Synopses & Reviews
Review
"This is clearly the most comprehensive, thorough, and up-to-date text of its kind. Written by an international team of experts, the book demonstrates a deep understanding of people with Asperger syndrome and the situation in which they often find themselves: too bright and articulate to qualify easily for supportive services, too impaired to function well without support. Clinicians, researchers, and graduate students in child clinical psychology, child and adult psychiatry, and speech and language pathology, among others, will appreciate the volume's clinical depth and scientific breadth. Adults with AS and parents of children with AS will find it a veritable encyclopedia. The knowledge provided here can help to maximize the resources and supports available to people with AS, enabling them to fulfill their potentials and lead more satisfying, productive lives." --Sally J. Rogers, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
"This is an exemplary text on an uncharted but highly prevalent disorder. Leading researchers in the field present solid data garnered from behavioral, neuropsychological, and neurobiological perspectives. Beyond its significance to clinicians and researchers working in the area of Asperger syndrome, the book also poses provocative and important questions for those who are interested in the social and emotional development of individuals with learning disabilities. This book fills a void in training programs that recognize the importance of social competence in the lives of vulnerable children." --Audrey McMahon, GSE, Professional Advisory Board, Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDAA)
"In this much-anticipated publication, Klin, Volkmar, and Sparrow have done a masterful job of compiling decades of research on Asperger syndrome from some of the world's top practitioners. This book offers the most up-to-date information on the disorder and elucidates strategies for further advancing research and clinical practice. This volume should be a mandatory addition to the reference libraries of all AS scholars, clinicians, and parents who want to further their understanding of this social disability." --Echo R. Fling, President, Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States, Inc. (ASC-U.S.), and author of "Eating an Artichoke: A Mother's Perspective on Asperger Syndrome."
Review
"For those who seek to support the many individuals who have received a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (AS), this comprehensive book provides a much-needed road map. Written by foremost experts in the field, it offers both scientific and clinical perspectives, with topics ranging from genetics and brain function to social skills training. Clinicians and researchers will find this book useful for making informed decisions about treatment options and for guiding future research."--Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Director, Duke Center for Autism Diagnosis and Treatment, Duke University School of Medicine
"The second edition of this valued, well-known book is as good as the first. It offers a perfect balance between clinically relevant, highly useful information and cutting-edge research into the biology and phenomenology of AS. Chapters on neuropsychological characteristics, communication, lifespan development, and behavioral and pharmacological treatments will be especially useful to the practitioner. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field who has contributed to current knowledge. Although the focus is AS, clinicians will find that nearly all of the content also applies to individuals with high-functioning autism. I look forward to using this book as a text with my neuropsychology and child clinical trainees and as a reference in my clinical practice."--Deborah Fein, PhD, UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Connecticut
"This book is a staple for the professional who is working in any capacity with individuals who have AS. The first edition was critical in helping the autism and mental health communities understand what was then a relatively new concept, so having this comprehensive update is a real treat for practitioners and researchers. As the recognition of AS has increased, so too have our questions about how best to meet the service and educational needs of individuals and their families, and this volume effectively captures the evolution of the field. Seasoned practitioners and graduate students alike will find refreshing clarity in the overview of issues related to shifts in the diagnostic classification of AS. My copy of the second edition is sure to get as dog-eared and tattered as the first!"--Valerie L. Gaus, PhD, psychologist, Spectrum Services, New York City
"Since the first edition was published, there have been quantum leaps in how spectrum diagnoses are formed, processed, received, and treated. Bravo to the editors and the contributing authors of this volume, who have succeeded in giving this essential guide a true update. The book has deep range, is clearly written, and has been authored by clinical professionals and academics who are some of the best in the field. A tremendous accomplishment."--Michael John Carley; Founder, GRASP (Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership); author of Asperger's from the Inside Out
"This greatly anticipated second edition remains the most comprehensive work on AS. It contains current information on diagnosis and treatment of high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, written by international experts in the field. The change in nosology of AS in DSM-5 is addressed. Of special significance is the new chapter on the transition to higher education, as most of the work published to date has focused on younger children. This important volume should be in the resource library of all autism professionals, and will also be of interest to parents."--Lori S. Shery, President and Founder, ASPEN® (asperger Autism SPectrum Education Network)
Synopsis
Usually diagnosed in childhood, Asperger syndrome is a lifelong social disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversations, clumsy movements, and intense absorption in special interests. While Asperger syndrome has received increasing attention from researchers, clinicians, educators, and parents in recent years, numerous central questions about the disorder remain unanswered. This groundbreaking volume brings together preeminent scholars and practitioners to offer a definitive statement of what is currently known about Asperger syndrome and to highlight promising leads in research and clinical practice. Diagnostic and conceptual issues are explored in depth, and the disorder's assessment, treatment, and neurobiology are thoroughly reviewed. The book examines the effects of Asperger syndrome on an individual's social, communication, and behavioral development, and identifies the challenges that individuals with AS face at home, in school and the workplace, and in other settings. The volume concludes with several parent essays that exemplify the trials and tribulations--as well as the joys and the victories--of life with a child with Asperger syndrome.
Synopsis
Completely revised with the latest research and clinical strategies, this is the authoritative volume on Asperger syndrome (now part of DSM-5 autism spectrum disorder). Considered the definitive reference since its initial publication, the book focuses on how to assess each child or adolescent's needs and provide effective interventions in the areas of communication, behavior, and academic and vocational functioning. The neural and genetic bases of autism spectrum disorders are also explored.
New to This Edition
*Expanded coverage of evidence-based assessment and treatment, including two chapters on behavioral interventions.
*Addresses challenges in the transition to new diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder in DSM-5.
*Chapters on neuropsychological advances, the transition to higher education, and forensic issues.
*Many new authors and extensively revised chapters.
About the Author
James C. McPartland, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Director of the Developmental Disabilities Clinic, and Associate Director of the Developmental Electrophysiology Laboratory at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. McPartland's research focuses on the clinical neuroscience of autism spectrum disorders from infancy through adulthood. He is a recipient of honors including the Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition and a Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, the NARSAD Atherton Young Investigator Award, the Young Investigator Award from the International Society for Autism Research, and the Klerman Prize for Exceptional Achievement in Clinical Research from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.
Ami Klin, PhD, is Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Professor and Chief of the Division of Autism and Related Disabilities at Emory University School of Medicine. He is also a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and a faculty member at Emory's Center for Translational Social Neuroscience. He formerly was Professor at the Yale Child Study Center, where he directed the Autism Program. Dr. Klin's research focuses on the social development and well-being of individuals with autism spectrum disorders from infancy through adulthood. He directs the National Institutes of Health Autism Center of Excellence at the Marcus Autism Center and Emory University, which includes genetic, social, and behavioral neuroscience studies in human infants and in model systems.
Fred R. Volkmar, MD, is Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology and Director of the Yale Child Study Center at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is also Chief of Child Psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Dr. Volkmar was the primary author of the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV autism and pervasive developmental disorders section. He is the author of several hundred scientific papers and chapters as well as a number of books, and serves as Editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction, Ami Klin, Fred R. Volkmar, and Sara S. Sparrow
I. Behavioral Aspects
1. Diagnostic Issues in Asperger Syndrome, Fred R. Volkmar and Ami Klin
2. Neuropsychological Function and the External Validity of Asperger Syndrome, Sally Ozonoff and Elizabeth McMahon Griffith
3. Motor Functioning in Asperger Syndrome, Isabel M. Smith
4. Social Language Use in Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism, Rebecca Landa
II. Family Genetics and Neurobiological Aspects
5. Does Asperger Syndrome Aggregate in Families?, Susan E. Folstein and Susan L. Santangelo
6. Neurofunctional Models of Autistic Disorder and Asperger Syndrome: Clues from Neuroimaging, Robert T. Schultz, Lizabeth M. Romanski, and Katherine D. Tsatsanis
7. Psychopharmacological Treatment of Higher-Functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Andres Martin, David K. Patzer, and Fred R. Volkmar
III. Related Diagnostic Constructs
8. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities and Asperger Syndrome, Byron P. Rourke and Katherine D. Tsatsanis
9. What's So Special about Asperger Syndrome?: The Need for Further Exploration of the Borderlands of Autism, Dorothy V. M. Bishop
10. Schizoid Personality in Childhood and Asperger Syndrome, Sula Wolff
IV. Assessment, Treatment and Intervention, and Adulthood
11. Assessment Issues in Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome, Ami Klin, Sara S. Sparrow, Wendy D. Marans, Alice Carter, and Fred R. Volkmar
12. Treatment and Intervention Guidelines for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome, Ami Klin and Fred R. Volkmar
13. Adolescence and Adulthood of Individuals with Asperger Syndrome, Digby Tantam
V. Perspectives on Research and Clinical Practice, and Parent Essays
14. Perspectives on the Classification of Asperger Syndrome, Peter Szatmari
15. Past and Future of Research on Asperger Syndrome, Lorna Wing
16. Parent Essays
Introduction
Walter, Jeanne Wallace
A View from Inside, Lori S. Shery
How Did We Get Here?, Linda Rietschel
First Advocates, DeAnn Hyatt-Foley and Matthew G. Foley