Autism and Asperger Syndrome

Book Overview

Is Asperger syndrome a syndrome in its own right or is it a form of autism? Sufferers from the syndrome are like autistic individuals in that they show the same kind of impairments from early childhood; yet they are unlike them in being far more verbally articulate and socially adapted. They can be highly intelligent and reminiscent of eccentrics with their unusual interests, special skills and unworldliness. In this volume several of the major experts in the field discuss the diagnostic criteria of the syndrome, named after Hans Asperger who first described the condition in the 1940s, and illustrate their views with case studies drawn from their clinical practice. They also provide surprisingly practical suggestions on the education and management of autistic children. Current opinion on Asperger syndrome and its relationship to autism is fraught with disagreement and hampered by ignorance. This book gives the first coherent account of Asperger syndrome as a distinct variant of autism.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 052138608X
• ISBN13: 9780521386081
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Autism and Asperger Syndrome

This book may not be for those who have a limited medical vocabulary, but it is by far the best book on Autism and Asperger currently in print. I have a deep interest in both as a lay person with a chemistry career background. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in those topics, especially the parents of kids who have been diagnosed (or mis-diagnosed) as autistic. Ask your doctor.

A life-saving book

As a person with Asperger's syndrome myself, who only got properly diagnosed as a result of this thoughtful and erudite book, I have a life-long debt of gratitude to it. I've met several of the people who wrote it, and not only are they not bigots, as an earlier reviewer alleged, but they have a degree of respect for and appreciation of "abnormal" people (a term which simply means people who are different from the "norm") which I have rarely found elsewhere. The book is essentially an academic text - if you are looking for a more accessible read, try Tony Attwood's excellent "Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals". However, no collection of books on AS would be complete without this as a work of reference. It's still the only place to find a translation of Hans Asperger's original paper, containing my all-time favourite quote:"Able autistic individuals can rise to eminent positions and perform with such outstanding success that one may even conclude that only such people are capable of certain achievements ... Their unswerving determination and penetrating intellectual powers, part of their spontaneous and original mental activity, their narrowness and single-mindedness, as manifested in their special interests, can be immensely valuable and can lead to outstanding achievements in their chosen areas."

an important reference for those interested in PDD

+AH4-In writing a paper, I had a HARD time finding research delineating the differences between Asperger's and Autism--this book helped SO much. It is well written and thought provoking.Also interesting to finally be able to read Asperger's own paper! An important book, I hope more like it are released!+AH4-

The classic text on Asperger's syndrome

The book which helped start the recent surge of research into high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. Includes the first ever English translation of Dr. Asperger's original paper. A genuine classic.