The World of the Autistic Child: Understanding and Treating Autistic Spectrum Disorders

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Summary: Trying to Understand and Come to Terms with PDD-NOS
Review: This is a very easy to understand book for a "common parent". The youngest of my four children was diagnosed with PDD-NOS mid 1999 (aged 5 years). In this book the differences between all the PDD's are explained so that the average person may understand. It is hard to accept that your own child has a problem let alone a lifetime of it. This book does not give any false hope - this is no "magic cure" - but gives an insight to the types of problems to be encountered and methods and ways to help overcome some of these problems. This is actually the first book I have read on the subject. I chose this book specifically for the PDD-NOS content. This book at the present time is my "bible". I have found a lot of useful information in plain English and what professionals do not explain, the answers can be found in this book. I learned a lot of things from this book about PDD-NOS - and several times I was rather upset, this being the first time I was aware of the consequences of PDD-NOS, but after re-reading I do not get upset as there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is a glimmer and I have found through this book that I am not the only person feeling like this.

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Summary: Best source I've read yet!
Review: This should be a first book for parents coming to terms with and understanding autism: it is readable, informative and even comforting. I too bought a copy for my son's early intervention program teachers.

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Summary: Excellent in 1996, now out-of-date, pessimistic, and narrow.
Review: When I read The World of the Autistic Child two years ago, I found myself discouraged and depressed. I did learn the value of early intervention, but nothing about the enormous amount of biochemical research being done to discover the cause and find the means to cure this disorder. This book is hopelessly out-of-date now with its exclusive focus on the behavioral approach. It needs to be revised and expanded with the assistance of knowledgeable bio-scientists currently researching the field, hopefully before many more newly diagnosed families get the inappropriate pessimism this book presents about autism spectrum disorder.

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Summary: The first book you should read on autism.
Review: When my three year old son was diagnosed as autistic, I was devastated and confused. Autism is a very complex and difficult disorder to understand. All of the other books I read seemed focused on legal rights, or adult issues for autism. This book by Dr. Siegel, explains what autism is, and how to proceed after getting a diagnosis. Her main emphasis is on very young children whose families are at the beginning of this lifelong struggle. This book gave me many ideas on how to deal with my feelings, my family, and most importantly, my child with autism. She doesn't pitch "miracle cures", but she does offer hope in emphasizing that the real answer is getting involved in your child's prognosis by entering "Early Intervention" programs and educating yourself and others involved in your child's development

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Summary: The World of the Autistic Child : Understanding and Treating
Review: Wow. The most depressing book on autism one can imagine. Every accomplishment of the autistic person, from a child learning to read to Temple Grandin's autobiography, is couched as either a bizarre manifestation of the disorder or a hoax instead of a real acheivement. The autistic child's potiential is painted in broad strokes. She states that having autism effectively adds one degree of mental retardation to the prospects of those with the disorder. (Is there really even a universal future for those with mental retardation?) Much faith is placed on meticulously refining, defining, and labeling various locations on the autistic spectrum. The book isn't a total loss. There are suggestions for dealing with real problems that are worthwhile.