Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World

by Teresa Bolick

Book Overview

Sex. Slang. Slumber parties. The preoccupations of adolescents with Asperger Syndrome are no different than those of other teens, but they can be much more confusing. The lack of social skills and ability to grasp conversational nuances that characterize AS make adolescence the most difficult life stage. Why can I swear in front of my friends, but not in front of the teacher? Why do I have to pay attention when I'm not interested in what my...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1931412413
• ISBN13: 9781931412414
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press (MA)
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Good book for parents

A good book for parents. In the social skills intervention we developed, I recommend a range of books for parents based on their accessibility and general sensitivity to parents needs. This book is one of the ones in that basket - there aren't many. I would also recommend reading Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents.

Very helpful and informative!

This book is practical and helpful. I have learned more about the areas I need to be targeting with my son. It has also increased my awareness of more of the things my son faces on a daily basis and how to approach them better. The Author gives specific ideas of ways to prepare your child for their future and how to get on the same page with them so you are a team and not another problem in you child's life. The practical advise she gives is great! I love the lists and ideas she shares that I can use to brain storm with which really helps me to get the ball going. Through my sons diagnosis we found out my husband has AS. This book has helped him tremendously understand why some things were/are so difficult for him, like social rules (ex: elbows on the table- the why of it). This book has helped him understand himself and be able to see what is happening in himself better. I would recommend this book for parents, staff that work with AS and for adults with AS. It is a fast read and very beneficial. I think I am going to have my child read it as well.

Terrific!

This is a must-read for anyone who has or works with AS kids. My son was misdiagnosed from early childhood, so I'm not too familiar with the literature for younger kids. The anecdotes in this book really shed some light on the characteristics of AS. I could have inserted my son's name into many of these stories. I will be buying this book for several people who work with my son. They need this information!

Great Resource

This is the best book I have read on AS in quite a while. It is one of the few that addresses the differences in adolescence. Those of us who have been in the AS world for awhile know there is a lot of info out there for younger children. Now that our children are getting older, their challenges change. This book really helps in that area. I loaned my copy to my son's educational assistant and she doesn't want to give it back ! Great book,must read for parents of AS adolescents.

Excellent resource for the early teen years

This book is organized and very readable. Each section discusses an area where a person with Asperger's Syndrome might have a deficit/challenge. For each "problem" area, there is a short clinical discussion of what the deficiency means (for example, what the heck is "executive function"), then a practical description of how this difficulty might manifest itself in behavior (difficulty with performing particular tasks), and finally some ways that the parent/teacher/other might help the youngster work through or around the problem. This book is my current favorite, as my 11 year old son moves from the shelter of elementary school into the more open middle school environment. The book addresses social skills, academic skills, and has lots of ideas for when and how to help (or keep out of the way!) your child. One section that really impressed me is about special interests, rituals, and routines... The author emphasizes that these need not be viewed as obssessions, compulsions, and rigidity of behavior!