A Mind Apart: Understanding Children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome

ISBN-13: 9781572305441 / Angielski / Miękka / 2004 / 210 str.

Peter Szatmari

Opis

How do you know if your child is happy or sad, tired or hungry, when all he wants to talk about is wasps--or the color of subway train doors? What can you do to reassure a nine-year-old who asks questions about death hundreds of times in a day? And how can you build a nurturing relationship when your little girl hates to be touched? Questions like these make parenting a child with autism or Asperger syndrome (AS) a journey through uncharted terrain. That's why understanding how kids with these disorders actually think and feel--and the striking ways in which their minds work differently from those of typical children--is so important. Through moving stories of children he has worked with, Dr. Peter Szatmari helps you see the world through your child's eyes. Revealed is what lies behind the intense preoccupations, communication problems, and seeming lack of affection that often accompany autism and AS, and what your child's mystifying behavior might really be trying to tell you. This compassionate book shows how gaining a better sense of your child's experience can deepen the bonds that support learning and growth--and help you lead the way toward a happier future. 1. Stephen: The Eccentric Entomologist 2. Heather: A World That Revolves around a Different Axis 3. Justin: Listening to the Architecture of the World 4. Zachary: An Obsession with Death 5. Sharon: Seeing Other Minds Darkly 6. William: A World without Metaphor 7. Teddy: Asynchronous Time, Asynchronous Development 8. Sally, Ann, and Danny: Accepting the Enigma, Moving Beyond the Cause 9. Trevor: Mobiles and "Miracles" 10. Ernest: The View from the Bridge 11. Frankie: Learning and Forgetting at School 12. Sophie: Acceptance without Resignation Bibliography Resources Peter Szatmari, MD, has been working with children with autism and pervasive developmental disorders and their families for over 20 years, and has consulted to government agencies in the U.S., Canada, and around the

Recenzje

We are far from having a complete understanding of autism and Asperger syndrome, but Dr. Peter Szatmari has done an unsurpassed job of shedding light on how children with these disorders feel and act. The cases he recounts in this book touch on many different aspects of autism, including both the numerous problems that children and their families face and the successes they can achieve. The book also bears witness to the courage and perseverance of parents who, all too frequently, must struggle to find appropriate support from clinicians and educators. An enlightening and welcome resource for many, many families, and one that should also be read by all professionals in the field.--Patricia Howlin, PhD, Department of Psychology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK; coauthor of Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-Read

A landmark book in terms of style and content. Dr. Szatmari explores and describes the world as perceived by people with autism to explain their unusual behaviour and abilities, and discusses scientific theories and current therapies as well as causes and prognosis. The book is written objectively and engagingly, with literary skill and a sense of optimism that will be particularly appealing to parents. Dr. Szatmari clearly appreciates and admires the minds of children with autism, and is able to explain those minds to parents while providing realistic advice on remedial strategies.--Tony Attwood, PhD, author of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Dr. Szatmari's book embodies the best of that singular tradition in which science is matched against disability, one child at a time. A clinician, scientist, and keen observer of human nature, Dr. Szatmari weaves a deeply empathic and comprehensive account of autism and related disabilities. The stories he recounts illuminate the daily challenges and triumphs that children experience, while revealing his passion for discovery and healing. The result is extraordinarily rewarding reading for families affected by autism and for the professionals who serve them.--Ami Klin, PhD, Yale Child Study Center

This unique and beautiful book takes you on a voyage to the unusual world of children and young adults with autism and AS. In close and personal detail, Dr. Szatmari describes the struggles of families to understand their children and to understand how they themselves are changed by their children. At the same time, the book brings to life key principles in our scientific understanding of these disorders. This brilliant work should be read by all parents and all clinicians involved in helping children with autism and AS.--Bryna Siegel, PhD, author of Helping Children with Autism Learn
-This is a must read for anyone involved in the life of a child with autism spectrum disorders. Its unique presentation offers unparalleled insight into the origin of the atypical behaviors of children with this affliction by entering their world, or 'foreign country,' as the author describes it....Weighted Numerical Score: 96 - 4 Stars!--Doody's Electronic Journal, 4/9/2004

Spis treści

1. Stephen: The Eccentric Entomologist
2. Heather: A World That Revolves around a Different Axis
3. Justin: Listening to the Architecture of the World
4. Zachary: An Obsession with Death
5. Sharon: Seeing Other Minds Darkly
6. William: A World without Metaphor
7. Teddy: Asynchronous Time, Asynchronous Development
8. Sally, Ann, and Danny: Accepting the Enigma, Moving Beyond the Cause
9. Trevor: Mobiles and Miracles
10. Ernest: The View from the Bridge
11. Frankie: Learning and Forgetting at School
12. Sophie: Acceptance without Resignation
Bibliography or Resources

O autorze

Peter Szatmari, MD, has been working with children with autism and pervasive developmental disorders and their families for over 20 years, and has consulted to government agencies in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. He is currently Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Vice-Chair of Research, and Head of the Division of Child Psychiatry at McMaster University in Canada.