Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 618.92898203
EAN num: 9780596500139
Format: Illustrated
ISBN number: 0596500130
Label: Patient Centered Guides
Manufacturer: Patient Centered Guides
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 528
Printing Date: July 15, 2002
Publishing house: Patient Centered Guides
Sale Popularity Level: 1041589
Studio: Patient Centered Guides
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Product Description:
Autistic spectrum disorders--including autism, pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's syndrome, and others--are labels to describe neurological conditions that can affect a person's speech and communication, emotional growth, social skills, and physical and mental abilities. Up to 1 in 150 children in some geographical areas have these conditions; children affected are disproportionately boys. This second edition is for parents (or newly diagnosed adults) who struggle with these neurological conditions that profoundly impact the life of child and family. Author and patient advocate Mitzi Waltz, now studying at the Autism Research Unit in the UK, incorporates the latest medical findings on possible causes for ASDs and on treatments. Topics include: - Getting a diagnosis, including preparing for a diagnostic interview in a medical, psychiatric, or school setting
- Treatment options, including pharmaceutical medications, vitamins and supplements, sensory integration, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, behavior modification, floor time play therapy, talk therapy, and others
- Coping with diagnosis and treatment, including emotions and support systems, insurance system, and educational plans
- Stories from dozens of families living with autistic spectrum disorders
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Rated by buyers 
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Thank you to the writer of the response to "the author states opinion as fact". One more reference regarding the presence of autistic-like characteristics in family members of autistic kids:
Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S. Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1997; 154(2): 185-90.
Rated by buyers -
Since I feel that the majority of the reviews below give a good picture of this text, I will confine
myself to commenting on the review headed "The author gived some opinions as facts!"
Actually, it is well-established that there are genetic factors in some forms of autism, and that
autistic-spectrum behaviors are much more likely to occur in families with autistic children
than in the general population. The fact that Bettleheim was wrong about "refridgerator
mothers" does not mean that there are no mothers of autism-spectrum children who have
autistic behaviors. The occurances of allergies and resultant sinus problems are certainly more
common in persons on the autism-spectrum. And there are a number of medical conditions
that have a genetic component that are commonly co-morbid with autism-spectrum disorders.
None of these facts would actually imply that "being a parent of an autistic child will
compromise their health!" Parents are no more responsible for the specific genetic makeup of
their children than they are responsible for whether a coin they toss turns up heads or tails. In
fact, the genetic traits associated with autism are now believed to be also so strongly
associated with extreme skill in science, mathematics, engineers, and related areas. Genetically speaking, people who are severely "classically" autistic are massively similar to those who are
sciences "whizzes" (and, of course, both autism and strong science skills often occur in
the same people).
Additionally, parents with autistic behaviors and traits are of great benefit to their aut-spec
children, as such parents have more ability to empathize with them. It certainly was/is true in my relationships with my parents!
The above statements re family traits and co-morbidity can be confirmed by looking up a few
of the following (in order of ease of reading):
Grandin, Temple 1995. _Thinking in Pictures_ (chapters 9 and 10).
Silberman, Steve 2001. "The 'Geek Syndrome'." _Wired Magazine_ December 2001.
Delong and Dwyer, 1988. "Correlation of family history and specific autistic subgroups:
Asperger's syndrome and bipolar affective disease." _Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders_ 18: 593 - 600
Smalley, McCracken, and Tanguay 1995. "Autism, affective disorder and social phobia."
_American Journal of Medical Genetics 60: 19 - 26
_The Biology of the Autistic Syndromes_ by Christopher Gilberg and Mary Coleman (see
section III: "Diseases that Have a Subgroup of Patients With Autistic Symptoms.")
Rated by buyers 
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The author has a habit of stating "heresay" and her opinions as facts.In chapter 10.. "Family issues and support" on page 298, the author states "Some of Bruno Bettelheim's "cold & distant" mothers, could have had mild forms of autism themeselves" This, the author states, is from "some professionals." I never heard this before! Also, that parents of ASD children have a "slightly higher incidence of depression and other mental disorders..and health problems in general, perhaps related to an underlying immune system dysfunction." THIS IS NOT A MEDICAL FACT AT ALL! THE AUTHOR IS VERY NEGLIGENT IN EVEN STATING THIS!! To further add insult to injury, Ms. Waltz, who is not a physician, states.."Some of this may be genetically based, although some may derive from being in a difficult situation." This is the the most ridiculous claim, that being the parent of an autistic child will compromise their health! So much of this book is just an opinion and not researced at all in fact. I would take with a grain of salt what this author has to "say" about autism!
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This book is a must for all parents who fear that their toddler is not meeting developmental milestones. It provides great summary information about a diagnosis of PDD, possible therapies,etc. with being overly pessimistic or optimistic.
Rated by buyers -
As the parents of a three-year boy diagnosed with PDD-NOS in Jan. 2002, my wife and I are quickly devouring as much information on the subject as we can as we begin to advocate for our son's future (therapy, special education, behavior modification methods and possible nutritional/dietary changes). We have purchased or read nearly twenty books on the subject and, by far, Mitzi Waltz' summary of this broad spectrum disorder is the most well organized and written summary we have found.
Here is a list of chapters/appendices of the book:
1. THE MEDICAL FACTS ABOUT PDDs
2. PDD CATEGORIES
3. GETTING A DIAGNOSIS
4. GETTING STARTED
5. MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
6. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS
7. OTHER INTERVENTIONS
8. INSURANCE
9. SCHOOL (EXCELLENT DISCUSSION OF IEPs, 504's, EDUCATION OPTIONS)
10. FAMILY
11. FINANCES
12. SUPPORT
13. LIVING WITH PDDs
A. RESOUCES (OUTSTANDING LIST OF BOOKS, WEBSITES)
B. SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (A ONE-STOP SHOPPING LIST OF AUTISM SOCIETIES/SUPPORT GROUPS WITH ADDRESSES, PHONE #'S, INTERNET SITES)
C. RESEARCH AND TESTING FACILITIES
D. MEDICAL REFERENCE
E. SUPPLEMENT REFERENCE
F. DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS
NOTES
GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS (A MUST FOR ANYONE NEW TO PDDs)
INDEX (EXCELLENT WAY TO PINPOINT YOUR NEEDS)
Several other excellent books tell the personal accounts of parents as they come to grips with the aftermath of a diagnosis and are wonderful therapy for parents to validate their feelings and outlooks. The Waltz book is written in plain language while covering the topic in a comprehensive and logical manner. It will serve as a reference for my family for years to come and I highly recommend it to EVERY parent who faces the challenges of living day-to-day with a child/adult diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Thank you Mitzi!...
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