Although the underlying causes of early childhood autism are still unknown, recent years have seen much progress made in developing ways of helping autistic children to learn and practice social skills.

Now this invaluable guide for parents, educators and physicians shows how an autistic child views his fantasy world and explains his difficulties in perceiving and understanding events around him. Dr. Wing reviews the behavioral and emotional problems which must be expected, and how these may be handled.

Dr. Wing also discusses the particular stresses on the autistic child's family,...

First published in 1985. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Over 500,000 people of all ages in the UK have disorders in the autistic spectrum. About one-third also have varying degrees of learning difficulty. All of them have impairment of social interaction, communication and imagination - to them the world appears a bewildering and sometimes frightening place. This guide explains how people with autism experience the world and why they need an organized, structured environment. Ways of improving communication, developing abilities and enlarging social interaction are described, and advice is given on coping with stresses within the family.