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Summary: We too had an "autistic" child
Review: If it were possible, we would give this book ten stars. We read this book after seeing an excerpt from Reader's Digest. At that time, our five year old had been in pre-school for two years because of his late talking and delay in social interaction. Just before he was to go to kindergarten, we were bowled over with a "determination" of autism by the school district. We (pediatric nurse and lawyer) knew this was incorrect, and pointed to this book as proof, as our son matched many of the patterns in the book. With this as a guideline, we contacted the current crusader for late-talkers, Dr. Camarata from Nashville (Vanderbilt Univ.), who works with Dr. Sowell. A year later, our son has made progress of up to three years in some categories due to the proper interventions and no longer shows any hint of autistic tendencies, nor is he on the autism "spectrum" (the new example of fitting square pegs in round holes). His social interaction is now age appropriate. This book, contrary to some reviews, does NOT give false hope, but encourages parents whose child does not fit a majority of "autism" characteristics to investigate further. Thank God for Drs. Sowell and Camarata -- keep up the good work!
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Summary: Interesting but shallow and potentially misleading
Review: Thomas Sowell has done researchers a service in drawing attention to the group of children in whom delayed speech is associated with later achievements, often in maths, music or memory. However, the gaps in his knowledge of the field mean that the book is potentially misleading in certain respects. He points out the obvious fact that these children do not fit the picture of "classical autism" and proceeds on this basis to paint a picture of scheming schools and "so-called experts" out to misdiagnose and "label" children as autistic in order to get extra funds (what funds?). But he seems never to have heard of the autistic spectrum (almost all of his references to texts on autism date from the 70s, and Asperger's syndrome and hyperlexia, for example, are never mentioned), or to be aware that many of the traits he describes (skill with puzzles, dismantling objects, eidetic memory, advanced reading intense absorption, and so on) are often also autistic traits. Although he admits grudgingly at one point that "autistic children are in some ways more extreme examples of the set of abilities and disabilities found in our group", it never occurs to him that the group might benefit rather than suffer from being considered in relation to the top end of the autistic spectrum, even if they do not fit any available diagnostic category neatly. Characteristically, such children remain "different" and eccentric even when they have begun talking. This difference can ultimately be as much an intellectual advantage as a disadvantage (As researchers from Hans Asperger onwards have pointed out), but to ignore it and pretend that "everything is fine now he's started talking" is to take a serious risk. It is disturbing to read the number of parents Sowell quotes who mention in passing that their child does seem to have some problems with social interaction, but insist that this is entirely due to the time they missed owing to delayed speech. Some such children do succeed and flourish in school and adult life without a diagnosis or any specialist support and understanding; many do not. I suppose I have a personal interest here: although I spoke early (if very bizarrely), I too was considered by some of my teachers to be "like an autistic child". But since I spoke, it was assumed that I couldn't be autistic, and all my oddities and problems were attributed to my laziness, rudeness, stubbornness and "just not trying". It wasn't until I was 20 (by which time I was clinically depressed after years of trying very hard and failing very hard to be like everyone else) that I was finally diagnosed as having Asperger's syndrome, another condition on the autistic spectrum. Finally being able to understand how I function has been a huge relief, and has enabled me to make full use of my particular, quirky strengths. If this book raises awareness that many children with highly idiosyncratic developmental patterns can become successful and flourishing adults, it will have done a great service; if it causes parents to reject any diagnosis or specialist understanding as a "label" and avoid speech therapy and other resources that may help, it will have done them and their children a great disservice.
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Summary: my son is a late talker
Review: My 3 year old son excells in most areas except speech. I have been searcing for a reason for his delay of speach. He first said Daddy at 25 months. Up until reading this book it was a complete mystery. I now feel very optimistic about the future. My son has been evaluated and is normal or excells in almost ALL areas except speach. He fits the typical profile to a T. I can't wait to see what happens over the next 20 years. I thank Sowell for confirming my optimism. The book lacks any direct support group contacts or web sites to access.
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Summary: Excellent book describing exactly parent's feelings
Review: I was amazed by the accuracy of the evaluation,treatment and development of late-talkers children. I am a father of a 5-years boy that started to talk at 3.5 years old. The interesting thing is that the same events happened across the ocean with a different medical/helathcare/psychological establishment. The only regret i have is that i can not write the book as i would be suspected in coping from author's book. G R E A T !!!!!!
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Summary: False Hope
Review: I fear that this book will be misleading to parents. The authorseems to be under the assumption that schools profit from labelingchildren as disabled. They do not. In my experience they do everything in their power to keep boderline children from receving sspecialized services. It costs them more money and they have to hire more professionals. The author tries to convince parents that a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder is the same as a diagnosis as autism. This is not true. If parents decide to read this biased book, they should start with chapter 4 first because it disscusses some of the reasons for children to be talking late.
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Summary: Sowell dares to research these unique late talkers
Review: The book Late Talking Children is an invaluable resource for many parents. The author's extensive research, and experience with his own child, are just a couple of reasons readers of this book can see his caring and dedication to the subject of late talkers. I'd never seen a book dedicated solely to this mystery of the late talking population. Many parents I have spoken with since I'd read this book felt as if they were "all alone" before they found this book, and now can see there are many others that are going through the same things that they are. Dr. Sowell also makes it very clear that although not all late talkers are autistic, that some definately are and encourages every parent to seek many REPUTABLE professionals to get an accurate diagnosis. There are many different approaches a parent can take to help their child, and it is so important not to take the inappropriate path...and I believe this level-headed no nonsense book could help any parent of a late talker find their correct path.
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Summary: This book gave me a light of hope.........
Review: When my daughter was diagnosed as developmentally delayed I became highly distraught. I wondered daily what I had done wrong. She seemed so normal in every other aspect of development. My father saw a piece on Thomas Sowell on an evening news program where the book Late Talking Children was discussed. I purchased the book the next day and it had so many similarities to my situation that it was able to ease my fears about my daughter. Her communication skills are developing nicely today but her mental skill level has been developing at an above average rate. This book gave my family hope that my daughter is fine and only developing at her own rate. Thanks
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Summary: This book described my son
Review: When I finished reading this book the first time, I was nearly in tears as I had read a description of my late talking, uniquely talented preschool-age son. The book gave me hope, advised me of questions I could ask in helping my son and directions to go to learn more. I believe his work in this area is the first step in the study of these unique, late talking children.
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Summary: Finally someone who really understands!!!
Review: This book was GREAT! A must read for parents like me with a speech delayed child. It gives you so much hope! When I started to read this book all I could do was cry. I could really relate to what the parents were going through. Many times I felt they could have been describing my son. It is a real comfort knowing your not alone. He really understands!
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Summary: I Wish I Had Never Read This Book! Don't Be Lulled By It!
Review: Although initially enamored and relieved by this book, I have come to feel betrayed by it. Our son, who appeared to us to be speech-delayed but otherwise fairly normal, has recently been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. I did not know about autism and the wide variety of severity and symptoms children on this spectrum can display. I read this book a year ago and it made me falsely suspicious of school officials who suggested that we get an autism evaluation but did not articulate why it was important to get one right away. The book also made us falsely trusting of our pediatrician, who asked a few questions and told us our son would probably grow out of it (he was well -meaning, but unfortunately not well-informed about the differences between typically developing children and those on the autism spectrum.). Given the lack of understanding and institutional biases of school officials, our pediatrician, and even our local medical school, I did not learn until very recently that our son is in fact autistic and that there is a relatively short preschool window of time during which children can benefit enormously from intensive intervention. If you are concerned about your child's late talking please consider getting him or her evaluated by autism experts immediately and/or dive at once into the many excellent books on this subject. (Your child may have another problem--the books on autism can help you figure that out.) For starters, I would read Bryna Siegel's World of the Autistic Child and Temple Grandin's Thinking in Pictures. (Siegel's book will really help you figure out for yourself if your child is on the spectrum or not--though I would never recommend foregoing a professional evaluation. Grandin's book is utterly fascinating for any thoughtful person and well worth reading no matter what your child turns out to be.) Shirley Cohen's Targeting Autism provides a well-researched and balanced view of the polarized treatment community. The leading behavioral therapy approach has been championed by Catherine Maurice, the mother of two autistic children who has written or edited several good books on the subject. Stanley Greenspan's deveopmental model has strong support, too. Frederick Volkmar's Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders is expensive and geared to the health care professional, but excellent if you are the type of parent who wants a high level of information (most but not all of it is accessible to the intelligent layperson). Good luck. There are many of us traveling the same road.
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