Asperger Syndrome and Your Child: A Parent's Guide

Powers, an assistant professor at the Yale Child Study Center and director of the Center for Children with Special Needs in Connecticut, teams up with co-author Poland (The Sensitive Child) to offer a much-needed resource for parents and professionals looking to understand more about Asperger Syndrome. A neurological disorder characterized by difficulty with social interactions, communication issues, unusual patterns of behavior and interests as well as trouble integrating sensory information (children with AS often have acute senses of touch, taste and hearing), AS is part of the ""autism spectrum"" of disabilities. Part I of Powers's clearly written and reassuring text discusses the syndrome in general-what we know about it, what it feels like to have it-while Part II goes into greater detail about what parents can do to nurture AS children to help them ""become their finest selves."" Unlike people with autism, those with AS can communicate what life is like for them, and Powers includes their reflections along with case studies, FAQs and an abundance of caring and wise advice. For new parents of children with AS, this is an essential volume.