology Online Book Reviews

"This highly informative book is a must have for all parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism (AS-HFA)....A Parent's Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism can be a valuable resource. It not only informs readers but also leaves them with a sense of hope. They will realize that it is possible for children with Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism to lead full and happy lives."--Family Ministry

"The book is sensitively written and easy to read. Throughout this text, there is evidence of the considerable respect that the authors have for both the affected children and their families. Particularly illuminating are the many poignant case examples that lead to a better explanation of positive ways of using these children's 'special interests' by ways of turning them into assets. This emphasis on strengths is a major goal of the book. However, the authors do not minimize the challenges these children and their families face....The positive approach of this book will be encouraging to parents and will also be very practical. I have recommended this book to the parents of affected children with whom I have worked and also to my graduate students who are eager to better understand the world of children with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism. I would urge other clinicians, researchers and educators to do the same."--Child Neuropsychology

"...an excellently written and definitely needed addition to the field of child and adolescent mental health. Parents and clinicians alike will be hard-pressed to find a finer guide and resource on Asperger syndrom and high-functioning autism."--Doody's Electronic Journal

"This is a book with its feet firmly on the ground. It brings a breath of fresh air to a subject that, due to its complexity, is often presented as a series of academic debates, difficult for even an intelligent lay person to access....This is an academic book, but not just for academics to read. I gave it to three sets of parents, all with boys between 8 and 16 years old who have had considerable difficulties making sense of the health and education systems in relation to their sons' needs. All found it useful, making comments such as 'it made sense'; 'I felt that what I had been trying to say all along was right'; 'it said what I knew, but put it better'; 'the practical suggestions were a real help', 'I let my son read it - he kept saying 'I told you that'; 'it gave us lots of new ideas, new things to try'....Ultimately this book gives children and adults with these disorders, and those caring for them, the message that while challenges may never entirely go away, you can identify and maximize strengths, function better and be happy."--Human Nature Review

"Throughout, readers will find excellent examples and solutions to basic problems; also included are numerous instances of older children who went beyond basic communication issues to social situations such as dating, school, living on their own, and employment. Most books on AS-HFA focus on early intervention and basic skills, but this book offers help for older children and adults as well, making it very valuable. Strongly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with autism or education collections."--Library Journal
-- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (June 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572305312
• ISBN-13: 978-1572305311
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,895 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #56 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology > Psychology
  #59 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Personal Health > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome
  #80 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Special Needs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful resource for parents, September 4, 2002

By A Customer

As a parent, I found this book highly informative. I would not hesitate to recommend it to a parent or proffesional working with AS/HFA kids. I especially found the advice to parents about working with teachers/therapists to be very common sense, but not condescending. ie (pp107) "One of your biggest challenges as parents of a child with AS/HFA is bringing all the therapy options together into a cohesive treatment program that adresses your childs needs and promotes a normal development in an integrated fashion."

The goal of his book, as quoted on page 21 "is to help you decide whether the dx of AS /HFA are relevant to the person in your life you are worried about and whether this book will help you in your search for answers."

The process of using the DSM IV and how doctors use it to pinpoint your childs dx was made quite clear and was helpful. I was greatly helped by the explanation of the dx process in chapter two. The chapter on treatment options was laid out as clearly as posssible also. This book can give hope to parents of kids with AS that your kids will be ok, we just need to pivot expectations of ourselves and the way we can work with our kids.

I strongly agrree with the statement on pages 7 & 8..."As a parent, you will want to make sure that your child receives the most accurate diagnosis possible, but, in the case of these disorders, you need to be aware that precision may elude us for some time to come. What's important is that...regardless of the label, that the treatments suggested fit with your child's weaknesses and strengths."

Quite a few chapters were devoted to suggestions for working with AS/HFA kids at home and at school. there was alo a chapter on Teenage and Adult AS persons.

Highly recommended!

Mrs. F

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intelligent thorough review of many options, March 30, 2003

By	John Harpur (Trim, Meath, IRELAND) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is a research thrust to this book (unsurprising given Ozonoff's research contributuons) that puts it a few notches above others in the market. Unquestionably this, plus a very fluent writing style, puts the book in a different class.

Unlike specific intervention texts, it does not lay out particular lesson plans but reviews methodological principles and best practices. As one would expect from the authors, the book is superb on descriptions of Autistic Disorders and prognosis. It has less advice on specific intervention strategies than one might like, but it does offer reviews of approaches. For interventions, I would recommend looking at Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents.

So what does this book offer over the many others on the same bookshelf? Well it's horses for courses. It's avery balanaced book and certainly it doesn't understate the difficulties. I think that professionals and researchers will get a more out of it than others. However, there just isn't a whole pile written on AS and adolescence. Hence parents with a research interest will also gain a lot. Ultimately it is a slightly more 'high brow' book than notional equivalents. I have certainly found myself going back to it rather than the others over the past few months.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book., July 5, 2003

By A Customer

I have a son with AS in his third year at a major University in the Northeast. If you are reading this....you will love this book. Very informative, helpful, and very reassuring. I wish that I had found it years ago.